Sermon Tone Analysis

In the Film Gladiator Russell Crow’s character Maximus has numerous memorable speeches … One of the Best is at the Beginning when the Roman Legion is about to engage the Barbarians … Just before they begin riding into battle Maximus states “What you do in life echoes in eternity.”

is a Psalm about perspective … it’s about getting our priorities and focus in perspective.

is a community Psalm … a corporate prayer Psalm … the pronouns are plural … this is a word to the people of God … and the cry of the people of God … being reminded that “What we do in life echoes in eternity.”

This Psalm is about living life in the presence of an Eternal God … Our God

“This psalm is a reflection on the transience of life.

It contemplates the nature of life under God’s wrath and affirms the necessity of living aright in the presence of the Lord.”

Willem A. VanGemeren

A couple of weeks ago the Christian World lost one of it’s greatest voices and minds - R.C. Sproul … Let me quote him - “The big idea of the Christian life is coram Deo.

Coram Deo captures the essence of the Christian life.”

- This phrase literally refers to something that takes place in the presence of, or before the face of, God.

To live coram Deo is to live one’s entire life in the presence of God, under the authority of God, to the glory of God.

To live in the presence of God is to understand that whatever we are doing and wherever we are doing it, we are acting under the gaze of God.

God is omnipresent.

There is no place so remote that we can escape His penetrating gaze.

This phrase literally refers to something that takes place in the presence of, or before the face of, God.

To live coram Deo is to live one’s entire life in the presence of God, under the authority of God, to the glory of God.

The words of the Old Hymn capture the essence of this … “Only one life, twill soon be past.

Only what’s done for Christ will last.”

To live in the presence of God is to understand that whatever we are doing and wherever we are doing it, we are acting under the gaze of God.

God is omnipresent.

There is no place so remote that we can escape His penetrating gaze.

Do you believe this?

Let’s look at

It is the Oldest Psalm … WE know that because it isn't authored by David but Moses

Year of David’s death … approximately 970 BC

Moses - Estimates 400-500 years earlier

Psalm Structured into four Stanzas

1-2 - The Eternal Nature of God

3-6 - The Transitory nature of Man

7-12 - God’s Wrath over man’s sin - Cause of man’s fleeting nature

13-17 - Prayer for God’s Mercy and Grace in Spite of our Sin

The Setting of is unknown … Possibly linked to the events in

The failure at Kadesh Barnea - - The Spy incident

Nation then condemned to journey in wilderness for 40 years until that Generation had passed

That Tragedy followed by death of Miriam, Moses sister

and Moses’ brother Aaron’s death

Between these two deaths Moses disobeyed the Lord and struck the rock instead of speaking to it as commanded

During these forty years Moses led a funeral march through the wilderness

Life was not easy but … He triumphed … this Psalm shows us how to live with our frailty … in light of Eternity

3 Takeaways from

1. God - 1-2

For all of us we are pilgrims --- travellers on a Journey and God is our Home

For us … Mortals … life is a pilgrimage from birth to death

Jacob (Who lived to 130) called the days of his pilgrimage “few and evil”

2 Chron

For Moses … 80 years of his life was somewhat settled

First 40 in Egypt

Second 40 in Midian

Last forty … in wilderness leading a group of former slaves … complaining former slaves who didn't always want or appreciate his leadership

names 42 different places Israel camped during their journey …

42 in 40 years … you do the Math … You think your job moves you alot

No Matter where Moses went … there was one constant in changing times

Moses knew that God was his HOME … His dwelling place

He lived in the LORD … He abided there … There he found his strength and encouragement and help for every day’s demands

Outside of the Camp of Israel Moses pitched a special tent where he met with the Lord

This tent NOT the tabernacle … which was in the center of the tribes … Moses went here to abide … to be reminded that in the midst of changing days there was one constant - GOD

we see God as …

Our Constant in Changing times

Lord = Adonai - Ruler; Sovereign - Authority

Has been … Our Constant

My Safe place (Dwelling = Refuge, help habitation, a hidden lair; a place to abide … a retreat - Place to get out of heat

Before the Mountains were brought forth or ever you had formed the earth and the world

WE are transported back to

He uses Birth Imagery

Brought Forth - Speaks of creation with birth imagery

Formed = To be in Labour; to twist and turn in pain - Image of Labour

The earth = The planet/dry land

The world = the inhabited world … People and living creatures

Image = The whole Earth and everything in it is “BIRTHED” by God

Before anything came into EXISTENCE

He is …

He is My constant

He is My Safe place … my Dwelling

My Creator

My Eternal Creator

My Eternal Uncreated Creator

It all belongs to Him and For Him

That is our GOD

Take away 2

Our Frailty - 3-11

I am combining the two middle stanzas …

vv:1-2 remind us of and creation

vv:3-11 - Bring us back to the reality of … We are Fallen Creatures

See This … Frail, Transitory Life … People subject to death

CONTRAST

vv:1-2 - An eternal God … and thus Eternity

Read and Comment … vv:3-11

The sadness of vv:3-11 don’t seem defeated or bitter

Rather, they appear to simply be a recognition of our frailty and fallenness

Leupold states that “Plain realistic thinking mark these words”

Isaiah

THIS WEEK has brought this home

Frail and Weak

Warren Wiersbe

While we all thank God for modern science and the ministry of skilled medical personnel, we cannot successfully deny the reality of death or delay it when our time comes.

The school of life is preparation for an eternity with God, and without Him, we cannot learn our lessons, pass our tests, and make progress from kindergarten to graduate school!

How brief life really is when compared to Eternity

tells us that God dwells in Eternity

reminds us that to the Lord … one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as a day

We need to remember this …