Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations.
Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.
Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men.
For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.
Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep: in the morning they are like grass which groweth up.
In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up; in the evening it is cut down, and withereth.
For we are consumed by thine anger, and by thy wrath are we troubled.
Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy countenance.
For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told.
The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.
Who knoweth the power of thine anger? even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath.
So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.
Return, O Lord, how long? and let it repent thee concerning thy servants.
O satisfy us early with thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
Make us glad according to the days wherein thou hast afflicted us, and the years wherein we have seen evil.
Let thy work appear unto thy servants, and thy glory unto their children.
And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it.
Psalms 90, traditionally attributed to Moses, stands as a profound meditation on the contrast between God's eternal nature and the fleeting existence of humankind. Likely written during Israel's forty years of wandering in the desert as a consequence of their disobedience (Numbers 13-14), this psalm reflects on the mortality of a generation and serves as a poignant reminder of our dependence on God. It marks the beginning of the fourth division of Psalms (90-106), offering a powerful blend of lament, confession, and hope.
God, Our Eternal Dwelling Place (Psalms 90:1-6)
Moses begins by acknowledging God as our refuge and dwelling place throughout all generations (Psalms 90:1). Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever God had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting, He is God (Psalms 90:2). This establishes God's timeless existence, contrasting sharply with the transient nature of human life. To God, a thousand years are but a day, a watch in the night (Psalms 90:4).
Human beings, in contrast, are swept away like a flood, fading like grass that springs up in the morning only to wither by evening (Psalms 90:5-6). This imagery highlights the brevity and fragility of our lives.
The Consequences of Sin (Psalms 90:7-12)
The psalm doesn't shy away from addressing the root cause of human frailty: sin. We are consumed by God's anger; we are terrified by his indignation (Psalms 90:7). Moses recognizes that the brevity of life and the hardships we face are a direct result of God's righteous judgment against sin. Our iniquities are set before God, our secret sins in the light of His presence (Psalms 90:8). Whether committed in public or in secret, all sins are visible to God and incur His wrath.
All our days pass away under God's wrath; we finish our years with a moan (Psalms 90:9). The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away (Psalms 90:10). This sobering reality leads to a crucial question: Who considers the power of your anger, and your wrath according to the fear of you? (Psalms 90:11).
Therefore, Moses prays, Teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom (Psalms 90:12). This verse emphasizes the importance of recognizing our mortality and seeking wisdom from God. Understanding the brevity of life should motivate us to make godly choices and live with intention. Life is a precious gift, and we should strive to use it wisely for God's glory.
A Plea for Mercy and Blessing (Psalms 90:13-17)
Despite acknowledging God's judgment, Moses doesn't despair. Instead, he pleads for God's mercy and restoration. Return, O Lord! How long? Have pity on your servants! (Psalms 90:13). He asks God to satisfy them with His steadfast love in the morning, that they may rejoice and be glad all their days (Psalms 90:14). He desires that their years of adversity be matched by years of rejoicing, hoping that God's blessings would outweigh His judgment (Psalms 90:15).
Let your work be shown to your servants, and your glorious power to their children (Psalms 90:16). The psalm concludes with a prayer for God's favor and blessing on their endeavors. Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands! (Psalms 90:17).
The brevity of life and the divine anger against sin that Moses considers ought to drive us to God, not away from Him. A meaningful life in which God establishes the work of our hands comes through wisdom, and wisdom comes from submitting all we are to God for the brief time He gives us.
Psalms 90 is a timeless reminder of our dependence on God and the importance of living a life that is pleasing to Him. It encourages us to reflect on our mortality, seek wisdom, and trust in God's steadfast love and mercy.
Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations.
Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.
Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men.
For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.
Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep: in the morning they are like grass which groweth up.
In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up; in the evening it is cut down, and withereth.
For we are consumed by thine anger, and by thy wrath are we troubled.
Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy countenance.
For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told.
The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.
Who knoweth the power of thine anger? even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath.
So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.
Return, O Lord, how long? and let it repent thee concerning thy servants.
O satisfy us early with thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
Make us glad according to the days wherein thou hast afflicted us, and the years wherein we have seen evil.
Let thy work appear unto thy servants, and thy glory unto their children.
And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it.
Psalms 90, traditionally attributed to Moses, stands as a profound meditation on the contrast between God's eternal nature and the fleeting existence of humankind. Likely written during Israel's forty years of wandering in the desert as a consequence of their disobedience (Numbers 13-14), this psalm reflects on the mortality of a generation and serves as a poignant reminder of our dependence on God. It marks the beginning of the fourth division of Psalms (90-106), offering a powerful blend of lament, confession, and hope.
God, Our Eternal Dwelling Place (Psalms 90:1-6)
Moses begins by acknowledging God as our refuge and dwelling place throughout all generations (Psalms 90:1). Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever God had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting, He is God (Psalms 90:2). This establishes God's timeless existence, contrasting sharply with the transient nature of human life. To God, a thousand years are but a day, a watch in the night (Psalms 90:4).
Human beings, in contrast, are swept away like a flood, fading like grass that springs up in the morning only to wither by evening (Psalms 90:5-6). This imagery highlights the brevity and fragility of our lives.
The Consequences of Sin (Psalms 90:7-12)
The psalm doesn't shy away from addressing the root cause of human frailty: sin. We are consumed by God's anger; we are terrified by his indignation (Psalms 90:7). Moses recognizes that the brevity of life and the hardships we face are a direct result of God's righteous judgment against sin. Our iniquities are set before God, our secret sins in the light of His presence (Psalms 90:8). Whether committed in public or in secret, all sins are visible to God and incur His wrath.
All our days pass away under God's wrath; we finish our years with a moan (Psalms 90:9). The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away (Psalms 90:10). This sobering reality leads to a crucial question: Who considers the power of your anger, and your wrath according to the fear of you? (Psalms 90:11).
Therefore, Moses prays, Teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom (Psalms 90:12). This verse emphasizes the importance of recognizing our mortality and seeking wisdom from God. Understanding the brevity of life should motivate us to make godly choices and live with intention. Life is a precious gift, and we should strive to use it wisely for God's glory.
A Plea for Mercy and Blessing (Psalms 90:13-17)
Despite acknowledging God's judgment, Moses doesn't despair. Instead, he pleads for God's mercy and restoration. Return, O Lord! How long? Have pity on your servants! (Psalms 90:13). He asks God to satisfy them with His steadfast love in the morning, that they may rejoice and be glad all their days (Psalms 90:14). He desires that their years of adversity be matched by years of rejoicing, hoping that God's blessings would outweigh His judgment (Psalms 90:15).
Let your work be shown to your servants, and your glorious power to their children (Psalms 90:16). The psalm concludes with a prayer for God's favor and blessing on their endeavors. Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands! (Psalms 90:17).
The brevity of life and the divine anger against sin that Moses considers ought to drive us to God, not away from Him. A meaningful life in which God establishes the work of our hands comes through wisdom, and wisdom comes from submitting all we are to God for the brief time He gives us.
Psalms 90 is a timeless reminder of our dependence on God and the importance of living a life that is pleasing to Him. It encourages us to reflect on our mortality, seek wisdom, and trust in God's steadfast love and mercy.