Psalms90

Psalm 90, a prayer of Moses, contrasts God's eternal nature with humanity's fleeting existence. It laments the brevity of life, often consumed by divine wrath due to sin, and acknowledges that human lifespan is short and full of sorrow. The psalm concludes with a plea for God's mercy, wisdom to number one's days, and the establishment of their labor.
Listen to this chapter
0:00 0:00

God, Our Eternal Refuge

1
Lord, You have been our dwelling place through all generations. ​
2
Before the mountains were born or You brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting You are God. ​

The Brevity of Human Life

3
You return man to dust, saying, “Return, O sons of mortals.” ​
4
For in Your sight a thousand years are but a day that passes, or a watch of the night. ​
5
You whisk them away in their sleep; they are like the new grass of the morning—
6
in the morning it springs up new, but by evening it fades and withers.

Mortality as a Consequence of Sin

7
For we are consumed by Your anger and terrified by Your wrath. ​
8
You have set our iniquities before You, our secret sins in the light of Your presence. ​
9
For all our days decline in Your fury; we finish our years with a sigh. ​
10
The length of our days is seventy years— or eighty if we are strong— yet their pride is but labor and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away. ​
11
Who knows the power of Your anger? Your wrath matches the fear You are due.

A Prayer for Wisdom and Mercy

12
So teach us to number our days, that we may present a heart of wisdom. ​
13
Return, O LORD! How long will it be? Have compassion on Your servants. ​
14
Satisfy us in the morning with Your loving devotion, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.
15
Make us glad for as many days as You have afflicted us, for as many years as we have seen evil. ​
16
May Your work be shown to Your servants, and Your splendor to their children. ​
17
May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish for us the work of our hands— yes, establish the work of our hands! ​

Study Notes for Psalms 90

Verse 1

The attribution to Moses is unique (the only Psalm attributed to him) and lends historical context, likely reflecting the mortality and judgment experienced by the Israelites during the forty years of wilderness wandering (cf. Numbers 14).

Verse 2

This verse emphasizes God's absolute eternality ('from everlasting to everlasting'), establishing a theological contrast with the temporal weakness and mortality of humanity that is developed throughout the rest of the psalm.

Verse 3

The phrase 'Return, ye children of men' connects directly to the curse of Genesis 3:19, highlighting God’s sovereign power to recall humanity to the dust from which it came.

Verse 4

This famous comparison illustrates the vast gulf between God's timeless perspective and limited human chronology; a thousand years is merely a fleeting moment in the scope of eternity (cf. 2 Peter 3:8).

Verse 7

The Psalmist attributes the pain and brevity of life not merely to natural mortality but specifically to the community's experience of God's active judgment and wrath against their sin.

Verse 8

The idea that God sets 'secret sins in the light' underscores His comprehensive knowledge and righteousness, suggesting that hidden transgressions contribute fully to the communal suffering and judgment.

Verse 9

Spending years 'as a tale that is told' (or a sigh/whisper) emphasizes how quickly and insubstantially human life passes when viewed in retrospect under the shadow of divine judgment.

Verse 10

Seventy or eighty years represents the typical lifespan. This may reference the shortened life expectancy instituted after the judgment on the wilderness generation, whose lives were limited by divine decree.

Verse 12

This crucial verse is the hinge of the Psalm, moving from lament to petition. To 'number our days' means to recognize their finite nature, leading to the practical application of seeking true wisdom (living rightly before God).

Verse 13

'Return, O LORD, how long?' is a classic element of lament Psalms, pleading for God to end the current period of affliction and to show compassion ('repent thee') toward His servants.

Verse 15

This request asks for proportional restoration: the duration of future joy and gladness should match the length of affliction and evil previously experienced under God's judgment.

Verse 16

The prayer asks that the current generation ('thy servants') may witness God's saving power ('thy work') and that this glory be successfully transmitted to the next generation ('their children').

Verse 17

The 'beauty of the LORD' (often translated as favor or grace) is sought to rest upon the people, ensuring that their daily labor ('the work of our hands') is fruitful, meaningful, and enduring.

Use ← → arrow keys to navigate
Settings

Reading Style

Typeface

Font Size 19px

Reading Width 45 chars

Options