Psalms 90:15

KJV

Make us glad according to the days [wherein] thou hast afflicted us, [and] the years [wherein] we have seen evil.

KJV (with Strong's)

Make us glad {H8055}{H8761)} according to the days {H3117} wherein thou hast afflicted {H6031}{H8765)} us, and the years {H8141} wherein we have seen {H7200}{H8804)} evil {H7451}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Let our joy last as long as the time you made us suffer, for as many years as we experienced trouble.

Berean Standard Bible

Make us glad for as many days as You have afflicted us, for as many years as we have seen evil.

American Standard Version

Make us glad according to the days wherein thou hast afflicted us, And the years wherein we have seen evil.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 90:15 is a profound plea within a prayer attributed to Moses, expressing a fervent desire for divine restoration and gladness. Following a somber meditation on the brevity of human life, the eternal nature of God, and the consequences of sin, this verse petitions God to grant a period of joy and favor commensurate with the duration and intensity of the suffering and evil experienced by His people. It embodies a deep trust in God's redemptive power and His ultimate desire to bring comfort and blessing after tribulation.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalms 90 stands as a unique and ancient prayer, traditionally attributed to Moses, making it potentially the oldest psalm in the biblical collection. The preceding verses (90:1-12) establish a stark contrast between God's eternal, unchangeable nature as a dwelling place for His people and the fleeting, fragile existence of humanity, which is likened to grass that withers or a dream that vanishes. The psalm laments the destructive power of divine wrath against sin, which shortens human life and brings sorrow (e.g., [Psalm 90:7-9](/psalms/90-7 "Psalm 90:7-9 - God's Wrath and Human Frailty")). It acknowledges that human suffering and the brevity of life are often consequences of God's righteous judgment. Verse 15, therefore, emerges as a desperate yet hopeful petition for God to turn His face back to His people in favor, asking for a measure of joy that would balance the long period of affliction and perceived evil. The subsequent verses (90:16-17) continue this plea, asking God to display His work and glory to the next generation and to establish the work of their hands.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Attributed to Moses, Psalm 90 is often understood to reflect the experiences of the Israelites during their forty years of wilderness wandering, a period marked by divine discipline, hardship, death, and a prolonged sense of God's displeasure due to their rebellion (e.g., [Numbers 14:33-35](/numbers/14-33 "Numbers 14:33-35 - The Forty Years in the Wilderness")). The "days wherein thou hast afflicted us" and "the years wherein we have seen evil" would resonate deeply with a generation that experienced the death of an entire cohort in the desert, constant challenges, and a deferred promise of the Promised Land. Culturally, the concept of divine retribution for sin and divine blessing for obedience was central to the Mosaic covenant. The prayer acknowledges God's absolute sovereignty over life and death, prosperity and adversity, and appeals to His covenant faithfulness, hoping that the period of judgment might give way to a season of renewed favor and joy, echoing the cyclical pattern of sin, judgment, repentance, and restoration often seen in Israel's history.
* **Key Themes:** This verse contributes significantly to several overarching themes within Psalm 90 and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it highlights **Divine Sovereignty over Time and Suffering**, acknowledging that both affliction and gladness are ultimately in God's hands. The plea for a proportional measure of joy underscores a belief that God's justice is not merely punitive but also redemptive, capable of restoring what was lost or endured. Secondly, it emphasizes **Hope Amidst Despair**, demonstrating that even in the face of prolonged suffering and divine judgment, a faithful posture involves persistent prayer for God's mercy and a confident expectation of His eventual restoration. This hope is rooted in God's character, not merely human endurance. Finally, the verse speaks to the theme of **Divine Compensation and Restoration**, suggesting a theological principle that God can and often does provide a measure of blessing that balances or even outweighs past hardship, transforming sorrow into joy, as seen in passages like [Job 42:10](/job/42-10 "Job 42:10 - Job's Restoration") where God restores Job's fortunes twofold.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Glad (Hebrew, _śāmach_):** The verb שַׂמְּחֵנוּ (_samchenu_), an imperative form of _śāmach_, means "make us glad," "cause us to rejoice," or "cheer us." It signifies a deep, internal joy and delight, often associated with feasting, celebration, or divine favor. The imperative mood indicates a direct, earnest petition, not a casual request, reflecting the intense longing for a profound shift from sorrow to joy. It implies a restoration of well-being and a lifting of the spirit that only God can provide.
* **Afflicted (Hebrew, _ʿānāh_):** The word עִנִּיתָנוּ (_innitanu_), from the root _ʿānāh_, means "you have afflicted us," "humbled us," or "brought us low." This term often carries the connotation of suffering imposed by God, sometimes for disciplinary purposes, leading to a state of humility or distress. It suggests a deliberate, divine action that has caused hardship and a sense of being weighed down, emphasizing that the suffering was not random but part of God's sovereign dealings with His people.
* **Evil (Hebrew, _raʿah_):** The term רָעָה (_raʿah_) refers to "evil," "calamity," "misfortune," or "adversity." When the text says "we have seen evil," it implies a direct, experiential encounter with hardship, distress, and adverse circumstances over an extended period. It encompasses not only moral evil but also the suffering and calamitous events that result from a broken world and, in this context, from divine judgment. The repetition of "days wherein thou hast afflicted us" and "years wherein we have seen evil" underscores the prolonged and pervasive nature of their hardship.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Make us glad":** This is the central petition, an urgent plea for God to intervene and actively bring joy and spiritual well-being to His people. It acknowledges God as the sole source of true gladness and restoration, capable of transforming their internal state and external circumstances. The imperative "make us" highlights human dependence on divine initiative for relief from suffering.
* **"according to the days wherein thou hast afflicted us":** This clause introduces the principle of divine compensation. The request is not for a fleeting joy, but for a period of gladness that is proportionate to the duration and intensity of the suffering God has permitted or inflicted. It implies a belief in God's justice and His capacity to balance the scales, providing a measure of comfort and blessing that corresponds to the depth of past trials. It suggests a desire for divine favor to equal or even exceed the period of divine discipline.
* **"and the years wherein we have seen evil":** This phrase serves as a powerful parallel to the preceding clause, reinforcing the extent and duration of the hardship. The shift from "days" to "years" emphasizes the prolonged nature of their adversity, while "seen evil" underscores their direct, personal experience of calamity and misfortune. The parallelism amplifies the intensity of the plea, asking for a comprehensive and enduring restoration that accounts for every season of hardship.

#### Literary Devices
Psalms 90:15 masterfully employs several literary devices to convey its poignant message. The most prominent is **Parallelism**, specifically synonymous and antithetical parallelism. The phrases "the days wherein thou hast afflicted us" and "the years wherein we have seen evil" are a prime example of synonymous parallelism, where the second line reiterates and intensifies the meaning of the first, emphasizing the prolonged and pervasive nature of their suffering. This repetition underscores the depth of their plea for relief. The verse also functions as a **Petition** or **Plea**, an earnest and direct appeal to God for intervention. The imperative "Make us glad" highlights the psalmist's dependence on divine action. Furthermore, there is an element of **Anthropomorphism** in the depiction of God "afflicting" and being the source of "evil" in the sense of calamity or hardship, reflecting the ancient understanding of God's direct involvement in all aspects of human experience, including discipline. The overall tone is one of **Lament** transitioning into **Hopeful Supplication**, a common structure in the Psalms, where the acknowledgment of suffering leads to a confident appeal for divine intervention and restoration.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 90:15 beautifully encapsulates the biblical tension between divine judgment and divine mercy. It affirms God's absolute sovereignty over human experience, acknowledging that both affliction and gladness originate from His hand. The request for joy "according to the days wherein thou hast afflicted us" reflects a profound theological insight: God's discipline is not arbitrary or endless, but purposeful, aiming to humble and refine His people. It anticipates a divine compensation, a period of restoration that will ultimately outweigh the seasons of suffering. This verse speaks to the enduring hope that God's character is ultimately good and redemptive, and that His faithfulness will prevail, turning mourning into dancing. It teaches us to bring our full experience of suffering before God, trusting that His ultimate plan is for our good and His glory, even when His ways are mysterious.

* [Psalm 30:5](/psalms/30-5 "Psalm 30:5 - Weeping Endures for a Night, Joy Comes in the Morning")
* [Romans 8:28](/romans/8-28 "Romans 8:28 - God Works All Things for Good")
* [2 Corinthians 4:17](/2_corinthians/4-17 "2 Corinthians 4:17 - Our Light and Momentary Troubles Achieve an Eternal Glory")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 90:15 offers a powerful and enduring model for prayer in times of prolonged adversity. It encourages believers to honestly acknowledge the depth and duration of their suffering before God, without minimizing or denying the pain. Rather than questioning God's presence or goodness during trials, this verse invites us to lean into His sovereignty, recognizing that He is intimately involved in both our hardships and our joys. It teaches us to pray not just for the cessation of suffering, but for a proportionate measure of divine gladness and restoration that actively redeems the time of affliction. This is a prayer of faith, trusting that God's ultimate purpose for His people is one of blessing and flourishing, and that His redemptive work will transform even the darkest seasons into opportunities for profound joy and gratitude. It challenges us to maintain hope, even when the "days" and "years" of evil seem endless, clinging to the promise that God's compassion never fails and His mercies are new every morning.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does acknowledging God's sovereignty over both affliction and gladness shape your prayers during difficult seasons?**
* **In what ways have you experienced God bringing a measure of joy or restoration that felt proportionate to past suffering?**
* **How can you cultivate a hopeful expectation of God's redemptive work, even when your current circumstances feel overwhelming or prolonged?**
* **What does it mean practically to "see evil" in your life, and how does this verse encourage you to respond to it?**

### FAQ
**Does "thou hast afflicted us" mean God causes all suffering?**

Answer: In the biblical worldview, especially in the Old Testament, God is often depicted as sovereign over all events, including hardship and calamity. The phrase "thou hast afflicted us" (עִנִּיתָנוּ, _innitanu_) indicates that the suffering was understood as being permitted or even directly orchestrated by God, often for disciplinary or refining purposes. This doesn't necessarily mean God delights in suffering, but that He uses it as a tool in His divine governance and covenant relationship with His people. For the Israelites in the wilderness, their afflictions were directly linked to their rebellion and God's righteous judgment (e.g., [Numbers 14](/numbers/14 "Numbers 14 - Israel's Rebellion and God's Judgment")). However, the New Testament provides a fuller revelation, showing that while God allows suffering, He also uses it for His glory and our good (e.g., [Romans 5:3-5](/romans/5-3 "Romans 5:3-5 - Suffering Produces Perseverance")). It's a complex theological point that emphasizes God's ultimate control and purpose, even in the midst of pain.

**What kind of "evil" is being referred to in this verse?**

Answer: The Hebrew word for "evil" (רָעָה, _raʿah_) in this context refers primarily to calamity, misfortune, adversity, or distress, rather than moral wickedness. When the psalmist says "we have seen evil," it means they have experienced significant hardship, trouble, and adverse circumstances. For the generation in the wilderness, this would include the deaths of loved ones, lack of resources, constant wandering, and the general difficulties of a disciplined life under God's hand. It encompasses the experiential reality of suffering and hardship over an extended period, which they attribute to God's dealings with them. It's the "badness" or "calamity" that comes upon them, not necessarily their own sin, though that sin may have been the cause of the calamity.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 90:15, with its poignant plea for gladness proportionate to affliction, finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in Jesus Christ. While the psalmist laments the suffering of God's people under divine discipline, Christ Himself, the perfect Son, entered into the deepest human suffering, experiencing affliction and "evil" in a way no other could. He bore the full weight of God's wrath against sin on the cross, becoming the ultimate afflicted one (e.g., [Isaiah 53:4-5](/isaiah/53-4 "Isaiah 53:4-5 - The Suffering Servant Bears Our Griefs")). Yet, through His suffering, death, and glorious resurrection, He secured for His people an eternal gladness that far outweighs any temporal affliction. The "days wherein thou hast afflicted us" are now seen through the lens of Christ's redemptive work, where our momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all (e.g., [2 Corinthians 4:17](/2_corinthians/4-17 "2 Corinthians 4:17 - Light and Momentary Troubles")). In Christ, the promise of joy after sorrow is not merely a hope but a guaranteed reality, for He has overcome the world and promises His disciples a joy that no one can take away (e.g., [John 16:33](/john/16-33 "John 16:33 - Overcoming the World") and [John 16:22](/john/16-22 "John 16:22 - Your Joy No One Will Take From You")). He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, thereby removing the ultimate cause of our affliction and ushering in an era where God will wipe away every tear and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain (e.g., [Revelation 21:4](/revelation/21-4 "Revelation 21:4 - No More Tears")). Our gladness in Him is not just a balancing act, but an overflowing, eternal delight rooted in His finished work.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Psalms 126:5

They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.

Psalms 126:6

He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves [with him].

Psalms 30:5

For his anger [endureth but] a moment; in his favour [is] life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy [cometh] in the morning.

John 16:20

Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.

Isaiah 40:1

¶ Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.

Isaiah 40:2

Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the LORD'S hand double for all her sins.

Jeremiah 31:12

Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, and shall flow together to the goodness of the LORD, for wheat, and for wine, and for oil, and for the young of the flock and of the herd: and their soul shall be as a watered garden; and they shall not sorrow any more at all.