Moses
Psalm 90
A Prayer of Moses the man of God.
Scripture (KJV)
1Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations.
2Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.
3Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men.
4For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.
5Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep: in the morning they are like grass which groweth up.
6In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up; in the evening it is cut down, and withereth.
7For we are consumed by thine anger, and by thy wrath are we troubled.
8Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy countenance.
9For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told.
10The 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.
11Who knoweth the power of thine anger? even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath.
12So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.
13Return, O LORD, how long? and let it repent thee concerning thy servants.
14O satisfy us early with thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
15Make us glad according to the days wherein thou hast afflicted us, and the years wherein we have seen evil.
16Let thy work appear unto thy servants, and thy glory unto their children.
17And 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.
Summary
Psalm 90 is the only psalm attributed to Moses, the man of God, and it is a profound meditation on the eternity of God and the brevity of human life. Moses opens with the confession, "Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations," and declares that from everlasting to everlasting, God is God. Before the mountains were brought forth, He formed the earth and the world. A thousand years in His sight are but as yesterday. Human life is like grass that flourishes in the morning and withers in the evening. God’s anger consumes His people, and their days pass away in wrath as a tale that is told. The days of our years are threescore and ten, or fourscore by reason of strength, yet their strength is labor and sorrow. The pivotal verse 12 is the heart: "So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom." Moses asks God to return, to satisfy them early with His mercy, to make them glad according to the days of affliction, to let His work appear to His servants and His glory to their children. The psalm closes with the prayer: "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."
The major themes are God’s eternity, human brevity, wisdom, mercy, and the establishment of our work. Practically, the psalm teaches that numbering our days is the path to a heart of wisdom, and that God’s mercy can satisfy us even in the midst of life’s brevity. The great lesson is that God is our dwelling place, and the beauty of the LORD can be upon us.
Key Themes
A Prayer from Psalm 90
Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations. From everlasting to everlasting, You are God. Before the mountains were brought forth, You formed the earth and the world. A thousand years in Your sight are but as yesterday. You carry us away as with a flood; we are like grass that flourishes in the morning and withers in the evening. Our days pass away in Your wrath; we spend our years as a tale that is told. Teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. Return, O LORD; let it repent You concerning Your servants. Satisfy us early with Your mercy, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. Make us glad according to the days wherein You have afflicted us. Let Your work appear to Your servants and Your glory to their children. Let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Reflection Questions
- 1How does this psalm contrast the eternity of God with the brevity of human life?
- 2What does it mean to "number our days" and how does it lead to wisdom?
- 3How can God’s mercy satisfy us even in the midst of life’s brevity?
- 4Where do I need God to establish the work of my hands?
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