Psalms Reading – 3.25.2022
Psalm 90
A prayer of Moses the man of God.
1 Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations.
2 Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the whole world,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
3 You turn people back to dust, saying, “Return to dust, you mortals.”
4 A thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night.
5 Yet you sweep people away in the sleep of death— they are like the new grass of the morning:
6 In the morning it springs up new, but by evening it is dry and withered.
7 We are consumed by your anger and terrified by your indignation.
8 You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence.
9 All our days pass away under your wrath; we finish our years with a moan.
10 Our days may come to seventy years, or eighty, if our strength endures;
yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away.
11 If only we knew the power of your anger! Your wrath is as great as the fear that is your due.
12 Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
13 Relent, Lord! How long will it be? Have compassion on your servants.
14 Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, 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 trouble. 16 May your deeds be shown to your servants, your splendor to their children.
17 May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us—
yes, establish the work of our hands.
This psalm is authored by Moses who is described as “the man of God.” This title appears 76 times in the Old Testament and most often refers to Moses.
This psalm contrasts the eternality of God with the finiteness of humankind. From everlasting to everlasting, God has existed. He is infinite. He has always been present. Our minds cannot fathom the reality of such eternal existence.
Because of this, time is told differently between God and mankind. A thousand years to us is like a day to God. Peter uses this example of God’s perspective of time in his second letter as a premise for us to be patient in waiting for Jesus’ second coming because God desires all to be saved. What has been two thousand years for us has only been two days for God!
God’s anger, indignation, and wrath are toward our sin and rebellion which are the very reason our lives have been cut so short. Seventy or eighty years pale in comparison to eternity. Such brevity of life was the curse given for the first sin that has plagued humanity ever since.
Moses asks God to help us number our days correctly in order to gain a heart of wisdom. This is a prayer to make the most of every opportunity we are given with our short lives. It is the same sentiment in the final verse where he asks God’s favor to rest upon us and to use our lives for the eternal good of others and the glory of God.
Memory Verse: Psalm 86:15, But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.
Question(s) to Consider: Does the brevity of life encourage you to consider how you can make the most of it for the glory of God? Are you asking God to give you wisdom to live your life so that you can be an effective disciple-maker to bring others to faith in Jesus?