Psalm 90 Lord, You have been our dwelling place Through every generation. Before any mountains were born You’ve been an adoration. You brought forth the earth and the world. Eternally You are God. You say, “Return to the dust, O men.” Your will is done with a nod. For a thousand years in Your sight Are like a day that’s gone by. Or it’s like a watch in the night, Gone in a blink of an eye. You sweep men away in death’s sleep, Like new grass as morning dawns, That springs up new and glorious. By evening it’s dry and gone. We are consumed by Your anger, And terrified by Your wrath. You have set our sins before You. Secret sins are in Your path. All our days will pass away. We end our years with a moan. Our day’s length is seventy years, Or eighty if we are prone. Yet their span is trouble and woe, For they quickly pass away. Yes, we take wing to soar and fly. We must leave, we cannot stay. Who knows the power of Your wrath, For Your anger is so great? As great as the fear that is due For in Your hands lies our fate. Teach us to number our days aright That our heart may gain wisdom. Relent, Lord! How long will it be? When will Your compassion come? Satisfy us in the morning. Your unfailing love we praise, That we may sing our songs of joy And be glad all of our days. Make us glad when You afflict us With trouble for many years. May Your deeds be shown to us all And quiet our many fears. May our children see Your splendor. May Your favor rest on us. Establish the work of our hands. May we be victorious.
Psalm 90 is attributed to Moses, so it is the oldest psalm. Moses lived about 1500 BC and David 1000 BC, so this Psalm goes back to the time of Deuteronomy when the people of Israel arrived just across the Jordon River from the promise land of Canaan. Moses is in the desert, dealing with the will of God, seeing the promise land from a distance, but knowing he cannot enter. He prays for comfort as he ponders human frailty and the sovereignty of God.
He speaks to the struggles of daily life as he encourages us to number our days and to live this life in the light of eternity. Life is fleeting. The average life span is 78.6 years. My high school class held its 55th reunion last year! Yes, time marches on as we pass through the wilderness of this world, through our struggles of daily life.
God is our dwelling place through every generation. He is our shelter, our home, our comfort, and our refuge. We are dying creatures, and all our comforts in the world are dying comforts, but God is an everliving God. A thousand years are like a day to Him. So what are we to do? Number our days. Make them count. Seek God and fulfill the purpose for which we were created. Make a difference while we can!