Psalm 90 is the prayer of Moses, and it contains timeless truths that we can apply to our lives today. This psalm provides perspective on the brevity of life and the eternity of God. It is a sobering meditation on the frailty of human life and the judgment of God. At the same time, it is a plea for God’s compassion and an invitation to live wisely in light of the limits of our earthly existence.
The Eternity of God
In Psalm 90:1-2, Moses contrasts the eternity of God with the frailty of man: “Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.” As mortal creatures whose lives quickly pass away, we need the eternal God as our refuge and security. God is our true home, our resting place in all generations. While human life comes and goes, the eternal God remains forever.
Recognizing God’s eternality gives us perspective. Our lives are fleeting compared to the eternal God “who is and who was and who is to come” (Revelation 1:8). We can find stability, security, and purpose in the eternal God who transcends human history and remains unchanged through the passing ages.
The Frailty of Human Life
In Psalm 90:3-6, Moses meditates on the frailty of human existence in light of God’s eternity: “You return man to dust and say, ‘Return, O children of man!’ For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night. You sweep them away as with a flood; they are like a dream, like grass that is renewed in the morning.” Our lives are alarmingly brief, like grass that flourishes in the morning but fades by evening. Our days quickly pass, soon forgotten like a dream lost to memory.
As Moses contemplates the brevity of life, he recognizes that our earthly existence is tenuous and fragile. Our lives are as transient as grass and flowers that wither and fade (Isaiah 40:6-8; James 1:10-11). We’re here today and gone tomorrow. Moses highlights this truth to provide perspective and motivate us to number our days and live wisely (Psalm 90:12). Life is a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes (James 4:14). We would do well to live consciously in light of the brevity of life.
The Wrath and Judgment of God
In Psalm 90:7-11, Moses highlights God’s wrath toward sin and the shortness of life as a consequence of the Fall: “For we are brought to an end by your anger; by your wrath we are dismayed. You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence. For all our days pass away under your wrath; we bring our years to an end like a sigh. The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away.” Due to sin and rebellion, God’s righteous judgment falls upon mankind, bringing death as punishment.
As sinners, we live under the curse of God’s wrath. The shortness of life is a constant reminder that we are under the reign of sin and death (Romans 5:12, 14). This should drive us to Christ, who bore God’s wrath in our place (Romans 3:25; 1 Thessalonians 1:10). Only in Christ can we escape condemnation and receive eternal life (John 3:16-18). The brevity and pain of this fallen life remind us that we desperately need salvation through Jesus.
A Plea for God’s Compassion
In Psalm 90:13-17, Moses pleads with God for compassion and favor in light of the shortness of life: “Return, O LORD! How long? Have pity on your servants! Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, and for as many years as we have seen evil. Let your work be shown to your servants, and your glorious power to their children. Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands!” Moses cries out to God, asking Him to relent from His wrath and show mercy.
This prayer reveals that while our lives are short and difficult under the curse, God can redeem our fleeting days with His love and favor. By coming to God in repentance and faith, we can receive mercy instead of wrath. Through Christ, we can have joy and gladness even in the midst of earthly sorrows. Though our lives are brief, God can use our years on earth for eternal glory when they are lived by His gracious power.
Living Wisely
In Psalm 90:12 and 17, Moses bookends his prayer by calling for God’s people to live wisely: “So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom…Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands!” Recognizing the brevity of life should lead us to spiritual wisdom, living each day with eternity in mind. This psalm teaches us to number our days, value the time God gives us, and commit our work to Him. Life is short—let us live it well for God’s glory.
Key Lessons from Psalm 90
Here are some key lessons we can take away from Moses’ prayer in Psalm 90:
- Our lives are fleeting and fragile in light of God’s eternity.
- We should number our days and live wisely in light of the brevity of life.
- Sin leads to God’s judgment, pain, and death. We need salvation through Christ.
- We should plead for God’s mercy, love, and favor to redeem our brief lives.
- Though life is hard and short, God can use it for eternal glory if lived for Him.
By coming to God in repentance and faith, we can receive mercy, joy, purpose, and wisdom to live for His glory, even in our few, difficult days under the curse. Psalm 90 provides sober perspective on life that drives us to Christ, our eternal refuge.