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Psalms 90

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1A prayer of Moses the man of God. Lord, You have been our dwelling place through all generations.

2Before the mountains were born or You brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting You are God.

3You return man to dust, saying, “Return, O sons of mortals.”

4For in Your sight a thousand years are but a day that passes, or a watch of the night.

5You sweep them away in their sleep; they are like the new grass of the morning—

6in the morning it springs up new, but by evening it fades and withers.

7For we are consumed by Your anger and terrified by Your wrath.

8You have set our iniquities before You, our secret sins in the light of Your presence.

9For all our days decline in Your fury; we finish our years with a sigh.

10The length of our days is seventy years—or eighty if we are strong—yet their pride is but labor and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away.

11Who knows the power of Your anger? Your wrath matches the fear You are due.

12So teach us to number our days, that we may present a heart of wisdom.

13Return, O LORD! How long will it be? Have compassion on Your servants.

14Satisfy us in the morning with Your loving devotion, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.

15Make us glad for as many days as You have afflicted us, for as many years as we have seen evil.

16May Your work be shown to Your servants, and Your splendor to their children.

17May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish for us the work of our hands—yes, establish the work of our hands!

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Psalms 90:1-6 Verses 1-6

It is supposed that this psalm refers to the sentence passed on Israel in the wilderness, Nu 14. The favour and protection of God are the only sure rest and comfort of the soul in this evil world. Christ Jesus is the refuge and dwelling-place to which we may repair. We are dying creatures, all our comforts in the world are dying comforts, but God is an ever-living God, and believers find him so. When God, by sickness, or other afflictions, turns men to destruction, he thereby calls men to return unto him to repent of their sins, and live a new life. A thousand years are nothing to God's eternity: between a minute and a million of years there is some proportion; between time and eternity there is none. All the events of a thousand years, whether past or to come, are more present to the Eternal Mind, than what was done in the last hour is to us. And in the resurrection, the body and soul shall both return and be united again. Time passes unobserved by us, as with men asleep; and when it is past, it is as nothing. It is a short and quickly-passing life, as the waters of a flood. Man does but flourish as the grass, which, when the winter of old age comes, will wither; but he may be mown down by disease or disaster.

Psalms 90:7-11 Verses 7-11

The afflictions of the saints often come from God's love; but the rebukes of sinners, and of believers for their sins, must be seen coming from the displeasure of God. Secret sins are known to God, and shall be reckoned for. See the folly of those who go about to cover their sins, for they cannot do so. Our years, when gone, can no more be recalled than the words that we have spoken. Our whole life is toilsome and troublesome; and perhaps, in the midst of the years we count upon, it is cut off. We are taught by all this to stand in awe. The angels that sinned know the power of God's anger; sinners in hell know it; but which of us can fully describe it? Few seriously consider it as they ought. Those who make a mock at sin, and make light of Christ, surely do not know the power of God's anger. Who among us can dwell with that devouring fire?

Psalms 90:12-17 Verses 12-17

Those who would learn true wisdom, must pray for Divine instruction, must beg to be taught by the Holy Spirit; and for comfort and joy in the returns of God's favour. They pray for the mercy of God, for they pretend not to plead any merit of their own. His favour would be a full fountain of future joys. It would be a sufficient balance to former griefs. Let the grace of God in us produce the light of good works. And let Divine consolations put gladness into our hearts, and a lustre upon our countenances. The work of our hands, establish thou it; and, in order to that, establish us in it. Instead of wasting our precious, fleeting days in pursuing fancies, which leave the possessors for ever poor, let us seek the forgiveness of sins, and an inheritance in heaven. Let us pray that the work of the Holy Spirit may appear in converting our hearts, and that the beauty of holiness may be seen in our conduct.

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Age Psalm 90:10

The length of our days is seventy years—or eighty if we are strong—yet their pride is but labor and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away.

Age and Wisdom Psalm 90:12

So teach us to number our days, that we may present a heart of wisdom.

Anger: Anger of God Psalm 90:11

Who knows the power of Your anger? Your wrath matches the fear You are due.

Beauty: Spiritual Psalm 90:17

May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish for us the work of our hands—yes, establish the work of our hands!

Earth: Created by God Psalm 90:2

Before the mountains were born or You brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting You are God.

Faith: Exemplified Psalm 90:1

A prayer of Moses the man of God. Lord, You have been our dwelling place through all generations.

Favor Psalm 90:17

May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish for us the work of our hands—yes, establish the work of our hands!

Finding a Job Psalm 90:17

May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish for us the work of our hands—yes, establish the work of our hands!

Flood: References To Psalm 90:5

You whisk them away in their sleep; they are like the new grass of the morning—

God is Declared to Be: Eternal Psalm 90:2

Before the mountains were born or You brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting You are God.

God: Creator Psalm 90:2

Before the mountains were born or You brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting You are God.

God: Eternity of Psalm 90:1, 2, 4

A prayer of Moses the man of God. Lord, You have been our dwelling place through all generations. / Before the mountains were born or You brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting You are God. / For in Your sight a thousand years are but a day that passes, or a watch of the night.

God: Judge, and his Justice Psalm 90:8, 11

You have set our iniquities before You, our secret sins in the light of Your presence. / Who knows the power of Your anger? Your wrath matches the fear You are due.

God: Love of, Exemplified Psalm 90:1

A prayer of Moses the man of God. Lord, You have been our dwelling place through all generations.

God: Power of Psalm 90:3

You return man to dust, saying, “Return, O sons of mortals.”

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