Psalm 90

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.

So far no one has experienced Judgment Day.  But billions of people have experienced their personal day of judgment, as their souls have gone to heaven or hell at the point of death.

What goes through the mind of a person facing death?  Psalm 90 gives us insight into the mind of a believer facing death.

Verses 1,2 – People facing death think back on those who have died before them.  For many generations, believers have testified to their confidence in God as they faced death.  Being in hospice gives an opportunity to testify to the faith.

Verses 3-6 – Even long lives feel like they have gone by quickly as people face the inevitability of death.  But God transcends time, so he is there for us no matter when we approach the end of our life.

Verses 7-10 – People think about the sins they have committed, especially those that others do not know about.  They weigh heavily on some.  All of us need to hear that our sins are completely forgiven through faith in Jesus Christ.  People think about bad things that have happened, even when they were not responsible.  All of us need to hear that God has been and continues to be in control of our lives.

Verses 11-12 – Even when we are not facing death, we can learn from talking to those who are.  The Holy Spirit teaches us to number our days, and gives us the Word of the Lord so that we can gain a heart of wisdom.

Verses 13-16 – God’s love for us is unfailing.  This is true for us every morning, and it is true for our children as well, even when we are no longer around to tell them.

Verse 17 – People wonder whether what they did in life was worthwhile.  It is appropriate to pray for God to bless and establish the work of our hands.