Psalms - Chapter 90

Psalms 90.1 Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations. Psalms 90.2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God. Psalms 90.3 Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men. Psalms 90.4 For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night. Psalms 90.5 Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep: in the morning they are like grass which groweth up. Psalms 90.6 In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up; in the evening it is cut down, and withereth. Psalms 90.7 For we are consumed by thine anger, and by thy wrath are we troubled. Psalms 90.8 Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy countenance. Psalms 90.9 For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told. Psalms 90.10 The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away. Psalms 90.11 Who knoweth the power of thine anger? even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath. Psalms 90.12 So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. Psalms 90.13 Return, O LORD, how long? and let it repent thee concerning thy servants. Psalms 90.14 O satisfy us early with thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. Psalms 90.15 Make us glad according to the days wherein thou hast afflicted us, and the years wherein we have seen evil. Psalms 90.16 Let thy work appear unto thy servants, and thy glory unto their children. Psalms 90.17 And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it.

Psalms : Chapter 90

Reflection on Psalm 90

Psalm 90, attributed to Moses, invites us to meditate on the eternity of God and human frailty. In the face of our mortality, how should we live? This profound psalm contrasts the eternal nature of God with the brevity of human life. It evokes essential themes such as sin, divine judgment, and our need for wisdom.

The Central Themes of Psalm 90

The sovereignty of God over time, the importance of a life well lived, and the desire for divine grace are at the heart of this meditation. Psalm 90 teaches us to "number our days", an invitation to reflect on how we spend our time on earth.

Meditation on Bible Passages

To deepen our understanding of the themes of Psalm 90, let's meditate on five illuminating Bible passages:

2 Peter 3:8

"Remember this, beloved, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. » This verse reflects God's eternal perspective mentioned in Psalm 90:4.

Job 14:1-2

"Man, born of a woman, is short-lived and endures many trials. She springs up like a flower and fades; she flees like a shadow and does not remain. » These words echo the theme of Psalm 90 about the brevity and fragility of human life.

Ephesians 2:10

"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared beforehand, so that we should walk in them. » This passage refers to the request in Psalm 90:17, which calls on God to establish the work of our hands.

Isaiah 40:6-8

“A voice says, ‘Cry out.’ And I ask, ‘What should I cry out?’ ‘That all mankind is like grass, and all its glory like the flowers of the field. The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.’” » This verse reflects the contrast between God's eternity and human transience, a central theme of Psalm 90.

Revelation 21:4

"He will wipe away every tear from your eyes. There will be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying, nor pain, for the old order has passed away." This verse offers a perspective of hope, in contrast to the reality of human mortality described in Psalm 90.

By meditating on these passages and reflecting on the wisdom of Psalm 90, we are called to live with full awareness of our mortality, while seeking God's grace and guidance in our lives.