Book 4 (Psalms 90–106)

Psalm 90

As we gather around God’s Word to study another psalm, let us pray together that God the Father will speak to us through the Holy Spirit:

Gracious Heavenly Father, we come as individuals and groups into your presence. We come from the busy-ness of life, and we sit at your feet as Mary did. We ask and pray that you will lessen the distractions of life, that you will open our hearts to receive your Word and that you open our ears to hear your words that you will speak to us today. All this we ask in Jesus’ wonderful name. Amen.

Over the October and November studies we will be looking at Book Four of the Psalms. The psalms that are included in this section are from Psalm 90 through to Psalm 106.

What does Book Four of the psalms offer us? In a large nutshell, it offers an overview of the human condition and the sovereignty of God, emphasising themes of divine eternity, the Lord’s reigning kingship, and the contrast between human frailty and God’s unchanging nature, often expressed through prayers and praises that acknowledge both suffering and hope in God’s unwavering control and ultimate restoration of his kingdom.

Book Four is considered a pivotal turning point in the psalms, answering the questions and challenges presented in Books 1–3 (Psalms 1–89) with a clear message of God’s reign and the hope found in his promises.

During today’s study we will focus on Psalm 90.

Please take turns in reading out loud Psalm 90 verse by verse.

What thoughts struck you as you heard this psalm being read out? Did you have any positive thoughts? Did you have any negative thoughts? Was there something different in one of the translations?

Does it remind you of any hymns or songs?

You might be surprised to know that many of the psalms have been turned into or paraphrased into hymns and even modern songs. Two such hymns that may come to mind for Psalm 90 could be O God, Our Help in Ages Past by Isaac Watts and Abide with me, fast falls the eventide by Henry Francis Lyte.

Can you think of any others?

Some of the Bible translations you have used today would have attributed this psalm to Moses as a prayer. It is the only psalm attributed to him, yet this is a powerful psalm and prayer for all of us.

This Psalm looks at eternity from God’s point of view and at the frailty of humanity. Many of us would have experienced the death of a loved one – parents, partners, relations, or friends. Some of us may even have lost children through death.

Please re-read verses 1 and 2.

In verse 1, Moses recognises that God has been our dwelling place for all generations.

Where has God protected you in your life? Where have you been aware of an answer to prayer?

Moses then compares God to other things which appear to be everlasting and yet they had a beginning.

What natural formation is referenced in verse 2?

We now know through science that the mountains can be destroyed through erosion. And yet they still last a long time.

Please re-read verses 3 and 4.

In verse 3, we are reminded about the creation of humanity in Genesis 1 and 2.

What was Adam created from? What was Eve created from?

We can also hear an echo of our funeral liturgy and Genesis 3 when God says to humanity, both man and woman, that they will return to dust.

How does this make you feel? Is there joy or dread?

In verse 4, we are reminded of the eternal view of God. For us as humanity we might remember our grandparents, our parents, our children, our grandchildren and hopefully our great-grandchildren. Yet God remembers things from eternity to eternity.

For us human beings a thousand years is a long time, yet for God a thousand years is merely a moment; a day in our life.

Please re-read verses 5 and 6.

Now please read Psalm 103:15–18 and Isaiah 40:6–8. Do you see any similarities between these three readings? Is there anything different between them? Is there a New Testament verse that comes to mind that was spoken by Jesus?

Now that Moses has looked at God’s eternity and the frailty of humanity, he looks at God’s wrath, or anger, over sin. Moses is no fool, he is very aware of his own sins and the sins of humanity. He also realises that God is a holy God who cannot stand the sight of our sin and transgressions.

Please re-read verses 7–12.

Verses 7, 8 and 9 talk about wrath, destruction, and death.

Why does God destroy his wonderful creatures? Especially when he saw that all that he had created was very good? Why can life be so short?

Moses is aware of the answer. He knows that the answer lies with disobedience of humanity and with God’s reaction to the sin and guilt.

We cannot even hide our secret sins from God. God is light and in him there is no darkness at all. Sin comes from and is found in darkness. All sin leads to death and separation unless someone can bring restoration between God and humanity.

And as Moses says, “our years come to an end with a sigh”. I am not sure if you have seen anyone die, but many of us struggle to live on, even when our mortal bodies are physically shutting down. Yet when it comes to the point of death our breath leaves us as a sigh.

In verse 10 Moses talks about the age of humanity.

How many of us have reached seventy or eighty years? Many of us have lived longer than our parents and grandparents. Yet how does seventy or eighty years compare to a thousand years? Even seventy years can appear to be the blink of an eye!

Verses 11 and 12 are a poignant reminder that as humanity we have the tendency to forget the mysterious and yet serious connections between our lives and the role that God plays in our life. Are we thankful when God gives us breath in the morning? Are we thankful when we go to bed at night – that God is watching over us? Therefore, we are encouraged to number our days.

Please re-read verses 13–17.

These verses are a prayer for the return of God’s favour.

This last section of the psalm begins with “Return, O Lord! How long?”

In this sentence, Moses uses words that remind us of the complaints in the Old Testament. We may have used similar words ourselves. How long before I am better?

Moses asks that we are satisfied with the steadfast love of the Lord in the morning.

Have you ever had the experience, where you have received good news, and you know that the only source that it could have come from was from God? How did this make you feel in this instance? Did you rejoice at that time? Did it make your soul glad for many days?

In verse 15, Moses makes a request of God: Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, and for as many years as we have seen evil. This is like asking that our days of misery and sadness can become days of singing and laughter. What is strange for us is that God can provide both these times.

For clarity, please read Isaiah 45:5–7 in multiple translations.

It is sometimes hard for us, because we think that God only supplies good things to us. Yet there are times when God will bring calamity into our lives.

Do agree or disagree? Why would he do this?

We come to verses 16 and 17.

Do you hear the longing in these words? Have you ever longed for something to happen that you have waited a long time for?

And Moses is not being selfish when he asks for this, he wants his descendants to experience the might and rescuing force of God’s love for his people.

In the last verse, we come to a poem which asks God to bless, to prosper, to establish the work of his servants.

Moses realises that true contentment comes only from God.

Where do you find the most contentment? Where are you the most discontent in life? Is contentment something that you can control?

As we close do you have any other thoughts about this Psalm?

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, thank you that you are in control of all things and that you are the same yesterday, today, and forever. Help us to recognise our own frailty and place everything into your hands. All this we ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

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