God Is Eternal, but Human Life Is Short

90:1 O Lord, you have been our protector through all generations! 90:2 Even before the mountains came into existence, or you brought the world into being, you were the eternal God. 90:3 You make mankind return to the dust, and say, “Return, O people!” 90:4 Yes, in your eyes a thousand years are like yesterday that quickly passes, or like one of the divisions of the nighttime. 90:5 You bring their lives to an end and they “fall asleep.” In the morning they are like the grass that sprouts up; 90:6 in the morning it glistens and sprouts up; at evening time it withers and dries up. 90:7 Yes, we are consumed by your anger; we are terrified by your wrath. 90:8 You are aware of our sins; you even know about our hidden sins. 90:9 Yes, throughout all our days we experience your raging fury; the years of our lives pass quickly, like a sigh. 90:10 The days of our lives add up to seventy years, or eighty, if one is especially strong. But even one’s best years are marred by trouble and oppression. Yes, they pass quickly and we fly away. 90:11 Who can really fathom the intensity of your anger? Your raging fury causes people to fear you. 90:12 So teach us to consider our mortality, so that we might live wisely. 90:13 Turn back toward us, O Lord! How long must this suffering last? Have pity on your servants! 90:14 Satisfy us in the morning with your loyal love! Then we will shout for joy and be happy all our days! 90:15 Make us happy in proportion to the days you have afflicted us, in proportion to the years we have experienced trouble! 90:16 May your servants see your work! May their sons see your majesty! 90:17 May our sovereign God extend his favor to us! Make our endeavors successful! Yes, make them successful! Psalm 91

Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from the NET Bible®, copyright ©1996, 2019 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. All rights reserved.

Psalm 90 contrasts the Lord’s eternal being with the short life of human beings. It shows that human mortality is tied to sin and God’s judgment, then turns to prayer for mercy, wisdom, joy, and lasting help. The psalm moves from praise, to confession, to humble request for God’s favor.

Psalm 90 begins by saying that the Lord has always been Israel’s dwelling place and protector. He existed before the mountains and before the world, so he is not part of creation.

Human life is short. People return to dust. Their lives are like grass that grows quickly and then dries up. The psalm is not only saying that life is brief; it is showing that human life is fragile under the reality of sin and death.

The psalm speaks clearly about sin and judgment. God knows every sin, even hidden sins. Human lives pass quickly because of his anger against sin, and even the strongest years are filled with trouble.

Because life is short, the psalm asks God to teach his people to number their days so they may live wisely. It then asks the Lord to return to his servants, show pity, satisfy them with his loyal love, give them joy after suffering, and establish the work of their hands.

• The Lord has always existed and is Israel’s dwelling place through all generations.
• Human beings are mortal and return to dust.
• Life is brief, like grass that withers quickly.
• Human suffering is connected with sin and God’s anger against sin.
• God knows hidden sins as well as open sins.
• Wisdom begins with learning to number our days.
• The psalm asks God for mercy, joy, and lasting help.
• The work of our hands needs God’s favor to succeed.

• Warning: God knows all sin, including hidden sin, and his wrath against sin is real.
• Warning: human life is short and fragile, so it cannot be trusted for security.
• Command/Petition: teach us to number our days so that we may gain wisdom.
• Petition: turn back to us, have pity on us, and satisfy us with your loyal love.
• Petition: make us glad according to the days of affliction.
• Petition: establish the work of our hands.
• Hope: God’s loyal love is the only source of lasting joy and fruitfulness.

Psalm 90 shows that the answer to human frailty is not human strength, but the eternal Lord’s mercy. God teaches his people wisdom, forgives sin, and gives lasting help because human life is short and troubled.

We should remember that our lives are short, so we need to live wisely before God. We should not hide our sins, because God already knows them. Instead of trusting our own strength or long life, we should ask God for mercy, joy, and help in our work.

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