Psalm 90
Psalms 90 to 106 form the Fourth Book of the Psalms. In the First Book (Psalms 1 to 41) it may be well to repeat the subject is the state of the Jewish remnant in the first period after their consciences are reached by the Holy Spirit, when, returning to the Holy Land to make their home there, they are living among the ungodly of their nation.
The Second Book looks at the Jewish remnant as having been forced to leave Jerusalem and awaiting the Messiah’s appearing.
In the Third Book which we have just gone through, Israel, the nation, is considered in relation to His coming.
The Fourth Book brings in full deliverance, and the Messiah—who is seen as Jehovah, the Lord—reigning over the earth.
The Fifth book gives a general survey of God’s ways, and closes with praise.
Psalm 90 bears the title “A prayer of Moses, the man of God,” but unlike the 18th Psalm which is taken from 2 Samuel 22, this psalm is not found elsewhere in the Bible. God is Israel’s dwelling place, their home, and from eternity to eternity He is God; time, however long in man’s reckoning, is of small account to Him. Thus, the Fourth Book begins. It is mortal man looking to the eternal and discerning-God.
“Thou makest mortal man to return to dust, and sayest, etc.,” (verse 3, N. T.). Man is like grass that grows up only to be soon cut down, but there has been dine wrath against iniquity, and Israel—that is, the godly ones—are consumed by God’s anger, troubled by His fury.
The three score and ten years given as life’s ordinary span (verse 10) reminds us of the great change from the days bore the flood when men past nine hundred years old were living. After the flood man’s life was much shortened. Abraham lived to be 175, and Isaac 180 years, Jacob 147, Moses 120, Joshua 110, Eli 98, and these last seem to have been exceptionally long lived for their time. The object in mentioning man’s years in the psalm is evidently by way of contrast with God and eternity. In the millennium evidently, none but sinners will die (see Isaiah 65:20-2220There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed. 21And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. 22They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands. (Isaiah 65:20‑22)).
In the latter part of verse 10 the better reading is “yet is their pride labor and vanity.” Verse 13 is an appeal to God to return for deliverance; how long would they have to wait for the display of His power? Faith looks to Him, that as He had afflicted His people, in due time He would turn their sorrow into joy.
ML 05/31/1931