Psalm 90 is the oldest text in the collection of Psalms. It's notable that the eldest psalm would contain a reference to the brevity of human life, as seen in verse 10.

Moses opens this psalm with a clear contrast. God is eternal and everlasting; man is temporary and created. The opening phrases establish that God is beyond time and the universe; He has no origin or creation. Rather, as God stated to Moses (Exodus 3:14), He simply "is." Human beings, on the other hand, die and return to the dust from which they are made (Psalm 90:1–4). Our study follows the outline below:

1. God’s Eternality and Mankind’s Brevity of Life (v. 1-6)
2. The Reason for Mankind’s Brevity of Life (v. 7-11)
3. God’s Steadfast and Unfailing Love (v. 12-17)

Moses ends this prayer with a plea for God to rescue and enlighten His people. The cry of "how long" is a common one from the Old Testament (Psalm 6:3; 35:17; 89:46; Isaiah 6:11; Habakkuk 1:2). It's normal in the middle of hardship to wonder when, or even if, God will respond. And yet, Moses expresses faith that God will give Israel reasons to rejoice. He especially asks for God to demonstrate Himself to the people, to encourage their faith. The psalm ends with a repeated request for God to bless Israel's efforts (Psalm 90:13–17).

Digging Deeper

Discussion Questions

• According to verse 12, what lesson does Moses want God to teach him and why does he want to learn it?
• What lessons does Psalm 90 teach us about numbering our days?
• What insights does Psalm 90 give us about what a heart of wisdom looks like?
• In the face of life's transience, how can we find joy as mentioned in verse 15?
• How does the contrast between God's eternity and human fraility in Psalm 90 influence your perspective on life?
• Moses speaks about God's wrath in relation to human sin. How does this challenge you to evaluate your actions and choices?
• How does Moses's plea for God's favor in verse 17 resonate with your personal aspirations?
• What can we learn from the prayer of Moses (Psalm 90)?