Psalm 90 explained: A Short Life Before an Eternal God

God as home (vv. 1-2)

The psalm's heading credits it to Moses, though many scholars think it was written later. It opens by calling God a home that has sheltered people for generations, a God who existed before the mountains or the earth.

Life is brief (vv. 3-6)

God can end a human life with a word; translations differ on whether verse 3 speaks of returning people to dust or to destruction, but either way it means death. To God a thousand years are like yesterday or a few hours of night guard duty, while a human life is like grass that is green at dawn and dry by evening.

Living under God's anger (vv. 7-11)

The speaker links the shortness and hardship of life to God's anger at human wrongdoing, even hidden wrongs. Seventy or eighty years is the normal span, and even the best of those years are full of toil and pass quickly.

Counting our days (v. 12)

To number our days means to take seriously how few they are. The hope is that facing this honestly will lead to a wise way of living.

A plea for mercy (vv. 13-17)

The speaker asks God to turn back, show steady love, and give as many glad years as there have been hard ones. The closing request is that the work of their hands would be established, meaning that their efforts would last and count for something.

Key verse: Psalm 90:12

Where Christians differ

Christians differ on whether the anger in verses 7 to 11 explains why all humans die or describes the specific hardship of one generation, such as Israel during its years in the wilderness.

Something to think about

What, if anything, makes a short life feel worthwhile to you?