12/20/11: Psalm 90

Psalm 90
"A prayer of Moses the man of God."
Moses acknowledges God's glory and majesty. He then states that the Lord is angry at them and prays for His anger to stop and have compassion for His servants.

Verse	Observation	Interpretation	Application
1Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations. 2Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. 3You turn men back to dust, saying, “Return to dust, O sons of men.” 4For a thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night. 5You sweep men away in the sleep of death; they are like the new grass of the morning— 6though in the morning it springs up new, by evening it is dry and withered.	Moses acknowledges God's glory and majesty. Some characteristics of God he mentioned are: Dwelling place - I don't really understand what he means here by dwelling place, but I think Moses means "protector" or "shelter" here, like a house being a dwelling place and a shelter. Eternity - v.2 ...from everlasting to everlasting you are God. Also we see that for Him, the seeming passage of time is different. v. 4 "For a thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by or like a watch in the night." Power over Life/Death - v.5 "You sweep men away in the sleep of death." He also remembers that men are short-lived, v.5-6 "they are like the new grass of the morning - though in the morning it springs up new, by evening it is dry and withered."	In prayers, perhaps it is right to follow Moses' example by starting with an acknowledgement of God's power and glory and honor.	Start prayers with acknowledgement of God's "power and glory and honor and praise".
7We are consumed by your anger and terrified by your indignation. 8You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence. 9All our days pass away under your wrath; we finish our years with a moan. 10The length of our days is seventy years— or eighty, if we have the strength; yet their span is but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away. 11Who knows the power of your anger? For your wrath is as great as the fear that is due you. 12Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.	Moses tells God that they (presumably Israel) cannot take God's anger. Moses mentions another quality of God, being omniscient of our sins. (v8) v.9-10 however long humans live, (evil people live up to a hundred years, while some good people die early) the life we live here is but "trouble and sorrow." v.10 "...yet their span (footnote says that this could also mean "the best of them") is but trouble and sorrow,..."	God is omniscient. God's anger is fearsome.	Do not be dismayed if 'good' men live short while 'evil' men live long. Life here is only temporary. "number your days aright, that you may gain a heart of wisdom." Plan for the future. Always remember that we only live for a short while, so make the most out of it by sharing God's love and Gospel.
13Relent, O Lord! How long will it be? Have compassion on your servants. 14Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days. 15Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, for as many years as we have seen trouble. 16May your deeds be shown to your servants, your splendor to their children. 17May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us— yes, establish the work of our hands.	Moses asks the Lord to stop. To bargain with the Lord like this, Moses must have known how compassionate a God He is. (Contrary to the theory that the God in the Old Testament is a God of fear)	The Lord is a compassionate God. (But do not forget that He is also a God of justice and of truth, as mentioned in Psalm 89 and here)
52Praise be to the Lord forever! Amen and Amen.

Feel free to correct me if there is anything wrong in my understanding of the Bible. I am not a Bible scholar or anything, I'm just studying the Word of God.