Bible Commentaries

IV. THE NUMBERS SECTION: BOOK FOUR: Psalm 90-106

The Ninetieth Psalm begins the fourth book of Psalms, corresponding in different ways with the book of Numbers. It opens with the only Psalm written by Moses in the wilderness when the people were dying on account of unbelief, and is followed by a Psalm which shows the second man, the Lord as the head of a new creation. In this book are found numerous millennial Psalms, showing us prophetically when under Christ, in the day when all things are put under His feet, the wilderness experiences of His people end, glory comes to Israel, the nations and all the earth. Psalms 90:1-17; Psalms 91:1-16; Psalms 92:1-15; Psalms 93:1-5

Psalm 90

Man’s Condition of Sin and Death

1. The Eternal One (Psalms 90:1-2)

2. Frailty and Death because of Sin (Psalms 90:3-10)

3. The Prayer: Return Jehovah! How long? (Psalms 90:11-17)

This Psalm of Moses shows what man is as a sinner, picturing his nothingness, the misery and frailty of his life, and death. The race dies, but does not become extinct, for He says, “Return ye children of men. They are carried away as with a flood, they are as a sleep-like grass which groweth up. In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up; in the evening it is cut down and withereth.” And time to the Eternal One is as nothing, for a thousand years are to Him as nothing. (See 2 Peter 3:8.) It is true, every statement as to frailty, uncertainty and death, of the entire race. But even in this Psalm of the first man with sin and death, we must see the prophetic aspect. If Psalms 90:7-8 are true of those who died in the wilderness, they are also true of God’s earthly people in the time of their trouble. “For we are consumed by Thine anger and by Thy wrath are we troubled. Thou hast set our iniquities before Thee, our secret sins in the light of Thy countenance.” Hence their plea to return. The prayer with which this Psalm of death closes becomes illuminated when we look at it dispensationally. “Return, O LORD, how long? And let it repent Thee concerning Thy servants. O satisfy us early with Thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.--Let Thy work appear unto Thy servants and Thy glory unto their children.” It is the expression of hope uttered by His earthly saints.