Psalm 90

From Theologica

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''Application''
''Application''
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====4:6 - ====
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====4:6 - Man's Life====
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In the morning it flourishes and sprouts anew;  
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In the morning it flourishes and sprouts anew;<br/>
Toward evening it fades and withers away.
Toward evening it fades and withers away.
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''Observation''
''Observation''
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* Expanding on the idea of Grass being short lived
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* Expanding on the idea of Grass being short lived from v5
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*  
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* Describes man's life. 
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** In the morning of his life, he has energy and vigor
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** As the "day" progresses, his life begins to fade and pass away
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* Nevertheless, grass is alive, it has a life; so does man.
''Interpretation''
''Interpretation''
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* The combination of this verse and v5 sets up the next set of verses.
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** It is the psalmist reminding God a moment of anger for God can last generations for man
''Application''
''Application''
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====4:7 - ====
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For we have been consumed by Your anger<br/>And by Your wrath we have bee dismayed..
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Ps 90:7 ¶ For we have been consumed by Your anger And by Your wrath we have bee dismayed.
 
Ps 90:8 You have placed our iniquities before You, Our secret {sins} in the light of Your presence.
Ps 90:8 You have placed our iniquities before You, Our secret {sins} in the light of Your presence.
Ps 90:9 For all our days have declined in Your fury; We have finished our years like a sigh.
Ps 90:9 For all our days have declined in Your fury; We have finished our years like a sigh.

Revision as of 18:49, 18 December 2007

Contents

Overview

Outline

I. God in Light of Man (4:1-6)
II. Man in Light of God (4:7-12)
III. Supplication (4:13-17)

Study

God in Light of Man (4:1-6)

Observation

Interpretation

Application

4:1 - God Our Dwelling Place

Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations.

Observation

  • Moses is speaking, so it is safe to assume "our" refers to Israel, and "generations" refers to Israel's generations
  • dwelling place, abode, domicile
    • A place to seek shelter
    • A place which gives shelter
  • By calling up generations, Moses brings up history
    • God has offered shelter throughout Israel's history.
    • Israel has sought refuge in God throught their history
  • Dwelling place offers up these thoughts
    • Comfort, family, warmth, safety, peace, rest, security
  • This verse links God's immortality with Israel seeking shelter in Him
    • These are the two main themes in this psalm.

Interpretation

  • God offers safety to His people
  • God's people can seek comfort and security in Him
  • with respect to the rest of the Psalm, this verse seems to offer a taste of what 13-17 are requesting

Application

4:2 - God Everlasting

Before the mountains were born
Or You gave birth to the earth and the world,
Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.

Observation

  • God Existed before the mountains
  • God created the earth and the world (assuming the universe)
  • God is everlasting (infinite, immortal)
  • He alone is God
  • Continues to expand on Verse 1. Not only has God lived as long as Israel has had generations, but He is everlasting.

Interpretation

  • God is timeless

Application Note:

  • Key verse:
    • God's timelessness
    • References creation

4:3 - God the Sovereign

You turn man back into dust
And say, "Return, O children of men."

Observation

  • Does the first line mean that God literally takes the life of men, or does it refer to His outliving them?
    • I can see things from both sides
    • But I think verse five argues that God takes the lives of men.
  • Man is created from dust, to dust he eventually returns
    • The Hebrews apparently understood that dirt is made by the decaying of living things
  • God holds the lives of men in His hands
    • He holds ultimate power over us.
  • The Psalmist recognized God's complete sovereignty over him and his people
    • He is not bitter or angry; he just pleads

Interpretation

  • God is sovereign
  • God is the root of life
  • God is the determiner of destiny

Application

4:4 - God's View of Time

For a thousand years in Your sight
Are like yesterday when it passes by,
Or {as} a watch in the night.

Observation

  • It seems that the Psalmist is beginning a comparison between God's and Man's perspectives of time
    • He is doing this in order to begin pleading his people's case
    • He is reminding God that even though man's life may be a blink in God's eye, to man it is a lifetime

Interpretation

  • God's perspective is not man's perspective
  • God does know the difference between the two
  • God is timeless, so really, speaking about God's view of time is sort of silly.

Application

4:5 - Ephemeral Man

You have swept them away like a flood, they fall asleep;
In the morning they are like grass which sprouts anew.

Observation

  • Compares man to the grass
    • Man's life in God's eyes is much like grass's life to man's eyes
    • Not really, but the Psalmist is trying to show perspective
  • States that God is the cause for man's death
  • Sweeping away like a flood:
    • Is this reference to Noah?
    • Is it a reference to an event during the exodus?
    • Is it, rather, a reference to the breadth of God's

Interpretation

Application

4:6 - Man's Life

In the morning it flourishes and sprouts anew;
Toward evening it fades and withers away.

Observation

  • Expanding on the idea of Grass being short lived from v5
  • Describes man's life.
    • In the morning of his life, he has energy and vigor
    • As the "day" progresses, his life begins to fade and pass away
  • Nevertheless, grass is alive, it has a life; so does man.

Interpretation

  • The combination of this verse and v5 sets up the next set of verses.
    • It is the psalmist reminding God a moment of anger for God can last generations for man

Application

4:7 -

For we have been consumed by Your anger
And by Your wrath we have bee dismayed..





Ps 90:8 You have placed our iniquities before You, Our secret {sins} in the light of Your presence. Ps 90:9 For all our days have declined in Your fury; We have finished our years like a sigh. Ps 90:10 As for the days of our life, they contain seventy years, Or if due to strength, eighty years, Yet their pride is {but} labor and sorrow; For soon it is gone and we fly away. Ps 90:11 Who understands the power of Your anger And Your fury, according to the fear that is due You? Ps 90:12 So teach us to number our days, That we may present to You a heart of wisdom. Ps 90:13 ¶ Do return, O LORD; how long {will it be?} And be sorry for Your servnts. Ps 90:14 O satisfy us in the morning with Your lovingkindness, That we may sing for joy and be glad all our days. Ps 90:15 Make us glad according to the days You have afflicted us, {And} the years we have seen evil. Ps 90:16 Let Your work appear to Your servants And Your majesty to their children. Ps 90:17 Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us; And confirm for us the work of our hands; Yes, confirm the work of our hands.

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