Psalm 90 tells us there is a place for pessimism, a very important lesson to learn. Psalms 90 commentary albert barnes notes on the whole bible. Psalms 90 commentary matthew henry commentary on the whole. His divine existence reaches out of the unlimited past into the unlimited future this is the second. Psalm 90 is the oldest psalm, written by moses by the year 1440 bc. Moses begins with the declaration of the majesty of the lord adonai but when he arrives at ps 90. The favour and protection of god are the only sure rest and comfort of the soul in this evil world. Book four psalm 90 106 psalm ninety a prayer of moses the man of god. You may also want to use it alongside bobby grosss personal liturgy for the work day based on psalm 90.
Psalms 90 commentary james burton coffman commentaries. In its literary setting in the book of psalms, then, psalm 90 is a kind of response to the problem of exile articulated at the end of psalm 89. The search for significance leah joy taylor in our modern society, much of life is spent at a frantic pace, an endless striving to keep up with the many demands placed upon it. Psalm 90 is the first psalm in book iv of the psalms psalms 90106. This psalm has several words and phrases denoting time. Jan 07, 2014 charles spurgeon the treasury of david, psalm 90, a prayer of moses the man of god treasury of david. Our days may come to seventy years, or eighty, if our strength endures. There are a number of great commentaries on the book of psalms. Nov 01, 2008 the second major critique i have of this commentary set ties in with the previous one. Psalms 90150 baker commentary on the old testament.
Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations. Through an exploration of psalm 90, this article will strive to give answer to the eternal question of meaning and purpose, particularly in the entrepreneurial realm of business. Notice, as well, that even in its somber thoughts, god is described as israels dwelling place. We are studying psalm 91 for sunday, february 27 a popular psalm of trust in gods protection. Psalms 90 commentary, one of over 110 bible commentaries freely available, this commentary by albert barnes, a dedicated student of the bible, continues to be very popular even today. Psalms 90 150 baker commentary on the old testament wisdom and psalms baker commentary on the old testament volume 3 of psalms, john goldingay. Psalms 90 commentary, one of over 110 bible commentaries freely available, this commentary, by the leading authority in the church of christ, presents a verse level look at the bible. Psalm 90 is the first psalm in book iv of the psalms psalms 90 106. Note, true believers are at home in god, and that is their comfort in reference to all. The lectionary text is the first part of the psalm verses 112 that contrasts gods permanence with the brevity of human life.
He killed a man and had to run away to live in the. Still, it was possible in that time to relate to god in prayer. The psalm is well known for its reference to human life expectancy being 70 or 80. Book four from everlasting to everlasting a prayer of moses, the man of god. Verses 16 this psalm is entitled a prayer of moses. Psalm 90 is one of the most wellknown psalms of the psalter. Commentaries for psalm chapter 90 the eternity of god, the frailty of man. What can we learn from the prayer of moses psalm 90. An easyenglish translation with notes about 1200 word vocabulary on psalm 90. Psalm 90 takes a full view of life including human frailty and divine wrath and a plea for divine grace. Where, and in what volume, it was preserved from mosess time till the collection of psalms was begun to be made, is uncertain.
From the midst of the scurry, we occasionally lift our heads and pause long enough. Study the bible online using commentary on psalm 90. The lord was god before the world was that is the first assertion of psalm 90. The days of our life are seventy years, or perhaps eighty, if we are strong. John goldingays threevolume commentary on the book of psalms is now complete with this third volume. Sep 18, 2005 as the zondervan niv study bible notes, this section of the psalter begins with psalms 90100, a series of 11 psalms arranged within the frame you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations psalms 90. The foregoing psalm is supposed to have been penned as late as the captivity in babylon.
It is supposed that this psalm refers to the sentence passed on israel in the wilderness, nu 14. Psalm 90 who is god and what is man outline for church. Comment if you are preaching or teaching the psalms be sure to check dr barricks resource as he has brief well done comments, a suggested hymn to sing with the psalm, suggested prayers from the psalm and application of the psalm. The book of psalms is one of the most beloved portions of holy scripture. Book 4, psalms 90106 psalm 90 a prayer of moses the man of god. The superscription of psalm 90 calls it a prayer of moses, the man of the true god. Psalms 90 commentary, one of over 110 bible commentaries freely available, this classic commentary, ed in 1804, is scotts observations on the book of psalms. Moses comforts himself, and his people, with the eternal and unchangeable duration. This is the oldest of the psalms, and stands between two books of psalms. A prayer mainly such of moses the man of god deu 33. Psalm 90 clearly describes this conundrum of human life and powerfully gives a word of hope to the existence and purpose of man.
For example, commenting on psalm 8 he writes that the psalm does not refer to the messiah. This is the oldest of the psalms, and stands between two books of psalms as a composition unique in its grandeur, and alone in its sublime antiquity. The psalm uses words that moses said, from these books. This work combines literary, historical, grammatical, and theological insights in a widely accessible manner. Check out these helpful resources biblical commentary sermons childrens sermons hymn lists. This psalm is placed at the beginning of the fourth book of the psalter, according to the ancient traditional division of the psalms. Kidner notes that book i 141 tends to be personal, book ii 4272 and book iii 7389 tend to be national, and book iv 90106 and book v 107150 are more liturgical. This psalm was composed by moses, the man of god, some time after god had sentenced the hebrews to wandering and death in the wilderness, num. Psalm 90 is unique in that it is the only psalm attributed to moses. Most people in the world have no experience of lasting joy in their lives. Book iv opens with this rehearsal of human frailty, but then moves on in the psalms that follow to praise gods good and enduring rule. Keil and delitzsch biblical commentary on the old testament. Spurgeons treasury of david to better understand scripture with full outline and verse meaning. You turn us back to dustour years come to an end like a sigh ps.
Articles sermons topics books podcasts filter resources by. Psalm 90 is the only psalm attributed to moses in the book of psalms although he wrote two other songs that we know of, found in exodus 15 and deuteronomy 32. These facts do not imply that moses is the author of psalm 90, but rather that the editors of the psalter invite readers to hear psalm 90 as a prayer offered by moses on behalf of the people in response to the crisis of exile that is articulated in the concluding psalm of book iii see psalm 89. In book iv, the name yahweh or jehovah is prominent. Moses he had a unique perspective to offer on life when he wrote this psalm. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are god. But even years could be characterized, by one who had lived them, as few and evil gen 47.
The second major critique i have of this commentary set ties in with the previous one. The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty. Unique among the psalms, it is attributed to moses. An integrated digital bible study library including complete notes from the believers bible commentary and the cultural backgrounds study bible. Nov 16, 2014 still, it was possible in that time to relate to god in prayer. Psalm 90 is the 90th psalm from the book of psalms.
An interpretive study on psalm 90 the ninetieth psalm is a masterpiece, archetypal of all hebrew hymnic literature, a prism through which the rest of the book of psalms is refracted. We come now to book iv of the psalter, which, as pointed out in the beyond today bible commentarys introduction to psalms, appears to have originally been joined with book v in a single collection. Goldingay does not read the psalms as messianic, eschatological, or forward looking. Book 4 psalms 90106 bible commentary theology of work. In verse one of psalm 90, god is introduced as both a refuge and the creator.
Psalms 90 commentary, one of over 110 bible commentaries freely available. David guzik commentary on psalm 90, a song of moses in the wilderness where he wrote of gods eternal greatness and mans frailty. Or, perhaps, the author of the arrangement probably ezra designed to place this by itself between the two great divisions of the book, containing respectively the earlier and the later psalms. Psalm 90 1 psalm 90 a prayer of moses the man of god. Psalm 90 and the ascent into insignificance, peter lockhart, a different heresy, 2014. Use this guide for either personal or group study of psalm 90. Since this psalm emphasizes the transitoriness of human life, it was likely composed after the israelites were delivered from egyptian bondage and during their 40year trek in the wilderness, when thousands of deaths brought a faithless generation to its end.
It is realistic, facing troublesome realities squarely and without flinching. Psalms 90 commentary, one of over 110 bible commentaries freely available, this commentary provides notes on all 66 books of the bible, and contain more than 7,000 pages of material. At the time when this psalm was written, caleb was exactly 80 and as strong this day as in the day when moses sent me jos 14. The arrangement of the psalms into five books goes back at least to the time when the hebrew scriptures were translated into greek the septuagint approximately 200 b. In summary, while god is eternal, man is mortal and his life is. All of our resources exist to guide you toward everlasting joy in jesus christ.
We may note how similar this is to the way the babylonian god. Some commentators think this was not the same famous and familiar moses, but the evidence is much stronger for believing that this was indeed the great leader of israel. You return man to dust and say, return, o children of man. Spurgeons treasury of david to better understand scripture. Advance your knowledge of scripture with this resource library of over 40 reference books, including commentaries and study bible notes. In the whole of the fourth division of the psalter psalm 90 106 only three psalms have the traditional author given. It is entitled from everlasting to everlasting and is noted as a prayer of moses, the man of god. Charles spurgeon the treasury of david, psalm 90, a prayer of moses the man of god treasury of david. Psalms 90 commentary matthew henry commentary on the.
An integrated digital bible study library including complete notes from the niv study bible and the nkjv macarthur study bible is just a step away. The frailty of man the brevity of human life as contrasted with this unchanging nature this eternity of god, psalm 90. The psalm begins book iv of the hebrew psalter psalms 90106. This psalm is titled a prayer of moses the man of god. This psalm focuses our attention on the difficulty and the brevity of life. The book is actually a collection of 150 individual songs composed over a period of approximately years, from the time of moses psalm 90 to the postexilic period psalm 126. Study the bible online using commentary on psalms 90 and more. Before i read the passage let me remind you a little bit about moses. One of todays foremost experts on biblical theology, goldingay covers psalms 90150 with his own translation of each passage, followed by interpretive comments. This is the oldest of the psalms, and stands between two books of psalms as a composition. In summary, our meaning in life comes not through what we do, but through. Christ jesus is the refuge and dwellingplace to which we may repair. Alexander regards it as the heart or centre of the whole collection and a model upon which david formed his hymnology.
The translated bible text has yet to go through advanced checking. This attribution makes psalm 90 the psalm of oldest recorded origin. Observe the change of the divine names in this psalm. Biblical commentary bible study psalm 90 introduction. We should also bear in mind that books iv and v look forward to the coming reign of god over all the earth. For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday. This is the last in our threeweek study of psalms, a book of. This psalm was penned by moses as appears by the title, the most ancient penman of sacred writ. Contrasting mans frailty with gods eternity, the writer mourns over it as the punishment of sin, and prays for a return of the divine favor. In the whole of the fourth division of the psalter psalm 90106 only three psalms have the traditional author given. Whats new sermon illustrations faqs daily bible reading. Psalm 90 marks the beginning of book four of psalms. You have been our dwelling place in all generations. As the zondervan niv study bible notes, this section of the psalter begins with psalms 90100, a series of 11 psalms arranged within the frame you have been our dwelling.
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