The Prayers of an Exile (Psalm 90)
A Prayer of Moses, the man of God.
1Lord, you have been our dwelling place
in all generations.
2Before the mountains were brought forth,
or ever you had formed the earth and the world,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
3You return man to dust
and say, “Return, O children of man!”
4For a thousand years in your sight
are but as yesterday when it is past,
or as a watch in the night.
5You sweep them away as with a flood; they are like a dream,
like grass that is renewed in the morning:
6in the morning it flourishes and is renewed;
in the evening it fades and withers.
7For we are brought to an end by your anger;
by your wrath we are dismayed.
8You have set our iniquities before you,
our secret sins in the light of your presence.
9For all our days pass away under your wrath;
we bring our years to an end like a sigh.
10The years of our life are seventy,
or even by reason of strength eighty;
yet their span is but toil and trouble;
they are soon gone, and we fly away.
11Who considers the power of your anger,
and your wrath according to the fear of you?
12So teach us to number our days
that we may get a heart of wisdom.
13Return, O Lord! How long?
Have pity on your servants!
14Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,
that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
15Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,
and for as many years as we have seen evil.
16Let your work be shown to your servants,
and your glorious power to their children.
17Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us,
and establish the work of our hands upon us;
yes, establish the work of our hands!—Psalm 90 (ESV)
We often think of prayer as talking to God, specifically about our concerns and cares. And that is true. Much of the laments we’ve covered in this series certainly reflect that.
But I have been also intrigues at how the psalms model another mode of prayer. Instead of focusing on the realities of our situation, they focus on truths about God, ourselves, the world we live in. From these realities, the pray-er then ask God for things in line with these truths.
We have already seen some of this in this series as well. In Psalm 19, we looked at the beauty of God’s general revelation in creation as well as God’s specific revelation in Scripture. Then David asks that his words may be likewise pleasing to the Lord. In Psalm 72, we looked at God’s King and then prayed that His kingdom would be established.
So as we approach this psalm today, ask yourself: what do you learn about God? And how do these truths inspire you to pray differently today?
Studying Psalm 90
Read the psalm (included in its entirety above) several times. As you do, take note of several things:
Observations
What are some of the basic information regarding this psalm: the book, genre, author?
What attributes of God are featured here? What names for God do you notice? Take what you have learned in previous psalms into account.
What pronouns are used in this psalm?
What is the tone in this psalm?
Note the “time” words in this psalm.
Are there any interesting parallelisms you notice (e.g. vv. 1-2)?
What are some images and similes you see?
Note the connecting words that link the train of thought (e.g. “for” in v. 7).
What requests are made? How do they link with the truths about God he focuses on?
Interpretation
Understanding the text
This psalm may be classified as a wisdom psalm. What kind of wisdom does it impart?
As a psalm of Moses, we can safely assume that this is the oldest psalm in the book. What do you remember about Moses? When might he have written this psalm? Why might this be a significant prayer for him?
Understanding its place in Scripture
If we are tracing the history of the Jewish people through the psalter, Book 4 is a songbook for exiles. After they are removed to Babylon, Jerusalem lay in rubble and there was no longer any human king on the throne. For that reason, there is very little mention of a human king, as in Psalm 2 or 72.
Why might this oldest psalm appear here, in this book? What might be the purpose of the arrangers of the psalter for putting this psalm here? How might this psalm be significant for exiled believers? What challenges do they face?
Consider Christ as he prayed this psalm. How might it have been significant for him as he was exiled from heaven? When might he have prayed this psalm during his lifetime?
A little commentary
Three names for God in this psalm are used. Two we have already considered and have established refer to the same God. The transcendent God is also the God who is near (Ps. 73)
“God” (vv. 2, 17)=Elohim, emphasizes God’s role as our creator
“LORD” (v. 13)= Yahweh, God’s personal name.
This psalm has a third name for God, also equivalent:
“Lord” (vv. 1, 16)=Adonai, similar to Hebrew word for “lord” (adoni), suggesting sovereignty. In humans, this is an acknowledgement of leadership or power (e.g. Gen. 18:12; 19:2; 1 Sam. 24:8). Adonai, therefore, emphasizes God’s leadership and power over us as our sovereign. To avoid taking the Lord’s name in vain, they would often replace Yahweh, which they considered holy, with Adonai. To them, these two names are equivalent—our King is also the personal God.
Taken together, these three names all refer to the same God, showing different aspects of His nature. He is the creator (Elohim) and King (Adonai) who makes covenants people (Yahweh). He promises to care for us; we owe Him our allegiance and service. How do these names help deepen your understanding of this psalm?
“mountains” (v. 2): created on Day 3. To the Hebrews, the mountains symbolized what is lasting, sturdy and strong.
“dust” (v. 3): Christopher Ash describes dust as disintegrated matter, “temporarily assembled into human life (Gen. 2:7) but can at any time, and one day will, be returned to dust (Gen. 3:19).” It is the reminder that in this present world, death will eventually take us all.
“a thousand years” (v. 4a): 1000 years is about 40 generations. It can also mean an indefinite length of time (Spurgeon). How might this deepen your understanding of what Moses is saying—about God and about us?
“watch in the night” (v. 4c): three hours
“grass” (v. 5): in the hot dry sun of Middle-Eastern Palestine, the grass grows in thin soil and does not have deep roots. It can spring up afresh each morning but be withered and dead by evening.
“presence” (v. 8): means “face.” We are to set out our secret sins before His face.
“pass away” (v. 9): means “turn,” or to “decline or move to their end.”
“sigh” (v. 9): a moan or whimper of defeat
“seventy…eighty” (v. 10a): considered an old age—and a blessing.
“number” (v. 12): reckoning or counting up
“get” (v. 12): “bring in” or “gather in” as in a harvest (Alec Motyer).
“morning” (v. 14): metaphor for His daily care, best pictured for them in the manna he sent daily (Ex. 16:1-21).
Application
In what ways can Christians view their lives here on earth as exiles? How might this psalm help in your pilgrimage through life here on earth? How might this help us as a church or people understanding this journey through life together?
How does remembering the truth of who God is as Adonai, Elohim, and Yahweh flavored how you looked at your days? How have you prayed differently?
Reflection: The Prayers of an Exile
If you poke around this blog, you will probably see that I do enjoy learning about productivity. Which is partly why Psalm 90 appeals to me. Verse 12 particularly resonates with my heart.
But as I studied this psalm, I realized that there is more to it than just praying for a good time management. If we look at what surrounds that verse, we will see several important truths that frame this request.
Truth #1: We are Exiles and Pilgrims
Moses, the author of this psalm, was fully acquainted with what it meant to be both an exile and a pilgrim.
From a Hebrew in an Egyptian palace, to a refugee turned shepherd, and finally to wandering in the desert outside the promised land but never getting in, he experienced it in every stage of his life. He was never home anywhere. He was an exile.
But that didn’t mean he was aimless. He knew God as his dwelling place (v. 1). His home was not on this earth but in the Lord, his creator, king and master. He was a pilgrim going home.
As exiles and pilgrims, this psalm is for us too. It teaches us to pray as we pass through this wilderness land, tethered to the Shepherd who leads us home.
Truth #2: God is Eternal but We Are Not
This leads to the second truth that Moses highlights in this psalm: God is eternal and we are not (vv. 3-11). God is outside of time, but we are governed by time.
This emphasis on God’s eternal nature sets our transience in stark contrast, which forces us to face this truth about ourselves. We don’t have all the time in the world.
Not only are we temporal, we are fragile. This is due to sin. One day, we will return to dust (Gen. 3:19) as part of Adam and Eve’s judgment, something passed on to all their offspring.
Wise prayer means we face these realities, then uses them to make our requests. So what does Moses ask for?
Request #1: Teach Us! (v. 12)
Because of our plight, we ask God to number our days. We don’t have long to live. Only God knows what is ultimately most important.
This is more than asking God to number our schedules but to spend these limited resources wisely. We don’t want to fritter it on lesser things.
Because God is eternal, His vantage point is different. Because we are frail humans, we do not have this wisdom. So we ask God for this discernment, humbly asking us to teach us how to serve Him with my life.
Though there is a lot of emphasis on death, this is a psalm about life—but we need to face the fact of death in order to live life well. This is the heart of wisdom.
Request #2: Return, O LORD! (v. 13)
Not only is our time here on this earth short, it is also hard and painful. This leads to the second request: a cry to the covenant God, the LORD, to return soon.
Like kids on a long trip asking “Are we there yet?” all exiles and pilgrims long for the day when we no longer are wandering. The question assumes that there will be an end—to the judgment for sin as well as the journey through this sin-ridden earth.
So this prayer request is not just a prayer for freedom from hardship and labor but a cry that God would keep His covenant promise to His people. This psalm is not just for individuals but it is a corporate cry—the plural nouns and verbs suggest that this is the prayer of the collective whole.
Request #3: Satisfy Us! (v. 14)
The third request is a plea to God that He would satisfy us with his steadfast, unfailing love. This is what is behind all the covenant promises. This hesed love is what keeps Him turning back to us despite our sin. In return, we can bank on Him to satisfy.
How often we try to find other things to satisfy our longings. But Moses shows us a different way. He remembers who God is and asks God to satisfy those longings. We can do likewise.
Request #4: Make Us Glad! (v. 15)
Sure, life in this world is hard because of sin. But that doesn’t mean that there are no delights in it. Beyond satisfaction, we can even ask Him for gladness, joy, in our trek through this painful world.
This is not a prayer for a happy or painless life but a life where our experiences with affliction and evil will not have the final word. It is asking God for joy in the midst of our sad journey through this world.
This prayer is rooted in the good and faithful love of God for his own—stronger than his wrath against sin. This is a bold appeal to the future—we can be confident, knowing there is an eternal gladness to come in the future, one that will overshadow the painful misery we experience now in this sinful world today.
Request #5: Let Us See Your Power! (v. 16)
In this verse, the parallel structure moves from one thing to something even greater. First, this is a prayer that we not only see His works, but we see Him working in power behind his works. In a little way, it is like asking God to peek behind the curtain to see His glory, as Moses did.
Second, Moses asks this on behalf of God’s servants in this generation, but beyond—to their children. It is also a prayer for future generations to come.
Because God is eternal, He will remain even when we pass away. This request then is based on this truth about Him. The first generation who witnessed the exodus would not see the promised land, but this did not stop Moses from praying that the next generation would see God’s works in power instead.
This is the prayer of faithful parents. We will always pray for God to act, not just in our time but even when we have passed on.
Request #6: Show Us Your Favor! (v. 17)
Last, but not least, Moses prays that their small efforts would be shown His favor. As they labor to do the work that He teaches them to do, the humble will ask God to establish the works of their hands. This is not just mere earthly success, but God looking with pleasure on their offerings and using them to contribute to His greater work.
This request is repeated twice for emphasis. The humble know that they don’t deserve this so they don’t presume on it.
They know they are minor characters in a majestic story. They will come and go. Still, they ask that though they are fleeting like grass, they pray that God would use their works to build on the foundation of Christ, as with gold, silver, and precious jewels (1 Cor. 3:10-15).
Prayers Answered
Though Moses did not know it, in Christ, all these prayers would be answered. Because He lived His days with purpose and intention, He was able to secure our salvation.
Because we know that God will answer every one of these prayers for us in Christ, let us humbly labor, giving ourselves to Him. As we carry out the work he gives us, may we remember that everything we do, big or small, are works that will contribute to the building He is preparing for us.
And then, one day, the exile will come home. The pilgrim will no longer wander. And we will dwell with the Lord we love forever.
Praying the Word
Praise: God is eternal though we are transitory—this should humble us! Praise Him for his eternal nature. Praise Him for His holiness.
Thanksgiving: Thank him for being our dwelling place, our home, in a world that is constantly shifting. Thank him for being our security.
Thank Him for the joyful happy moments he has blessed you here, even though they are fleeting. Receive them as a foreshadowing of the greater joys to come.
Thank Him for the protection we have in Christ, that we have escaped his wrath against our sin. Thank Him that we do not see the end of the story—there is more to come.
Confession: Confess the ways that you have tried to find your home or security in other temporary things. Instead, repent and take up residence in Him as our solid and safe resting place.
Petitions: Use the six requests and personalize them for yourself.
Intercession: As this is a communal prayer, pray each of the requests for the wider church as well. Pray that together, we will each labor wisely to impact the future for His name’s sake.
Pray for our children, that they may live to see the promise we hope for. (v. 16) Pray we will sow joyfully so that they may reap. Pray they may taste the fruit that comes out of our suffering, that they may recognize his powerful hand at work, that they will tell this story to their children, that our faith will not die out.
