PSALM 90
A prayer of Moses the man of God.
1 Lord, you have been our dwelling place
throughout all generations.
2 Before the mountains were born
or you brought forth the whole world,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
3 You turn people back to dust,
saying, “Return to dust, you mortals.”
4 A thousand years in your sight
are like a day that has just gone by,
or like a watch in the night.
5 Yet you sweep people away in the sleep of death—
they are like the new grass of the morning:
6 In the morning it springs up new,
but by evening it is dry and withered.
7 We are consumed by your anger
and terrified by your indignation.
8 You have set our iniquities before you,
our secret sins in the light of your presence.
9 All our days pass away under your wrath;
we finish our years with a moan.
10 Our days may come to seventy years,
or eighty, if our strength endures;
yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow,
for they quickly pass, and we fly away.
11 If only we knew the power of your anger!
Your wrath is as great as the fear that is your due.
12 Teach us to number our days,
that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
13 Relent, Lord! How long will it be?
Have compassion on your servants.
14 Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love,
that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.
15 Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,
for as many years as we have seen trouble.
16 May your deeds be shown to your servants,
your splendor to their children.
17 May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us;
establish the work of our hands for us—
yes, establish the work of our hands.
I love reading the Bible with others and digging in to what it means for our lives. Any opportunity to talk about the Bible with others is worth grabbing with both hands. There is one Bible Study more than any other, however, that I would have loved to have attended. It’s the Bible Study in Luke 24 when Jesus explained to his disciples how “the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms” were all about his death and resurrection (Luke 24:44-47). Imagine being there for that Bible Study!
The great news is, every time we read the writings of the Apostles, every time we read the New Testament, we are indeed joining that Bible Study. Take 2 Peter for example. Peter doesn’t quote any Psalms directly in that letter, but as I read Psalm 90, I wonder if Peter read it the morning he wrote his letter. The Psalmist asks, “How long?” (verse 13). Peter asks, with his readers, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised?” (2 Peter 3:4). The Psalmist declares, “A thousand years in your sight, are like a day…” (verse 4). Peter declares, “With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day” (2 Peter 3:8). The Psalm concludes, “May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us” (verse 17). Peter concludes, “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen (2 Peter 3:18).
Indeed, let’s grow daily in the grace and knowledge of Jesus. Peter reminds his readers, “We did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty” (2 Peter 1:16). Let’s join the ultimate Bible Study that started in Luke 24 and continues to this day as we open up the apostles’ teaching about Jesus.
Head: What have you learnt about Jesus from Psalm 90? What have you learnt about yourself?
Heart: How does it make you feel that reading the New Testament as the fulfilment in Jesus of this Psalm – and the whole Old Testament – means joining in the Bible Study Jesus launched in Luke 24?
Hands: How might this way of looking at “Bible Study” inspire you to join a Growth Group if you’re not in one, or to consider it more precious if you are in one?
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for the ultimate Bible Study Jesus launched in Luke 24. Thanks that we can join that Bible Study as we see how the New Testament handles the Old Testament, all centred on your grace to us in Jesus’ death and resurrection. Please help me not only to Grow Daily in your Word but to Grow with others, studying the Bible with them. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
