Bible Commentaries
Psalms 90

Verses 1-17

XIII

THE PSALM OF MOSES AND THE PSALMS OF DAVID’S EARLY LIFE

Psalm 90; 8; 19; 29; 23.

The author of Psalm 90 is Moses. He wrote this psalm while he was in the wilderness of Arabia. The internal evidence that Moses wrote it at this time is that it bears the stamp of the wilderness period all the way through.

The subject of this psalm, as indicated by the American revisers, is "God’s Eternity and Man’s Transitoriness." Dr. Sampey’s outline of this psalm is good, and we pass it on to you. It is as follows:

1. The eternity of God contrasted with the brevity of human life (Psalms 1-6)

2. The ground for the brevity of man’s life found in God’s wrath because of sin (Psalms 7-11)

3. Prayer for divine forgiveness, and the Joy and stability that follow (Psalms 12-17)

There are several parallels between this and Moses’ Song and Blessing in Deuteronomy 32-33. For example, Psalms 90:1 equals Deuteronomy 33:27 a: Lord, thou hast been our dwelling-place In all generations (Psalms 90:1). The eternal God is thy dwelling-place, And underneath are the everlasting arms (Deuteronomy 33:27 a). Psalms 90:12 equals Deuteronomy 32:29: So teach us to number our days, That we may get us a heart of wisdom (Psalms 90:12.) Oh that they were wise, that they understood this, That they would consider their latter end, (Deuteronomy 32:29.)

There are also several parallels between this psalm and the book of Job. Psalms 90:2 equals Job 15:7 f and Job 38:1-6; Psalms 90:3 equals Job 34:15; Psalms 90:6 equals Job 14:2, all of which has a bearing on the Mosaic authorship of Job.

There are many striking figures of speech in this psalm. A thousand years in God’s sight are but as yesterday, and as a watch in the night. God’s sweeping destruction is likened unto a flood. Man’s life is likened unto grass and ends like a sigh.

The New Testament references or allusions to this psalm or its teachings are found in 2 Peter 3:8, which is equivalent to Psalms 90:4 and in Matthew 6:30 which equals Psalms 90:6.

There is a teaching in this psalm not found elsewhere in the Bible. It is in Psalms 90:10 and relates to the allotted time for man to live which is three score and ten years with a probability for a strong man of fourscore. In 2 Samuel 19:35 we have old Barzillai’s statement of recognition that he had reached the appointed limit of life and was then living on borrowed time.

A brief summary of the teaching and application of this psalm is as follows:

1. The teaching:

(1) The eternity of God and his transcendence

(2) God’s attitude toward sin and sin’s certain punishment

(3) The mercy of God available for sinners

2. The application:

(1) God a refuge

(2) Beware of sin

(3) The sinner’s privilege of prayer

The author of Psalms 8; 19; 29; 23 is David, who composed some of them perhaps late, late in life. We call this group of psalms the psalms of the Shepherd Boy, or the psalms of his peaceful early life. Dr. Sampey calls this group of psalms "The Echoes of a Happy Youth."

The subject of Psalm 8 is God’s strange exaltation of what is seemingly insignificant. The items of information in the title are (1) direction for its use; (2) the tune; (3) the author.

Spurgeon calls this psalm "A Psalm of the Astronomer." The time of day taken as a viewpoint, is a clear night.

A good outline of this psalm is the following:

Opening doxology (Psalms 8:1)

1. Babes achieving great results (Psalms 8:2)

2. Man, though small, not forgotten, but exalted above all other creatures (Psalms 8:3-8)

Closing doxology (Psalms 8:9)

There are several interpretations of Psalms 8:2, viz:

1. That it means child-holiness, as in the case of Samuel and John the Baptist.

2. That it shows God’s providence in behalf of babes.

3. That man in general is helpless.

4. That it refers to David in particular and indicates his weakness; that it also refers to Christ in becoming a babe. The New Testament quotations from this psalm and their application are found in Matthew 21:16; Hebrews 2:5-8; and 1 Corinthians 15:27; thus:

"And said unto him, Hearest thou what these are saying? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea: did ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?" (Matthew 21:16). "For not unto angels did he subject the world to come, whereof we speak. But one hath somewhere testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? Or the son of man, that thou visiteth him? Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; Thou crownedst him with glory and honor, And didst set him over the works of thy hands: Thou didst put all things in subjection under his feet." Hebrews 2:5-8

"For, be put all things in subjection under his feet. But when he saith, All things are put in subjection, it is evident that he is excepted who did subject all things unto him." (1 Corinthians 15:27).

Upon these quotations and their application we can determine the interpretation of Psalms 8:2:

1. That it refers primarily to strength from the weak things (1 Corinthians 1:27)

2. That it was applied to the children at the triumphal entrance into Jerusalem (Matthew 21:16)

Then Psalms 8:4-8 are found to refer primarily to man (Genesis 1:26; Genesis 1:28) and then to Christ as the ideal man (1 Corinthians 15:27; Hebrews 2:5-9).

Some say that the author of Psalm 19 was a pantheist, but he was not. He does not identify God and nature. The two books of revelation according to this psalm are Nature and the Scripture, but they are distinct revelations.

Dr. Sampey’s outline of Psalm 19 is,

1. The glory of God in the material universe (Psalms 19:1-6)

2. The excellence of God’s revealed word (Psalms 19:7-11)

3. Plea for deliverance from every form of sin (Psalms 19:12-14)

This outline shows the progress of the thought, thus: The work of God reveals glory; the Word of God is excellent; prayer to God is the sinner’s privilege when he sees the glory of God in nature and also recognizes his imperfection as he is measured by the perfect Word of God.

A New Testament quotation from this psalm is found in Romans 10:18, in that great discussion of Paul on the Jewish problem of unbelief, showing that the light of nature extended not only to the Jews, but to the whole inhabited earth. Note carefully these words: But I say. Did they not hear? Yea, verily, Their sound went out into all the earth, And their words unto the ends of the world.

There is also a New Testament reference to it in Romans 1:20: "For the invisible things of him since the creation of the world are clearly seen, being perceived through the things that are made, even his everlasting power and divinity; that they may be without excuse."

There is a striking figure in this psalm found in Psalms 19:5-6, in which the rising sun is likened unto a bridegroom coming out of his chamber and running his course, thus: Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, And rejoiceth as a strong man to run his course. His going forth is from the end of the heavens, And his circuit unto the ends of it; And there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.

Thus we see that the time of day taken as a viewpoint in this psalm is the sunrise, the most exhilarating and invigorating point of the day.

Here we note six names of the Word of God with their attributes and divine effects, noting progress in the effect, thus:

1. The law of Jehovah is perfect, restoring the soul. "Law" is the name, "perfect" is the attribute and "restoring the soul" is the effect.

2. The testimony of Jehovah is sure, making wise the simple. "Testimony" is the name, "sure" is the attribute and "making wise the simple" is the effect.

3. The precepts of Jehovah are right, rejoicing the heart. "Precepts" is the name, "right" is the attribute and "rejoicing the heart" is the effect.

4. The commandment of Jehovah is pure, enlightening the eyes. "Commandment" is the name, "pure" is the attribute and "enlightening the eyes" is the effect.

5. The fear of Jehovah is clean, enduring forever. "Fear" is the name, "clean" is the attribute and "enduring forever" is the effect.

6. The ordinances of Jehovah are true and righteous altogether. "Ordinances" is the name, "true" is the attribute and "righteous altogether" suggests a righteous fruitage from the whole law.

Certain classes of sins are recognized in this psalm, viz:

1. The sin of ignorance, of which Paul is a fine example.

2. Secret sin, of which David is an example.

3. Presumptuous sin, of which Saul, son of Kish, is an example.

4. The sin of infirmity, of which Peter is one of the best examples.

QUESTIONS

1. Who is the author of Psalm 90?

2. When written?

3. What is the internal evidence that Moses wrote it at this time?

4. What is the subject of this psalm as indicated by the American revisers?

5. What is Dr. Sampey’s outline of this psalm?

6. What are the parallels between this and Moses’ Song and Blessing in Deuteronomy 32-33?

7. What are the parallels between this psalm and the book of Job?

8. What are the figures of speech in this psalm?

9. What are the New Testament references or allusions to this psalm or its teachings?

10. What is the teaching in this psalm not found elsewhere?

11. What is your favorite verse in this psalm?

12. Give a brief summary of its teaching and application.

13. Who is the author of Psalms 8; 19; 29; 23; and when were they composed?

14. What does Dr. Carroll call this group of psalms?

15. What does Dr. Sampey call this group of psalms?

16. What does Dr. Sampey give as the subject of the Psalm 8?

17. What do the items of information in the title?

18. What does Spurgeon call this psalm?

19. What is the time of day taken as a viewpoint?

20. What is Dr. Sampey’s outline of this psalm?

21. Give several interpretations of Psalms 8:2.

22. What New Testament quotations are from this psalm and what is their application?

23. What then is the interpretation of Psalms 8:2?

24. What is the interpretation of Psalms 8:4-8?

25. What is your favorite verse of this psalm?

26. Is the author of Psalm 19 a pantheist and why?

27. What are the two books of revelation according to this psalm?

28. What is Dr. Sampey’s outline of this psalm?

29. State this outline so as to show the progress of the thought.

30. What is the New Testament quotation from this psalm?

31. What is the New Testament reference to it?

32. What is the striking figure in this psalm? What time of day does this psalm take as a viewpoint?

34. Give six names of the word of God with their attributes and divine effects, noting the progress in the effect.

35. What classes of sins are recognized in this psalm, and what an illustration of each?

36. What is your favorite verse in this psalm?