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Illustration for Psalm 90: From Everlasting to Everlasting

Psalm 90

From Everlasting to Everlasting

WisdomJoyAdventure

Moses wrote this psalm! He compares God's eternal life — no beginning, no end — to our short human lives that pass like grass in a field. But even though life is short, we can ask God to fill each day with joy and purpose.

  1. 1Lord, You have been our dwelling place throughout all generations.
  2. 2Before the mountains were born or You brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting You are God.
  3. 3You turn people back to dust, saying, "Return to dust, you mortals."
  4. 4A thousand years in Your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night.
  5. 5Yet You sweep people away in the sleep of death— they are like the new grass of the morning:
  6. 6In the morning it springs up new, but by evening it is dry and withered.
  7. 7We are consumed by Your anger and terrified by Your indignation.
  8. 8You have set our iniquities before You, our secret sins in the light of Your presence.
  9. 9All our days pass away under Your wrath; we finish our years with a moan.
  10. 10Our 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. 11If only we knew the power of Your anger! Your wrath is as great as the fear that is Your due.
  12. 12Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
  13. 13Relent, LORD! How long will it be? Have compassion on Your servants.
  14. 14Satisfy us in the morning with Your loving devotion, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.
  15. 15Make us glad for as many days as You have afflicted us, for as many years as we have seen trouble.
  16. 16May Your deeds be shown to Your servants, Your splendor to their children.
  17. 17May 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.

What it means

Moses wrote this — the oldest psalm. God was here before the mountains and will be here forever; our lives are short by comparison. So we ask Him to help us count our days and use them wisely.

A little prayer

Lord, You were here before the mountains, and You'll be here forever. Teach me to count my days and use them well — fill my mornings with Your love. Amen.

Memory verse

“So teach us to number our days, that we may present a heart of wisdom.”

Psalm 90:12 (BSB)

It asks for wisdom about time rather than more of it.

Talk about it

Questions with no single right answer — for a family table or a Sunday-school circle.

  1. Moses wrote this. He compares God's life with no beginning or end to our lives passing like grass. How does that make you feel?
  2. The psalm asks God to teach us to number our days. Why count them?
  3. It asks God to make us glad for as many days as He has made us sad. Is that a fair request?
  4. If you knew this year was the only one, what would you change?

Try this

Count the days

Work out roughly how many days old you are. Write the number down and look at it. Then write one thing you would like to do with the next hundred.

You will need: A calculator and paper.

Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible (BSB)