Finding Eternal Refuge: Reflections on Psalm 90 and Living with Purpose

by Michell Laroche

Psalms 90, New Revised Standard Version

This is now, beloved, the second letter I am writing to you; in them I am trying to arouse your sincere intention by Lord, you have been our dwelling-place in all generations. 2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. 3 You turn us back to dust, and say, ‘Turn back, you mortals. 4 For a thousand years in your sight are like yesterday when it is past, or like a watch in the night.

5 You sweep them away; they are like a dream, like grass that is renewed in the morning; 6 in the morning it flourishes and is renewed; in the evening it fades and withers. 7 For we are consumed by your anger; by your wrath we are overwhelmed. 8 You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your countenance. 9 For all our days pass away under your wrath; our years come to an end like a sigh. 10 The days of our life are seventy years, or perhaps eighty, if we are strong; even then their span is only toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away.

11 Who considers the power of your anger? Your wrath is as great as the fear that is due to you. 12 So teach us to count our days that we may gain a wise heart. 13 Turn, O Lord! How long? Have compassion on your servants! 14 Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, so that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. 15 Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, and for as many years as we have seen evil. 16 Let your work be manifest to your servants, and your glorious power to their children. 17 Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and prosper for us the work of our hands— O prosper the work of our hands!

Psalm 90 is a prayer purportedly authored by Moses and captures a time when the ancient Israelites were living in exile. Moses seems to identify that although the Israelites are living in exile, they have a common dwelling place through God. We are reminded that our human lives on earth are short, but that God is eternal. Time on earth passes very quickly compared to how God perceives time. We are challenged with the reality that our time here on earth is limited.

In the next part of the psalm, Moses seems to search for a deeper meaning behind the difficulties being in exile. It seems as though Moses was grappling with the notion that the Israelites were cast into exile as a result of God’s wrath for their sins. We are reminded that we are transparent in the eyes of God–he understands our thoughts and our motivations, even when they might not be visible to others.

The author looks to God for compassion. Despite that the ancient Israelites were having a difficult time, the message sent by the author is that God’s love is the thing that is needed most–more than any other material thing while they’re living in exile. The author encourages us to do work on this earth in ways that help bring the kingdom of God closer to here on earth. By doing so, we can be closer to God.

~Let us pray~

Dear God,

As we prepare for Christ’s birth in this season of Advent, help us to become wise by choosing actions that reflect how God would like us to live in our short time here on earth. Let us follow in Christ’s example to show kindness and compassion in ways that God would be proud. Help us to inspire others in our lives though our positive actions so that future generations may experience God’s love.

We pray this in Jesus’s name.

~Amen~