Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
Psalms Ch.90 / 150 Ch.s
PS:90
* The eternity of God, the frailty of man. (1-6) Submission to
Divine chastisements. (7-11) Prayer for mercy and grace. (12-17)
#1-6 It is supposed that this psalm refers to the sentence
passed on Israel in the wilderness, #Nu 14|. The favour and
protection of God are the only sure rest and comfort of the soul
in this evil world. Christ Jesus is the refuge and
dwelling-place to which we may repair. We are dying creatures,
all our comforts in the world are dying comforts, but God is an
ever-living God, and believers find him so. When God, by
sickness, or other afflictions, turns men to destruction, he
thereby calls men to return unto him to repent of their sins,
and live a new life. A thousand years are nothing to God's
eternity: between a minute and a million of years there is some
proportion; between time and eternity there is none. All the
events of a thousand years, whether past or to come, are more
present to the Eternal Mind, than what was done in the last hour
is to us. And in the resurrection, the body and soul shall both
return and be united again. Time passes unobserved by us, as
with men asleep; and when it is past, it is as nothing. It is a
short and quickly-passing life, as the waters of a flood. Man
does but flourish as the grass, which, when the winter of old
age comes, will wither; but he may be mown down by disease or
disaster.
#7-11 The afflictions of the saints often come from God's love;
but the rebukes of sinners, and of believers for their sins,
must be seen coming from the displeasure of God. Secret sins are
known to God, and shall be reckoned for. See the folly of those
who go about to cover their sins, for they cannot do so. Our
years, when gone, can no more be recalled than the words that we
have spoken. Our whole life is toilsome and troublesome; and
perhaps, in the midst of the years we count upon, it is cut off.
We are taught by all this to stand in awe. The angels that
sinned know the power of God's anger; sinners in hell know it;
but which of us can fully describe it? Few seriously consider it
as they ought. Those who make a mock at sin, and make light of
Christ, surely do not know the power of God's anger. Who among
us can dwell with that devouring fire?
#12-17 Those who would learn true wisdom, must pray for Divine
instruction, must beg to be taught by the Holy Spirit; and for
comfort and joy in the returns of God's favour. They pray for
the mercy of God, for they pretend not to plead any merit of
their own. His favour would be a full fountain of future joys.
It would be a sufficient balance to former griefs. Let the grace
of God in us produce the light of good works. And let Divine
consolations put gladness into our hearts, and a lustre upon our
countenances. The work of our hands, establish thou it; and, in
order to that, establish us in it. Instead of wasting our
precious, fleeting days in pursuing fancies, which leave the
possessors for ever poor, let us seek the forgiveness of sins,
and an inheritance in heaven. Let us pray that the work of the
Holy Spirit may appear in converting our hearts, and that the
beauty of holiness may be seen in our conduct.