Introduction
BOOK IV. Psalms 90-106.
A Prayer of Moses the man of God.
The argument, or arrangement, of the subject matter of this psalm is easily stated. Psalms 90:1-11 are a meditation; Psalms 90:12-17 a prayer arising out of the meditation. The first general division is further subdivided into two strophes: Psalms 90:1-2, a meditation upon the eternity of God, as the refuge and hope of frail man; Psalms 90:3-6, a complaint of human frailty and the vanity of human life; Psalms 90:7-11, a confession of human guilt, which is the cause of all this misery, and of the justness of that divine displeasure which has thus shortened and rendered futile our earthly life and pursuits. The second part is a prayer proper for a wise estimate of the true causes and moral ends of human frailty, Psalms 90:12; for the reversing of the death-sentence, so far as to render human life joyful and satisfying through the certain triumph of mercy over judgment, Psalms 90:13-15; and for the final accomplishment of the covenant plan and purpose through the Church, notwithstanding man’s present perishable and sinful condition, Psalms 90:16-17.That Moses wrote this psalm, according to the inscription of the title, is the general opinion of commentators, Jewish and Christian. The occasion of it is undoubtedly the sentence of God upon the unbelieving people. Numbers 14:0, which see.
TITLE:
Prayer of Moses Emphatically a tephillah, or prayer song, (see titles of Psalms 17, 86,) as distinguished from the tehillah, or praise song, as Psalms 145:0, title. The grave, meditative tone of this psalm is thus denoted. “There is scarcely any written memorial of antiquity which so brilliantly justifies the testimony of tradition concerning its origin, as does this psalm that of its Mosaic authorship.” Delitzsch.
The man of God Moses might have given himself this title, as David did that of “servant of God,” Psalms 36:0, title, or Paul that of “apostle of Jesus Christ,” 2 Corinthians 1:1, See Deuteronomy 33:1. It was, however, more likely added by a later compiler.
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