Moses wrote this Psalm. It is a profound summary of humanity passing through this life and finding purpose, direction, and fulfillment. It begins with the source of life, which is also the guide for life, which is also the goal of life - God (Romans 11:33-36; Psalm 23:1-6; 27:1; 46:1-11; 48:14; 100:1-5; 102:24-28; Revelation 1:8). Moses had a grasp of this and an experience with this that God has used to change millions of people's lives. Here is a brief view of this psalm:

Psalm 90:1-2 - God is the eternal creator and sustainer of all things. He is ever present and available to every generation (Acts 17:22-29; Matthew 6:24-34). He is the "I AM" (Exodus 3:14).

Psalm 90:3 - Men have strayed from God through sin (Romans 3:23). God calls men to repent, to come back, to return to Him (Isaiah 55:6-7; Acts 17:30-31 cp. Psalm 139:1-24).

Psalm 90:4-6 - God, being eternal, is not constrained by time. However, men are presently kept in a bubble of time and are limited to a brief existence (I Timothy 1:17; James 1:17; 4:14).

Psalm 90:7-11 - We all are sinners living in a sin-cursed earth and have a serious dilemma! The beauty and mercy that can be experienced in this life is contrasted by terrible and disastrous things. Man-made explanations and solutions will not do. To understand the significance and meaning of God's hatred of sin requires a revelation from God. Not only is life brief, it is a short path to destruction. We have a little time to seek the Lord and to find His thoughts, His ways, His grace (Romans 5:12; 6:23; I Corinthians 1:16 - 2:16; Matthew 3:4-8; 11:25-30; Isaiah 55:6-11).

Psalm 90:12-17 - As we seek the Lord, we have to learn from Him how to divide each day, with its twenty-four hours, so that we can be wise…

• Wise to invite the Lord into every part of our life (Psalm 90:13 cp. I Thessalonians 5:23).


• Wise to seek the Lord's mercy so that His joy would be our strength (Psalm 90:14-15 cp. Lamentations 3:22-24; Nehemiah 8:9-10; Psalm 16:11; 33:20-22; James 4:10; Jude 1:20-21).


• Wise to seek the work of God in our life, to seek His glory and to partake of that glory, passing it on to the next generation, to understand and partake of true beauty (Psalm 90:16-17 cp. Exodus 33:17-19; 34:34:5-8; Psalm 27:4; 29:1-2; 96:6-9 [cp. I Peter 1:13-16; 3:3-4; Ephesians 5:25-27; 3:21]; John 17:17-23; II Corinthians 3:18; Galatians 5:16-26).

In view of this comprehensive psalm / prayer / song, let's consider Proverbs 27:8:

Psalm 90:1-2 told us that God is our "dwelling place" ("Refuge" / "Home"). We were designed and created to know, love, and serve God. The first question in the Westminster Shorter Catechism asks, "What is the chief end of man?" (i.e. what is mankind's main purpose and fulfillment in life). The answer is, "…to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever." Read Psalm 90:1-2 again. If God is eternal, omniscient, and omnipresent, then comprehending God as our dwelling place (i.e. we are at home with God) is something to be communicated and shared with the next generation successively. This truth is always true. This is reality. Anything else is superficial or pure fantasy. If God is my dwelling place, we must ask, "Is this a reality to me? Or am I just not seriously believing it and acting upon it?" The next questions might be, "Are we reaching our next generation with this truth? Or do we really care about the next generation? If we are trying to reach the next generation, are we credible to them?" See Psalm 78:1-8; 145:1-7; 117:1-2.

How have we wandered from our place? "All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned every one, to his own way…" (Isaiah 53:6a cp. Proverbs 14:14a - cp. translations) "Truly, this only I have found: That God made man upright, But they have sought out many schemes / inventions." (Ecclesiastes 7:29) "There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death." (Proverbs 14:12; 16:25) "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23)

See God calling people to return / to repent (Psalm 90:3). See Ezekiel 18:30-32; Isaiah 30:15; 44:22; 55:7.

The gospel tells us that repenting / turning to God must be done by believing and receiving Jesus Christ, His Son. See John 3:16-17; 5:22-24; 6:35-40; 14:1-6; Luke 24:44-48; Acts 10:43; 17:30-31.

If God is our dwelling place, where does God dwell? He fills heaven and earth (Jeremiah 23:23-24; Isaiah 66:1; Psalm 73:25). In the Old Testament He inhabited the tabernacle / temple where he was worshipped (Exodus 40:34-35; I Kings 8:1-53; Psalm 76:1-2). Isaiah 57:15 - He inhabits eternity (cp. translations). He also simultaneously dwelt with those who humbly worshipped Him ("with" cp. "in" - John 14:17. See John 14:16-18). In the New Testament, born again believers are God's dwelling place, individually as a personal temple of God (John 14:15-20,23; I Corinthians 6:19-20; Romans 8:9), and corporately as a church / assembly (I Timothy 3:14-15; I Corinthians 3:9-17; Ephesians 2:11-22; I Peter 2:5). Consider, in the future, the Bride of the Lamb - the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:1-9,22-27).

Are we staying close to Christ? Or (Proverbs 27:8) are we wandering around in life, like a bird wandering from its nest? Is our "homing device" guiding us back to the place of our "first love?"

• John 8:29-36 - Continue in Christ's word / the truth that makes you free. (Colossians 3:16).


• John 15:1-16 - Abide in Christ. Love the brotherhood and be fruitful (cp. John 17:13-26).


• Acts 2:42 - Devote yourselves continually to the apostle's doctrine, the fellowship / communion of the saints, the prayers. Keep in touch with your "first love" (Revelation 2:2-5; Ephesians 3:14-19).


• Colossians 2:6-8; 3:1-17 - Seek Christ-centered thoughts/affections/values. Mortify fleshly passions/impulses. Seek brotherly love and fellowship with God's children, centered on Scripture.