[2] Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.
Thou — Thou hadst thy power, and all thy perfections, from all eternity.
Verse 3
[3] Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men.
Turnedst — But as for man, his case is far otherwise, though he was made by thee happy. and immortal, yet for his sin thou didst make him mortal and miserable.
Saidst — Didst pronounce that sad sentence, return, O men, to the dust out of which ye were taken, Genesis 3:19.
Verse 4
[4] For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.
Past — Indeed time seems long when it is to come, but when it is past, very short and contemptible.
A watch — Which lasted but three or four hours.
Verse 5
[5] Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep: in the morning they are like grass which groweth up.
Them — Mankind.
Away — Universally, without exception or distinction.
A sleep — Short and vain, as sleep is, and not minded 'till it be past.
Verse 7
[7] For we are consumed by thine anger, and by thy wrath are we troubled.
Are consumed — Thou dost not suffer us to live so long as we might by the course of nature.
Verse 8
[8] Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy countenance.
Hast set — Thou dost observe them, as a righteous judge, and art calling us to an account for them.
Secret sins — Which though hid from the eyes of men, thou hast brought to light by thy judgments.
Verse 10
[10] The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.
Our years — Of the generality of mankind, in that and all following ages, some few persons excepted.
Flee — We do not now go to death, as we do from our very birth, but flee swiftly away like a bird, as this word signifies.
Verse 11
[11] Who knoweth the power of thine anger? even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath.
Thy fear — According to the fear of thee; according to that fear which sinful men have of a just God.
So — It bears full proportion to it, nay indeed doth far exceed it.
Verse 12
[12] So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.
Teach us — To consider the shortness of life, and the certainty and speediness of death.
That — That we may heartily devote ourselves to true wisdom.
Verse 13
[13] Return, O LORD, how long? and let it repent thee concerning thy servants.
Return — To us in mercy.
How long — Will it be before thou return to us? Repent thee - Of thy severe proceedings against us.
Verse 14
[14] O satisfy us early with thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
Early — Speedily.
Verse 17
[17] And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it.
The beauty — His gracious influence, and glorious presence.
Psalm 90 Bible Commentary
John Wesley’s Explanatory Notes
Verse 2
[2] Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.
Thou — Thou hadst thy power, and all thy perfections, from all eternity.
Verse 3
[3] Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men.
Turnedst — But as for man, his case is far otherwise, though he was made by thee happy. and immortal, yet for his sin thou didst make him mortal and miserable.
Saidst — Didst pronounce that sad sentence, return, O men, to the dust out of which ye were taken, Genesis 3:19.
Verse 4
[4] For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.
Past — Indeed time seems long when it is to come, but when it is past, very short and contemptible.
A watch — Which lasted but three or four hours.
Verse 5
[5] Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep: in the morning they are like grass which groweth up.
Them — Mankind.
Away — Universally, without exception or distinction.
A sleep — Short and vain, as sleep is, and not minded 'till it be past.
Verse 7
[7] For we are consumed by thine anger, and by thy wrath are we troubled.
Are consumed — Thou dost not suffer us to live so long as we might by the course of nature.
Verse 8
[8] Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy countenance.
Hast set — Thou dost observe them, as a righteous judge, and art calling us to an account for them.
Secret sins — Which though hid from the eyes of men, thou hast brought to light by thy judgments.
Verse 10
[10] The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.
Our years — Of the generality of mankind, in that and all following ages, some few persons excepted.
Flee — We do not now go to death, as we do from our very birth, but flee swiftly away like a bird, as this word signifies.
Verse 11
[11] Who knoweth the power of thine anger? even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath.
Thy fear — According to the fear of thee; according to that fear which sinful men have of a just God.
So — It bears full proportion to it, nay indeed doth far exceed it.
Verse 12
[12] So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.
Teach us — To consider the shortness of life, and the certainty and speediness of death.
That — That we may heartily devote ourselves to true wisdom.
Verse 13
[13] Return, O LORD, how long? and let it repent thee concerning thy servants.
Return — To us in mercy.
How long — Will it be before thou return to us? Repent thee - Of thy severe proceedings against us.
Verse 14
[14] O satisfy us early with thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
Early — Speedily.
Verse 17
[17] And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it.
The beauty — His gracious influence, and glorious presence.
In us — Do not only work for us, but in us,