Psalm 90. This psalm is called a prayer of Moses, the man of God. He is the one who led the people through the wilderness to the land of promise. It seems very appropriate as it was suited to the people at that time, and also now in that they have been brought back. The same exercises of heart are necessary. There is the confession of their waywardness and also their frailty, and an expressed desire to be taught by the Lord. We have the statement in verse 1 That Jehovah had been their dwelling place throughout all generations, They had lost sight of this in times past and had been scattered. The Lord is acknowledged as the One who was, before the earth was formed, from everlasting. This is contrasted with man’s short span of life. A thousand years in His sight are but as yesterday, and when it is past, but as a watch in the night. They confess that His wrath has been upon them and their years were as a tale that is told.
Man’s short span of life is mentioned as threescore and ten years, but might be fourscore accompanied by labor and sorrow, and soon cut off. So they desire to number their days in order to have an understanding heart.
In closing they desire to have the beauty of the Lord ever before them, that He may establish the work of their hands, in contrast with everything being taken from them as of old.
Psalm 91. The Messiah is introduced in a remarkable way in this psalm. It is said of one who dwells in the secret of the Most High that he shall abide under the protection of the Almighty, Two names of God are used, which were revealed to Abraham, Then the Messiah comes forward and says, “I will say of Jehovah, He is my refuge and fortress, My God, in Him will I trust.” He thus takes that place of dwelling and abiding in that place of safety. Then the Spirit of God in verses 3-8 outlines the care of protection that shall be His on this account, No doubt many a saint of God through the ages has rested in these promises, because the Messiah has marked out the path of faith, and this spirit continues in verses 9-13. Satan sought to tempt the Lord out of the path of faith by partially quoting from what we have here. But the Lord answered, “It is written again,” that is, that there are other scriptures which should have a bearing also on the path of faith in which He was called to walk. It is a good thing for us to remember this as to our pathway. Jehovah answers in verses 14-16 with additional promises to the Messiah.
Psalm 92. In this psalm, the Messiah leads in the praises of Israel who are here looking forward to the full display of the power of God over the enemies of His people. The Messiah looks forward also to being exalted by the hand of God, and the righteous also being raised up from the path of suffering to enjoy the fruits of the Messiah’s victory. This will be what takes place when the Lord comes back to reign in this world. He will put down all opposition with a rod of iron, which signifies that He will reign in judgment.
ML 02/26/1961