Psalms 90
DOYLYVer. 1. — our dwelling place] Our place of refuge. Mudge, Old Translation.
Psalms 90:3
3, 4. — and sayest, Return, &c.] That is, Thou restorest men to life. “For a thousand years, &c.” that is, though the time of their restoration is remote, it is equally certain; for a thousand years are to Thee as one day.
Psalms 90:4
- — a watch in the night.] See the note on Exod. xiv. 24.
Psalms 90:9
- For all our days &c.] For we constantly feel some effect or other of thine anger, whereby our lives decline exceeding fast. Bp. Patrick.
Psalms 90:11
- Who knoweth &c.] But who is there that duly fore thee, our secret sins in the light of thy countenance.
Psalms 90:13
- Return, O Lord, &c.] Return, O Lord, at length, from thy severity against us; and let thy servants feel thy gracious pardon. Bp. Patrick, Travell.
Psalms 90:16
- Let thy work &c.] He prays God to shew them and their posterity those glorious works which heretofore He had exerted in behalf of his people, and to shine upon and prosper what they were doing. Mudge.
Psalms 90:17
- And let the beauty &c.] Let the countenance of the Lord our God smile upon us; and prosper Thou the work of our hands. Green.
This Psalm is remarkable for affording us much useful instruction. In it we have the governour of a numerous people sequestering his mind from the management of publick affairs to private meditations; from beholding the present outward appearances, to considering the real nature and secret causes of things: in the midst of all the splendour and pomp, of all the stir and tumult about him, he observes the frailty of human condition, he discerns the providence of God justly ordering all; this he does not only in the way of wise consideration, but of serious devotion, moulding his observations into pious acknowledgments, and earnest prayers to God. Thus doth that great and good man teach us all, (more particularly men of high estate and much business,) to find opportunities of withdrawing
Or, as a meditation, † Heb. As for the days of our years, in them are seventy years.