Practical Observations on Psalm 90

Thomas Scott (1747-1821)

The favor and protection of God are the only suitable rest and comfort of the soul in this evil world: and in Christ Jesus He is become the Refuge and Dwelling-place, to which we may repair, whenever pursued by the accusations of conscience, or the unkindness of men; when wearied with the cares and toils of life; or disquieted by sickness and the prospect of death. His truth, love, and power are eternal and immutable; and this habitation can never fail those who resort to it for rest and peace: for “His mercy is on them that fear Him from generation to generation.” Compared with Him, who “from everlasting to everlasting is God” alone, how do the most renowned of the human race shrink into insignificance! The longest life, which men have passed on earth, has been but as “a watch of the night;” and then the word of the Almighty has remanded their bodies to their original dust.

What images in nature then can sufficiently illustrate the brevity of our present span of life? The impetuous current of time hurries mortals, as in a sleep, into eternity, where most of them first awake, and lift up their eyes: and all the external splendor and gaiety, which excite the envy, the desires, or the admiration of the thoughtless beholder, are destroyed and withered as in a moment. So that the supposed pleasure of a worldly life passes as a “tale that is told’,’and generally, taken altogether, it proves a doleful tale.

What images in nature then can sufficiently illustrate the brevity of our present span of life? The impetuous current of time hurries mortals, as in a sleep, into eternity, where most of them first awake, and lift up their eyes: and all the external splendor and gaiety, which excite the envy, the desires, or the admiration of the thoughtless beholder, are destroyed and withered as in a moment. So that the supposed pleasure of a worldly life passes as a “tale that is told,” and generally, taken altogether, it proves a doleful tale. Few in comparison reach the seventy years assigned as the date of man’s present life; and if a small number linger out a longer space, their lives are “cut off and fly away.”

But wherefore has the Lord, as it were, made all men thus in vain? To this inquiry the scriptural, and the only rational answer is, that we are a company of condemned criminals, and are thus “troubled and consumed by His anger;” He has His eyes upon our most secret sins, as well as our more open iniquities, on the past, as well as the present: and therefore we pass our days in His deserved wrath. The sentence of temporal death is gone forth, and is irreversible, however the time and circumstances of it may vary. This indeed is very little, compared with “the wrath to come:” yet alas! how few seem to understand or regard the powerful wrath of that God, who is able to destroy body and soul in hell; though no apprehensions can possibly equal the terror of it!

Instead then of wasting our precious fleeting days in pursuing the phantoms of the world, which elude our grasp, and will leave their possessors forever poor; we should employ ourselves in seeking forgiveness of sins and an inheritance in heaven. Let us earnestly pray, that the Lord would so teach us to consider the shortness and uncertainty of life, and the proportion of it which is already past; perhaps thirty, forty, fifty, sixty, or more of our threescore years and ten; that we may apply our heart to this true wisdom. A proper attention to this “one thing needful” will prove us wise to eternity, whatever else be renounced or neglected: but inattention to it will stigmatize us as fools forever, though we should gain the whole world. If this grand interest be safe, the shortness of life may rather be a matter of mutual congratulation than condolence: and as to the evils that we feel or witness, persevering prayer will prevail either for a mitigation of them, or comfort under them.

Whatever be withheld, the mercy and favor of our God will satisfy our souls: and in communion with Him we may “rejoice and be glad all our days,” even in this miserable world. ‘These are the days when God afflicteth us, these the years wherein we see evil: but He will hereafter make us glad according to them...."These light afflictions, which are but for a moment, work for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” Then shall our joy be increased, and receive an additional relish, from the remembrance of our former sorrow; then shall we bless the days and the years, which exercised our faith, and perfected our patience; and then shall we bless God, who chastised us for a season, that he might save us forever.’ (Bishop Horne)

In the meanwhile, we should lay ourselves out to do what good we can in this evil world, and especially to such as are likely to survive us; earnestly and constantly praying, that the work of redeeming love may be more and more made known, in its glory and efficacy, to our souls; that we may more fully experience the sanctification and consolation of the Holy Spirit; that the beauty of holiness, even the divine image, may be evidently visible in all our character and conduct; that the same blessings, in still larger proportion, may be extended to our children and more remote posterity; that the Lord “establish the works of our hands upon us,” when we are about to be taken from them, can no more do anything respecting them, and perhaps are leaving them in an unfinished, unsettled, and unpromising situation. This especially should be our prayer, if employed in the sacred ministry, or other important services; and also that He would illuminate His church with the light and beauty of His truth and purity, and establish the Redeemer’s kingdom and work throughout the whole earth.

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