Bible Questions Answered:
“Rev. I was at funeral the other day, and I thought I heard the pastor say he was reading from the death psalm, was that what he was saying? I never heard of that one before.”
Rodney/ Elmhurst, New York U.S.A.
Bible Answer:
Yes that is right, and the psalm most likely referred to was Psalm 90.
Psalm 90:1-17 NLT
(A prayer of Moses, the man of God.)
1 Lord, through all the generations you have been our home!
2 Before the mountains were born, before you gave birth to the earth and the world, from beginning to end, you are God.
3 You turn people back to dust, saying, “Return to dust, you mortals!”
4 For you, a thousand years are as a passing day, as brief as a few night hours.
5 You sweep people away like dreams that disappear. They are like grass that springs up in the morning.
6 In the morning it blooms and flourishes, but by evening it is dry and withered.
7 We wither beneath your anger; we are overwhelmed by your fury.
8 You spread out our sins before you— our secret sins—and you see them all.
9 We live our lives beneath your wrath, ending our years with a groan.
10 Seventy years are given to us! Some even live to eighty.
But even the best years are filled with pain and trouble; soon they disappear, and we fly away.
11 Who can comprehend the power of your anger? Your wrath is as awesome as the fear you deserve.
12 Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom.
13 O Lord, come back to us! How long will you delay? Take pity on your servants!
14 Satisfy us each morning with your unfailing love, so we may sing for joy to the end of our lives.
15 Give us gladness in proportion to our former misery! Replace the evil years with good.
16 Let us, your servants, see you work again; let our children see your glory.
17 And may the Lord our God show us His approval and make our efforts successful. Yes, make our efforts successful!
Psalm 90, considered to be the oldest of Psalms, was a prayer of Moses. Some think the prayer in response to the events of Numbers 14:22,23.
The Psalm speaks of the frailty of earthly man, and the eternalness of Almighty God.
God is eternal, but earthly man is mortal, and his days numbered.
Psalm 90:1-6 NLT
1 Lord, through all the generations you have been our home!
2 Before the mountains were born, before you gave birth to the earth and the world, from beginning to end, you are God.
3 You turn people back to dust, saying, “Return to dust, you mortals!”
4 For you, a thousand years are as a passing day, as brief as a few night hours.
5 You sweep people away like dreams that disappear. They are like grass that springs up in the morning.
6 In the morning it blooms and flourishes, but by evening it is dry and withered.
Deuteronomy 33:27 KJV
The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms..."
Psalm 103:15,16 KJV
15 As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.
16 For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.
Psalm 145:13 KJV
Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations.
II Peter 3:8 KJV
But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
Revelation 1:8 KJV
I am Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the Ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.
Psalm 90:7-11 NLT
7 We wither beneath your anger; we are overwhelmed by your fury.
8 You spread out our sins before you— our secret sins—and you see them all.
9 We live our lives beneath your wrath, ending our years with a groan.
10 Seventy years are given to us! Some even live to eighty.
But even the best years are filled with pain and trouble; soon they disappear, and we fly away.
11 Who can comprehend the power of your anger? Your wrath is as awesome as the fear you deserve.
Hebrews 9:27 KJV
And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
Psalm 130:3 KJV
If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?
Psalm 2:22 KJV
Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and ye perish from the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in Him.
Isaiah 59:2 KJV
But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid His face from you, that He will not hear.
Isaiah 64:6 KJV
But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
Romans 1:18 KJV
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
Romans 2:8 KJV
But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,
Jeremiah 2:22 NLT
No amount of soap or lye can make you clean. I still see the stain of your guilt. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!
Micah 7:19 KJV
He will turn again, He will have compassion upon us; He will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.
Ephesians 5:6 KJV
Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
John 3:36 KJV
He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
Psalm 90:12 NLT
Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom.
Ephesians 5:15-17 NLT
15 So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise.
16 Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.
17 Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.
Colossians 4:5,6 NLT
5 Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity.
6 Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone.
Psalm 90:13-17 NLT
13 O Lord, come back to us! How long will you delay? Take pity on your servants!
14 Satisfy us each morning with your unfailing love, so we may sing for joy to the end of our lives.
15 Give us gladness in proportion to our former misery! Replace the evil years with good.
16 Let us, your servants, see you work again; let our children see your glory.
17 And may the Lord our God show us His approval and make our efforts successful. Yes, make our efforts successful!
Oh, the wondrous Mercy of our living God.
Psalm 103:17 KJV
But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear Him, and His righteousness unto children's children;
Lamentations 3:22,23 KJV
22 It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not.
23They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
Joel 2:12,13 NLT
12 That is why the Lord says, “Turn to Me now, while there is time. Give Me your hearts. Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning.
13 Don’t tear your clothing in your grief, but tear your hearts instead.”Return to the Lord your God, for He is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He is eager to relent and not punish.
Micah 7:18,19 NLT
18 Where is another God like you, who pardons the guilt of the remnant, overlooking the sins of His special people? You will not stay angry with your people forever, because you delight in showing unfailing love.
19 Once again you will have compassion on us. You will trample our sins under your feet and throw them into the depths of the ocean!
Man is finite, God is infinite. Man is mortal, God is immortal. Man is of the flesh, that perishes, God is of the eternal Spirit.
Man is laden with sin. God is righteous, pure and holy. Man fails, God never fails. Man stumbles and falls, morally, Our God is righteous.
Man is born into sin. God knows no sin. Mans attempt at self-righteousness, is an utter and complete darkened failure. Our God, in Him is no darkness.
Man's strength faileth, but God is great in might and strong in power. Man grows old and dies.
Our God is the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever, the Ancient of Days.
Do you know this great living God?
Salvation Prayer
