Psalm 90 Cut

• •  Humans: 70-80 years
  • Dogs: 10-20 years (depending on breed)
  • Cats: 12-15 years (indoor cats can live longer)
  •   Psalms 90

 Macbeth (Act 5, Scene 5):

Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player That struts and frets his hour upon the stage, And then is heard no more. It is a tale Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing.

90 Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations.

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.

³ Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men.

⁴ For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.

⁵ Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep: in the morning they are like grass which groweth up.

⁶ In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up; in the evening it is cut down, and withereth.

⁷ For we are consumed by thine anger, and by thy wrath are we troubled.

⁸ Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy countenance.

⁹ For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told.

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.

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 In Psalm 90:3, the line "You turn man back to dust" speaks to the mortality and impermanence of human existence. Here's a deeper look at this verse:

• Carried away as with a flood: This portrays death as a sudden and overwhelming event. A flood sweeps away everything in its path, symbolizing the swift and unpredictable nature of death.
• They are as a sleep: This metaphor compares death to sleep. Sleep is a temporary state, suggesting that death may not be the end. It could also imply a peaceful passing.
• In the morning they are like grass which groweth up: This image represents the cycle of life and death. Just as grass withers and dies, but then grows anew in the morning, humans may return to the earth but life continues in some form.

• The Contrast: The verse highlights the contrast between human and divine perspectives on time. A thousand years, a significant amount of time for humans, is compared to two fleeting experiences:

  • Yesterday when it is past: This metaphor emphasizes the way a day seems insignificant once it's over. Similarly, a thousand years might hold no weight for God.
  • A watch in the night: A watch, typically 3 hours, is a short segment of nighttime. This metaphor emphasizes the fleeting nature of time from God's eternal perspective.

The Request:

• Teach us to number our days: This doesn't mean simply counting down the days until we die, but rather gaining a deeper understanding of the brevity of life.
• Apply our hearts unto wisdom: The psalmist is asking God for the wisdom to use the limited time we have wisely.

• The Grass: Grass is a common symbol in the Bible for something temporary and fragile. It flourishes quickly but just as easily withers and dies.

• The Cycle: The verse describes the daily cycle of grass - growing in the morning, being cut down in the evening, and withering overnight. This rapid cycle reflects the brevity and unpredictable nature of human life.

• Literal Meaning:

  • "For all our days are passed away in thy wrath": This can be interpreted as humans living under God's judgment or experiencing the consequences of their transgressions.
  • "We spend our years as a tale that is told"