The Book of Psalms (30-Day Journey)ਨਮੂਨਾ

A Song in the Wilderness

Psalm 90 stands out uniquely in the Book of Psalms, as it is the only psalm attributed to Moses. Though the great leader of Israel authored the first five books of the Bible, only this one psalm of his was preserved in this collection. Moses also composed other songs, found in Exodus 15, Deuteronomy 32, and the blessings of the tribes in Deuteronomy 33. But Psalm 90 is particularly significant because it reflects a lifetime of leadership, hardship, growth and deep communion with God.

Many scholars connect Psalm 90 to the events described in Numbers 20, a chapter that records one of the most painful seasons in Moses’ life. During this time, he endured the death of his sister Miriam, committed the sin of striking the rock in disobedience—which barred him from entering the Promised Land—and witnessed the death of his brother Aaron. It was a season marked by grief, tragedy, personal failure, and transition.

Throughout Israel’s 40 years of wilderness wandering, they lived in constant need of shelter, guidance, and protection. But Moses recognized that beyond the physical tents and armies, their true refuge was the eternal God. From the days of Abraham to Moses, God had been their dwelling place—a shelter and place of security that never failed, even when everything else did.

Imagine the wilderness journey: every day, Moses and the people followed a pillar of cloud and by night a pillar of fire. On either side, the vastness of creation surrounded them—mountains, stars, wind, and sand. These were not just natural sights, but reminders of God’s constant presence and power. “Before the mountains were born or You brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting You are God” (Psalm 90:2 NIV).

Before reflecting on the fleeting nature of man, Moses first draws attention to the eternal, unchanging nature of God. He had seen God’s hand in both mercy and judgment. He had watched the downfall of proud Egypt and the tragic deaths of a rebellious generation in Israel. He had seen how God's righteousness demanded reverence and holy fear. Moses knew that the same God who poured out mercy could also justly bring correction—and both were expressions of His holiness.

Psalm 90 offers a striking contrast between the everlasting nature of God and the transitory condition of humanity. “A thousand years in Your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night.” (Psalm 90:4 NIV) Moses poetically compares our lives to grass that sprouts in the morning but withers by evening. For those wandering in the desert, time must have felt slow and painful. Yet Moses reminds us: God sees time differently. To Him, the rise and fall of generations pass like a moment.

The psalm’s imagery is steeped in wilderness experience—night watches around the campfire, flash floods through dry gullies, grass that quickly springs up after rain and is just as quickly scorched by the sun. Moses had watched an entire generation fade away under God’s judgment. And yet, he did not question God’s justice. He acknowledged it. He saw God's anger not as arbitrary but as a response to human sinfulness—and still, he turned to God in hope.

This is perhaps the most remarkable aspect of Psalm 90. After reflecting on mortality and judgment, Moses doesn't end in despair. Instead, he prays: “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” (Psalm 90:12 NIV) Moses’ response to God’s holiness and our frailty is not fear but a plea for insight, presence, compassion, and mercy. He appeals to the hesed of God—His loyal, covenantal love.

Moses knew that true satisfaction was not found in comfort, success, or reputation, but in the faithful love of God. “Satisfy us in the morning with Your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days” (Psalm 90:14 NIV). Even as his own days were drawing to a close, Moses longed not for worldly achievements, but for God’s enduring presence and favor. For Moses, the praise didn't come from what God would give him, but from who God was and still is. The greatest gift and reason to praise is God Himself.