Dependence on the Lord
Dependence on the Lord: Gaining Insight by Seeing Who He Is (Psalm 90)
If you’re like me, you probably have a favorite psalm—one that stands out to you more than the others. Maybe it brings comfort, offers deep insight, or just speaks to something you've gone through. It might be the psalm you go to in hard times, the one that feels like the writer somehow saw into your soul and put your feelings into words. That’s what the Psalms often do—they connect deeply with our hearts.
But just as there are Psalms we remember, there are also those we tend to overlook—ones we may have read before but quickly forgotten. For me, Psalm 90 used to be one of those psalms. But recently, during a team meeting, we read and discussed it together, and it felt like I was reading it for the first time. It gave me a fresh perspective—not only on who God is, but also on who I am in light of Him. I went home that day thinking deeply about it. I re-read it and realised how much light it shines on some areas of life I hadn’t fully considered.
Psalm 90 is a powerful prayer written by Moses, the man of God. As you read it, you can clearly see how he viewed God and how he viewed humanity. The Bible is full of verses that show us who God is. Yet even if we tried to piece them all together like a puzzle, we still wouldn't fully grasp Him. We can’t fit God into our limited understanding. The moment we fully understand God is the moment He would cease to be God. He is far beyond our comprehension.
In contrast, we are very aware of our human limits. We know that death is certain. We live each day facing our weaknesses, failures, and mortality. Psalm 90 reminds us of how different we are from God—and yet, how much we need Him. The more we come to know ourselves through Scripture, the more we see our need for His mercy and grace.
Verse 1 says, “Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations.” This reminds us that every generation is under God’s care. He has been God long before us, and He will remain long after us. He is from everlasting to everlasting. There is nothing beyond His view or control. Because God has seen all of human history, His view is perfect and complete. While we are small and limited, He is mighty and eternal. Though it may sound harsh to say that we are insignificant, it does express how small we are in comparison to God. Yet, despite that, God chooses to care for us. He reaches out to us. He invites us into relationship with Him. That is powerful.
God has complete authority over life and death. Verse 8 says, “You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence.” Nothing is hidden from Him—our sins, our struggles, even our thoughts. He sees it all. And yet, He remains the same, while we change, grow old, and pass away.
Psalm 90 also reminds us how short life is. Verse 10 says, “Our days may come to seventy years, or eighty, if our strength endures; yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away.” In the grand scheme of eternity, our time on earth is brief. This truth should lead us to live wisely.
That’s why Moses prays in verse 12, “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” True wisdom begins with understanding who God is and who we are. He is eternal; we are temporary. He is strong; we are weak. He is holy; we are sinful. And yet, He loves us.
Moses continues by asking God to satisfy us with His love, to make us glad even after we’ve seen hardship. He knows that joy and favour come only from the Lord. God is the one who can bring joy to a sorrowful heart. Moses ends the psalm by asking God to let His favour rest upon His people and to establish the work of their hands.
This one psalm captures what the entire Bible does—it reveals who God is and helps us see ourselves more clearly. It humbles us, lifts our eyes to heaven, and reminds us to depend on the God who never changes.
