Earlier in the week, we looked at the text questions for Psalm 90. Today, we move on to context. These questions are pretty self-explanatory. So grab your Bible, or head over to Psalm 90 online.
5. Where are we?
This is a complicated question for such a Psalm. It is unclear when Moses is writing this Psalm. He speaks of our days being 70 or 80 years. He asks for God to show favor for as many years as He afflicted His people.
Moses dies at age 120. The Exodus occurs when he is 80 years old. I cannot help but wonder if this psalm is written immediately before or after the Exodus. Such a timeline would make sense given the text, the many years of affliction, and the mention of 70 or 80 years. But, we are simply not told of the timeline.
If this is written at such a time, it may be among the very first written Scripture. Indeed these might be the very first written words of Scripture. The traditional view is that Moses writes Genesis, which means it is passed down orally among the people of Israel. The book of Job likewise is likely passed down orally before being written down, perhaps before this, perhaps after.
6. How did we get here?
Regardless of when Psalm 90 was written during Moses’ life, God’s people have been through more than four centuries of slavery in Egypt. They have experienced toil and trouble to a massive degree. Yet they still are praying for the Lord’s favor, to rejoice in Him all their days. How does the psalm change knowing this context? Toil and trouble feels a little more…heavy to me.
7. What’s next?
Assuming this is written sometime between Moses’ return to Egypt to demand the freedom of Israel and his death, what’s next is perhaps the Exodus and wilderness wonderings, but certainly what is next is Moses’ own death and the Israelite’s entrance into the promised land without Moses. They will experience God’s favor for a time, but the cycle of slavery, exile, and peace will begin anew quite soon.
Thanks for reading! Stay tuned tomorrow for questions 8-10 on Psalm 90.
Andy
Be Curious. Ask Questions.