Psalms 90

Psalms 90:1

THE title, [Man of] that is to say, Prophet. A dwelling place] all the while that we and our fathers have bin travellers in strange countreys, Genesis 15:13. thou hast been a place of safety and dwelling to us, Ezech. 11. 16.

Psalms 90:2

Before the] a Scripture phrase to describe eternitie, which is opposite to time, and to whatsoever is most firme and lasting in it [Thou art] and therefore we wretched mortalls doe flie unto thee everlasting Lord, as to the spring of our life, and cause of our escaping from death: which is the chiefe subject of this Psalm, see Psal. 102. 11. 12. 27. 28. Lam. 5. 19. 20.

Psalms 90:3

Return] thou dost irrevocably put in execution upon all men the sentence pronounced, Genesis 3:19. concerning their returning to the earth from whence they were taken at the first creation.

Psalms 90:4

For] all their stay in this world, though oftentimes it be very long, is no way contrary to this sentence, for the longest time that is, is nothing being compared to eternity, which belongeth only to thee [When it is] this is added, because that a man judgeth better of the shortnesse of time when it is past, then while it is running [A watch] which is the fourth part of a night, see Mark 13:35.

Psalms 90:5

Thou carriest] besides this generall necessity of dying, thou dost send whole deluges of extraordinary evils by particular judgements, which destroy man, Iob 14. 19.

Psalms 90:8

Thou hast set] a kinde of speech taken from Iudges, who examine a guiltie man, lay open his misdeeds, together with the proofes thereof, which is contrary to that which is spoken elsewhere, namely, that God covereth our sinnes, turnes his face away from them, and casteth them behind him [Secret sinnes] or hidden, which a man doth himselfe forget, Psal. 19. 12.

Psalms 90:9

Passed away] the Italian, doe decline, a phrase taken from the going down of the Sunne, and from the declining of the day: [A table] the Italian, a word or a thought.

Psalms 90:10

Threescore and ten] Moses hath a regard and relation to the most ordinary terme of life, and to the age which deserveth the name of life, beyond which life is but a continuall languishment, and a beginning of death, without any vigor or meanes of performing the actions of this life, or enjoy the commodities of it [Their strength] the Italian, their flower, Hebrew, their excellency and glory.

Psalms 90:11

Who knoweth] though the shortnesse of mans life should teach a man to tremble, when he draweth neere to Gods judgements by death, yet he is so stupid and so dull, that he doth not reap any sound document from thence, to learne how to lead his life well, Deuteronomy 32:29. God alone is able to work that in him by his spirit, Psal. 39. 4.

Psalms 90:14

Satisfie us] he makes an allusion to Manna, which fellevery morning in the wildernesse [Early] the Italian, every morning, or in the morning, that is to say, let thy grace renew with us as the day doth, Iam. 3. 23.

Psalms 90:16

Thy glory] namely, thy glorious power, deliverance, and providence, by which thou art also praised and glorified.

Psalms 90:17

The beauty] the Italian, the pleasing look, his loving kindnesse, his cleere and gracious eye, see Psal. 27. 4 [upon us, yea] that is to say, Doe thou from heaven, from whence as from an eminent place thou dost contemplate the end of all things, guide by thy feare unto a happy end, the life and actions of thine elect, who in this low world cannot see farre, nor see how to take their aime aright; Or for us, that is to say, for our good, and in our behoofe.