A Life Well Lived...Psalm 90
Mike Maglish

Part of The Raw and Real Psalms

May 14, 2026

Introduction to Psalm 90 

• Only Psalm written by Moses 
• Likely the OLDEST Psalm 
• Opening Psalm of Book 4 (From Collapse/Confusion to Moses/God) 
• Written near the end of Moses’ life 
• Wisdom literature from the wilderness

Begins with knowing God is our eternal REFUGE

Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. —Psalm 90:1–2.

They lived in tents 
They wandered in the wilderness 
They were promised a “LAND”, but GOD is their REFUGE

The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms. —Deuteronomy 33:27You shall dwell in booths for seven days. All native Israelites shall dwell in booths, that your generations may know that I made the people of Israel dwell in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.” —Leviticus 23:42–43These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city. —Hebrews 11:13–16

Recognizes life is BRIEF.

You return man to dust and say, “Return, O children of man!” For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night. You sweep them away as with a flood; they are like a dream, like grass that is renewed in the morning: in the morning it flourishes and is renewed; in the evening it fades and withers. —Psalm 90:3–6By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” —Genesis 3:19A voice says, “Cry!” And I said, “What shall I cry?”All flesh is grass, and all its beauty is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades when the breath of the Lord blows on it; surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever. —Isaiah 40:6-8yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. —James 4:14

Is rooted in the FEAR of the Lord.

For we are brought to an end by your anger; by your wrath we are dismayed. You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence. For all our days pass away under your wrath; we bring our years to an end like a sigh. The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away. Who considers the power of your anger, and your wrath according to the fear of you? —Psalm 90:7–11

Moses connects: 
- Sin 
- Holiness 
- Wrath 
- Mortality 

Death is not merely biological. Something is broken. 

Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned— —Romans 5:12For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. —Romans 6:23

Is built with intentional WISDOM.

So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. —Psalm 90:12

Numbering your days means: 
- Repenting of sin 
- Spending time with God DAILY 
- Prioritizing the Church 
- Discipling your family 
- Reconciling relationships 
- Serving instead of consuming 
- Investing in eternal things 
- Becoming more like Christ 

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight. —Proverbs 9:10But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. —Hebrews 3:13

Asks God to make it MATTER.

Return, O Lord! How long? Have pity on your servants! Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, and for as many years as we have seen evil. Let your work be shown to your servants, and your glorious power to their children. 
Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands! —Psalm 90:13–17I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. —John 15:5Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. —1 Corinthians 15:58Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. —Colossians 3:23-24

TAKEAWAY: A life well lived is surrendered to God’s eternal PURPOSES.

ASK THESE QUESTIONS 
- What kind of person am I becoming? 
- What is shaping me? 
- What am I worshipping? 
- What am I spending my life on? 
- What would matter if I stood before God today? 

STOP OR START 
- STOP consuming endlessly 
- STOP sitting on the sidelines 
- STOP returning to your sin 
- START following Jesus 
- START spending time with Jesus 
- START leading/investing in the Kingdom