Psalms 90:15
Make us glad according to the days wherein thou hast afflicted us, and the years wherein we have seen evil.
Psalms 90:15 (KJV)
Context
Psalm 90 is attributed to Moses, the man of God. It reflects on the brevity and frailty of human life in contrast to God’s eternity and sovereignty. Here Moses acknowledges that Israel has experienced affliction and seen evil during their wilderness journey, likely as a consequence of their rebellion and disobedience.
Meaning
Moses prays for God to make His people glad, asking for joy and relief after their sorrow. The phrase “according to the days wherein thou hast afflicted us” suggests a proportion: the gladness requested should match the suffering endured. The psalmist desires an equal measure of joy as of affliction, not an exact number, but a proper balance. The verse uses parallelism, pairing “days” of affliction with “years” of evil, and “make us glad” with “we have seen evil.” The request is not for mere happiness but for God to restore joy in proportion to the suffering, acknowledging that God is the one who afflicts and the one who can make glad.
Biblical connections
This verse is part of a sequence in Psalm 90. Verse 14 asks God to satisfy us early with His mercy that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. Verse 15 asks for gladness according to the days of affliction. Verse 16 asks for God’s work to appear to His servants and His glory to their children. Verse 17 asks for the beauty of the Lord to be upon us and for God to establish the work of our hands. Together, these verses show a movement from seeking mercy to seeking joy, then to seeking God’s work and glory, and finally to seeking His favor and establishment. This connection shows that the request for gladness is not isolated but part of a broader prayer for God’s presence and blessing.
Application
When we face trials, remember that God can use them to refine our character and draw us closer to Him. We can learn valuable lessons and develop greater trust and dependence on God through our struggles.
Like Moses, we can bring our burdens and sorrows before God, asking Him to bring joy and gladness into our lives. We can trust that God hears our prayers and is able to transform our circumstances, filling our hearts with His peace and joy.
Regardless of our circumstances, we can hold on to the faithfulness of God. He is with us in every season, and He is capable of turning our mourning into dancing. We can find hope and assurance in His unfailing love and steadfast character.
Reflection
Moses’ prayer teaches us that God is sovereign over both affliction and gladness. He is the one who afflicts, and He is the one who can make glad. This truth invites us to trust Him in times of sorrow, knowing that He is able to restore joy in proportion to our suffering. The psalmist’s confidence in God’s faithfulness encourages us to bring our honest requests before Him, expecting that He will answer according to His wisdom and love.
