Psalm 90:2

2 Before the mountains existed, and before the earth and the world were formed, even from age to age, Thou art.

Psalm 90:2 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 90:2

Before the mountains were brought forth
Or "were born" {b}, and came forth out of the womb and bowels of the earth, and were made to rise and stand up at the command of God, as they did when he first created the earth; and are mentioned not only because of their firmness and stability, but their antiquity: hence we read of the ancient mountains and everlasting hills, ( Genesis 49:26 ) ( Deuteronomy 33:15 ) , for they were before the flood, and as soon as the earth was; or otherwise the eternity of God would not be so fully expressed by this phrase as it is here, and elsewhere the eternity of Christ, ( Proverbs 8:25 ) , or "ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world"; the whole terraqueous globe, and all the inhabitants of it; so the Targum; or "before the earth brought forth; or thou causedst it to bring forth" ^F3 its herbs, plants, and trees, as on the third day:

even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God;
and so are his love, grace, and mercy towards his people, and his covenant with them; and this is as true of Jehovah the Son as of the Father, whose eternity is described in the same manner as his; see ( Proverbs 8:22-30 ) ( Revelation 1:4 Revelation 1:8 ) , and may be concluded from his name, the everlasting Father; from his having the same nature and perfections with his Father; from his concern in eternal election, in the everlasting covenant of grace, and in the creation of all things; and his being the eternal and unchangeable I AM, yesterday, today, and for ever, is matter of comfort to his people.

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FOOTNOTES:

F2 (wdly) "nascerentur", Pagninus, Montanus, Tigurine version, Michaelis; so Ainsworth; "geniti essent", Piscator, Gejerus.
F3 (Ura llwxtw) "antequam parturiret terra", Syr. "aut peperisses terram", Piscator, Amama.

Psalm 90:2 In-Context

1 Lord, thou hast been our refuge in all generations.

2 Before the mountains existed, and before the earth and the world were formed, even from age to age, Thou art.

3 Turn not man back to his low place, whereas thou saidst, Return, ye sons of men?

4 For a thousand years in thy sight are as the yesterday which is past, and as a watch in the night.

5 Years shall be vanity to them: let the morning pass away as grass.

6 In the morning let it flower, and pass away: in the evening let it droop, let it be withered and dried up.

7 For we have perished in thine anger, and in thy wrath we have been troubled.

8 Thou hast set our transgressions before thee: our age is in the light of thy countenance.

9 For all our days are gone, and we have passed away in thy wrath: our years have spun out their tale as a spider.

10 As for the days of our years, in them are seventy years; and if men should be in strength, eighty years: and the greater part of them would be labour and trouble; for weakness overtakes us, and we shall be chastened.

11 Who knows the power of thy wrath?

12 and who knows how to number his days because of the fear of thy wrath? So manifest thy right hand, and those that are instructed in wisdom in the heart.

13 Return, O Lord, how long? and be intreated concerning thy servants.

14 We have been satisfied in the morning with thy mercy; and we did exult and rejoice:

15 let us rejoice in all our days, in return for the days wherein thou didst afflict us, the years wherein we saw evil.

16 And look upon thy servants, and upon thy works; and guide their children.

17 And let the brightness of the Lord our God be upon us: and do thou direct for us the works of our hands.