Termination Dust: 3 of 5

Thoughts on Psalm 90 and September

Sometimes death comes peacefully, but often it does not. Sometimes God seems to just sweep people away violently, as well might a Caribbean hurricane at this time of year. If it seems to us as if God is angry, we’re correct. No, we do not understand all of God’s ways; we might not know specific purposes or reasons for any given September event; and comparatively good people do perish alongside the relatively evil. But in general terms Psalm 90 not only tells us that God ends life but that he does so in part because of His anger (vv. 7, 9, 11). And the cause of this anger is people’s sin (v. 8). Every human—indeed, all of nature—is in some way subject to the effects of the Genesis Fall and Curse. What are the implications of this? My only possible refuge is a God who is (at the same time) angry at my sin. This leaves me miserably in need of someone to experience that wrath in my place and to propitiate God the Father. Such a gospel would be good news indeed!