Psalms 90:2
Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.
Psalms 90:2
Psalm 90 is attributed to Moses and stands apart in Psalm 90–a unique prayer that meditates on God’s eternity in contrast to human frailty. Verse 2 anchors the psalm in cosmic time: Before the mountains were formed, before the earth and world existed, God is everlasting—”from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.” In the ancient Near Eastern world, creation and eternity were often tied to divine sovereignty; here, the emphasis is not on a stormy act of creation but on God’s unoriginated existence. God is not bound by time, space, or creation; He exists prior to them and remains after them. The imagery of mountains and the earth evokes the ancient belief that creation reveals the stability and authority of the Creator. The verse also foregrounds a personal relationship: “thou art God.” This is not a distant cosmic force but the one true Lord who governs history, delivers, judges, and loves. Theologically, it frames the entire psalm: human life is brief within a God who is eternal, prompting humility, reverence, and trust.
This verse sets the foundational theology of God’s eternality, sovereignty, and trustworthiness. If God is from everlasting to everlasting, human time—our birth, life, and death—unfolds within His unchanging plan. The eternality of God undercuts our fear of the unknown and grounds hope for justice, mercy, and faithfulness. It also implies divine sovereignty over creation, history, and salvation. In practical terms, acknowledging God’s timelessness invites believers to orient daily life around Him rather than around fleeting trends or personal ambitions. The verse invites worship: when we grasp that existence itself points to a God who outlasts all things, praise flows naturally. It also safeguards us against nihilism by suggesting that, although our lives are brief, they occur inside a great, purposeful framework governed by an eternal God.
Start your day by grounding your sense of time in God’s eternity: write down one thing you fear or stress about, then remind yourself that God existed before it and will outlast it. Use the mountains image as a reminder that God’s creation displays stability—trustworthy even when your circumstances shake. Create a practice of brief moments of reflection: “What is one thing I can do today to honor God for whom eternity matters more than my schedule?” This verse also invites gratitude: life is short, but God’s fidelity is long. In family and work, consider what legacy you want to leave—not merely achievements, but fidelity to God across generations. If you’re feeling small or insignificant, remember you exist under an eternal gaze that values you and invites you into His timeless story. Practical step: set a weekly reminder to pause, acknowledge God’s eternality, and re-align your priorities.
Cross-References: Psalm 102:12-17; Isaiah 40:28; Psalm 103:17; Revelation 1:8; Psalm 33:11