Where Sin Leads
Psalm 90:1–17
You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence. Psalm 90:8

The third section of Psalm 90 (vv. 7–12) recognizes that man’s greatest problem is not just his frailty—that is, that he exists for only a short bit of time and is then no more. It is that he is also a sinner and is subject to the just wrath of God. In fact, it is sin that is the cause of his death and misery. Moses, the author of the psalm, must have been thinking of the fall of Adam and Eve when he wrote this (remember that he also wrote Genesis 3), as well as of his own sin in striking the rock and of God’s judgment, which kept him from the Promised Land. “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. . . . Who considers the power of your anger, and your wrath according to the fear of you?” (vv. 7–8, 11).

This is a profound set of statements. Not only has Moses set the weakness of man and the shortness of his life against the grandeur and eternity of God, he has also traced man’s mortality to its roots, seeing death as a judgment for sin. We might think that he would contrast man’s sin with God’s holiness, just as he has contrasted man’s mortality with God’s eternity. Instead, he is trying to show that death is linked to sin and is caused by it. We die because Adam sinned (see Rom. 5:12–21) and because we sin ourselves.

Are you aware that sin always leads to death? To the death of dreams, hopes, plans, relationships, health, and eventually even to that ultimate spiritual death that is a separation from God forever? If you are aware of this, you will not treat sin lightly, as many do. You will say with David, “Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults” (Ps. 19:12). You will pray, “Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me” (v. 13). You will strive to live an upright life before God.

Taken from Come to the Waters by James Boice ISBN 9798887790954 used with permission from P&R Publishing, Phillipsburg NJ 08865

Scripture quotations are from the ESV (the Holy Bible English Standard Version) copyright 2001 by Crossway a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved.