Short answer: Psalm 90 is traditionally and biblically attributed to Moses — the superscription calls it “A Prayer of Moses, the man of God” — and that is the view most evangelical Christians accept. They see the psalm as coming from Moses’ perspective (the wilderness generation, counting days, God’s judgment and mercy) and therefore read Psalm 90:12 as a Moses-shaped appeal for wisdom and holy living in light of human brevity and God’s eternal nature.

Key points from an evangelical perspective

– Attribution and tradition
– The Hebrew title (superscription) reads “A Prayer of Moses, the man of God.” Early Jewish tradition, the Septuagint, and the historic church all treated this psalm as Mosaic.
– Many evangelicals take the biblical superscriptions at face value, so they accept Moses as the most likely human author.

– Why Moses fits the content
– The themes in Psalm 90 — God’s eternity versus human frailty, the consequence of sin across generations, judgment and compassion, life in the wilderness of transience — resonate with Moses’ experience leading Israel and the wilderness generation (Exodus–Deuteronomy).
– The psalm’s tone of leadership interceding for a people (a prayer rather than private reflection) suits Moses’ role as mediator between God and Israel.

– Psalm 90:12 (common translation)
– “So teach us to number our days, that we may present to You a heart of wisdom.” (paraphrase of many English versions; NIV: “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”)
– Meaning: ask God to give an awareness of life’s brevity so we live wisely — not in fear, but in reverent dependence, prioritizing what endures.

– Theological emphases important to evangelicals
– The sovereignty and eternality of God (v.2) and human mortality (v.3–6) point us to repentance, dependence, and holy living.
– Counting our days is linked to practical wisdom: use time for godly purposes (cf. Ephesians 5:15–16), cultivate wisdom (Proverbs), and seek a heart formed by God rather than self-centered living.
– The psalm invites both confession (acknowledging sin and its effects) and hope in God’s steadfast love and favor.

– Brief note on scholarship
– Critical scholars sometimes argue for a later date or anonymous authorship despite the title, citing language or thematic comparisons. Evangelicals, however, weigh the biblical superscription, internal fit with Moses’ life, and historic testimony strongly and often affirm Mosaic authorship while recognizing the psalm’s enduring relevance.

Practical application for today
– Reflect regularly on life’s brevity (daily examen, journaling) and let that shape priorities.
– Pray Psalm 90:12 as a request that God would help you see time as a stewardship and grow a “heart of wisdom” that honors him.
– Let awareness of mortality motivate mission, love, repentance, and gospel-centered living.

If you’d like, I can:
– Compare translations of Psalm 90:12,
– Show how Moses’ life links line-by-line to the psalm, or
– Offer a short devotional or prayer based on Psalm 90.