Psalms 90:11 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Who knoweth the power of thine anger? &c.— i.e. "In proportion to the fear and reverence which is due to thee, as the great Lord and Sovereign of the world; so may the transgressors of thy law expect their punishment." Something seems here intimated beyond the punishments of this world; for these are what men feel and experience. But who knows the dreadful punishments of a future? Well therefore is this reflection followed by a devout prayer, Psalms 90:12. So teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom! meaning, no doubt, that wisdom, which alone is such, in the sense of Holy Scripture, the fearing God, and keeping his commandments; that so, by making a right use of this short, uncertain space of time allotted to us here, we may through grace prepare ourselves the better for a future state. The following verses to the end are equally suitable to the condition of the persons for whom they were intended. It evidently appears from what has been said, that the Israelites in the wilderness, when cut off from all hopes of an earthly Canaan, and the promises of this life, were not left destitute of better hopes, or without the knowledge of a Redeemer, and a life to come; and that God's leading them through this great and terrible wilderness, to humble them, and to prove them, that he might do them good (as he says himself) in their אחרית Acharith, must be understood, according to the most natural sense of the word, in their future state.