Psalm 90
English Standard Version (ESV)
Book Four
90 Lord, you have been our (C)dwelling place[a]
in all generations.
2 (D)Before the (E)mountains were brought forth,
or ever you had formed the earth and the world,
(F)from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
in all generations.
2 (D)Before the (E)mountains were brought forth,
or ever you had formed the earth and the world,
(F)from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
3 You
return man to dust
and say, (G)“Return, (H)O children of man!”[b]
4 For (I)a thousand years in your sight
are but as (J)yesterday when it is past,
or as (K)a watch in the night.
and say, (G)“Return, (H)O children of man!”[b]
4 For (I)a thousand years in your sight
are but as (J)yesterday when it is past,
or as (K)a watch in the night.
5 You (L)sweep them away as with a flood; they are like (M)a dream,
like (N)grass that is renewed in the morning:
6 in (O)the morning it flourishes and is renewed;
in the evening it (P)fades and (Q)withers.
like (N)grass that is renewed in the morning:
6 in (O)the morning it flourishes and is renewed;
in the evening it (P)fades and (Q)withers.
7 For
we are brought to an end by your anger;
by your wrath we are dismayed.
8 You have (R)set our iniquities before you,
our (S)secret sins in the light of your presence.
by your wrath we are dismayed.
8 You have (R)set our iniquities before you,
our (S)secret sins in the light of your presence.
9 For
all our days pass away under your wrath;
we bring our years to an end like a sigh.
10 The years of our life are seventy,
or even by reason of strength eighty;
yet their span[c] is but toil and trouble;
they are soon gone, and we fly away.
11 Who considers the power of your anger,
and your wrath according to the fear of you?
we bring our years to an end like a sigh.
10 The years of our life are seventy,
or even by reason of strength eighty;
yet their span[c] is but toil and trouble;
they are soon gone, and we fly away.
11 Who considers the power of your anger,
and your wrath according to the fear of you?
12 (T)So teach us to number our days
that we may get a heart of wisdom.
13 (U)Return, O Lord! (V)How long?
Have (W)pity on your servants!
14 Satisfy us in the (X)morning with your steadfast love,
that we may (Y)rejoice and be glad all our days.
15 Make us glad for as many days as you have (Z)afflicted us,
and for as many years as we have seen evil.
16 Let your (AA)work be shown to your servants,
and your glorious power to their children.
17 Let the (AB)favor[d] of the Lord our God be upon us,
and establish (AC)the work of our hands upon us;
yes, establish the work of our hands!
that we may get a heart of wisdom.
13 (U)Return, O Lord! (V)How long?
Have (W)pity on your servants!
14 Satisfy us in the (X)morning with your steadfast love,
that we may (Y)rejoice and be glad all our days.
15 Make us glad for as many days as you have (Z)afflicted us,
and for as many years as we have seen evil.
16 Let your (AA)work be shown to your servants,
and your glorious power to their children.
17 Let the (AB)favor[d] of the Lord our God be upon us,
and establish (AC)the work of our hands upon us;
yes, establish the work of our hands!
Although this was a description
of the time of Moses when the people had rebelled and turned from God, it too
is a description of our lives.
As I read this Psalm, I was once
again reminded of the power of our mighty God.
He was and is and is to come. He
created everything around us, including us!
A thousand years is like yesterday to our awesome God. Our fleeting time on this earth is like a
breath to Him, yet, we think we know far more than He does. We try to run our lives as if we know better
than He. I have to compare us as to the
teenager that thinks he/she know better than the parent. If they are told “no” or “wait” they get
angry and blame their anger on their “stupid parents”. How many times have we blamed God for our
problems? Yet, He is the One and the
only One who knows all. We have set
before us, the most powerful, wonderful, amazing God that cares and loves us,
yet, we tend to forget that or at least I do.
I begin to tell Him how it should be rather than letting Him guide and
direct. Often times I take matters into
my own hands and try to force it my direction rather than simply letting go and
letting God take care of it. When I
force it I can become rebellious, just like those Israelites in the desert.
There are times that I wonder why
I find myself in the place that I am. I
wonder if I am doing what God wants me to do.
This lament reminds me that I should be joyful in each step of this
journey of life because it is but a fleeting moment in time. God establishes the work of our hands, He
knows what is best for us. There are
times that I wonder “Why?” or become
distraught and wonder “What have I done wrong?”. Time after time I have to remind myself that
when it doesn’t make sense, it is most likely God at work, establishing the
work of my hands.
As we struggle through life we
need to hold fast to a God who created us, numbered our days, and established
the work of our hands. He knows, better
than us, what is best for us and He will supply our needs. When we remember this we can be joyful in
times of sorrow, glad in times of confusion, and satisfied in times of trials. Seek Him so that you may have the peace of
God which surpasses all understanding.
Seeking Him with all my heart,
Sheila
No comments:
Post a Comment