Day 538: Psalm 90- Establish The Work Of Our Hands!

Lord, you have been our dwelling place
    in all generations.
2 Before the mountains were brought forth,
    or ever you had formed the earth and the world,
    from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
3 You return man to dust
    and say, “Return, O children of man!”
4 For a thousand years in your sight
    are but as yesterday when it is past,
    or as a watch in the night.
 
5 You sweep them away as with a flood; they are like a dream,
    like grass that is renewed in the morning:
6 in the morning it flourishes and is renewed;
    in the evening it fades and withers.
7 For we are brought to an end by your anger;
    by your wrath we are dismayed.
8 You have set our iniquities before you,
    our 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 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 So teach us to number our days
    that we may get a heart of wisdom.
13 Return, O Lord! How long?
    Have pity on your servants!

14 Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,
    that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
15 Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,
    and for as many years as we have seen evil.
16 Let your work be shown to your servants,
    and your glorious power to their children.
17 Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us,
    and establish the work of our hands upon us;
    yes, establish the work of our hands!
 
Meditation
God gives worth to our work. 1 Corinthians 15:58 Paul encourages the Church to  “know that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” God desires to transform the frustration of work into fruitfulness for His glory.
 
God is eternal, sovereign over history and time (1-2). Humanity is finite and our work can be frustrating in a fallen world (3-4). God’s just judgment brings renewal (5-8) and we will be accountable for how we spend our days on earth (9-11). Life is like a vapor, soon gone, but our work in the Lord is not in vain.
 
Wisdom compels us to number our days (12), giving urgency to daily life and compelling us to drench our days in God’s steadfast love (14). Gratitude grows from this satisfaction (15) and God’s work is pushed to the front as both the focus and the fruit of our labor (16). This is why Jonathan Edwards had 13 resolutions on how he wanted to redeem time and why we pray, “Lord, establish the work of our hands!”
 
Worth is given to our work when we see it as worship. God created humanity to work (Genesis 2:15). The fall frustrates our efforts (Genesis 3:17-19) but God gives work worth when we redirect what we do for His glory (even eating and drinking- 1 Corinthians 10:31).
 
We must steward the domain God has entrusted to us for His eternal purposes. This perspective makes our work praise, worth for our work! Lord teach us to number our days. Please establish the work of our hands.
 
Richly Dwelling
-What is your perspective on work, the labor of your life? Be honest.
 
-God gave work pre-fall, so it is good. Sin frustrates work for finite humanity but God’s eternality makes it so that everything can drip with dignity.  What work do you need to redirect for the glory of God?
 
-Jesus took judgment so we can experience renewal. This transforms frustration into Kingdom fruitfulness through our work. Take a moment to ask Jesus to give you urgency to see your work as worship and to establish the work of your hands.
 
Key verse
17 Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands!