Our immutable, unchanging, and immovable God is our dwelling place. He is a home safe and sound. He is a place to rest in any assailing storm. A stable, unending home. And for all generations.
“Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations.” Psalm 90:1
God has no beginning. Before mountains were created and before the earth was formed, God was. I AM. The great I AM. He is from everlasting to everlasting. No beginning. No ending.
“You return man to dust and say, ‘Return, O children of man!’” Psalm 90:3
Mankind, on the other hand, is simple dust. Simple. We are a grain in the ocean. We live mere years, and a day is like a thousand years to God. We are like a dream in the night. We are sinful and cannot hide from his presence. We stand in iniquity and exposed to his anger.
“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. So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.” Psalm 90:10, 12
We are a brief dream in the night in the context of eternity. We would be wise to number our days. Don’t miss this phrase either: “…their span is but toil and trouble.” We are alerted by 1 Peter 4:12, “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you…” Life is full of pain and loss born of the world’s brokenness.
You are not immune.
In the midst of trouble, even seventy or eighty years can seem impossible to endure. And so, the psalmist cries out in verse thirteen, “Return, O Lord! How long? Have pity on your servants!”
“Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.” Psalm 90:14
There exists one dynamic in this world stronger than toil and trouble. One power overwhelms every fiery trial. The steadfast love of the Lord causes us to rejoice in gladness all our days. All the days of our seventy or eighty years. Even when God allows affliction, he makes our days glad. As Paul instructs, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice” (Philippians 4:4).
“Let your work be shown to your servants, and your glorious power to their children.” Psalm 90:16
The psalmist beseeches the Lord to act and show his works to his servants. He calls on God to reveal his glorious power to all his followers. In the context of toil, trial, and trouble, God will give gladness—even comfort—to his children and show forth his glorious power.
Number your days, seek wisdom, endure difficulty, and experience the glory and favor of God. He seeks after us to pray for the kingdom of God to come and for his will to be done. Because he can be trusted. His steadfast love overwhelms the trouble. He will establish the work of our hands.
Yes, establish our work, Lord!
“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!” Psalm 90:17
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