Working Through the Bibleنموونە

The Psalms vocalize the prayers of God’s people. They are poetic expressions of deep heart yearnings from those who trust in the one true God. In Psalm 90, the author addresses the work of God in all its breadth. God’s work in the world is referenced in forming the earth and the world (v. 2). His power over life and death is emphasized (v. 3-6). The frailty of human life and its relative brevity are lamented as one of the realities of life (v.10).

As a response to those deep truths, the Psalmist lifts a request to God regarding his work. We read, “May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us. Establish the work of our hands for us. Yes, establish the work of our hands.” In this prayer, the psalmist asks God to take his work – the things that he cares about and the activities that have taken up his time – and establish it.

The word translated as “establish” is a significant Hebrew word. It means to make something permanent or to make something last. It is said of the moon, kingdoms, and the temple itself. It has the sense of a foundation: something that persists. Here, the psalmist asks God to take the work of his hands and make it last.

For many of us, it is hard to see how our work lasts. We can look at pastors or missionaries and understand the eternal value of their work. We might think that our work as a lawyer, a doctor, an engineer, a landscaper, a food service worker, or a teacher is only temporary. But the Bible teaches us that all of our work matters in eternity and that we can ask God to give our work eternal meaning. What an incredible gift to join in the Psalmist's prayer: “Establish the work of our hands for us. Yes, establish the work of our hands.”

This week's reading focuses on the Psalms as an opportunity to emotionally lift our work to God.