Make us Glad According to the Days You Have Afflicted Us
Last night just before midnight as we put the close on 2008, I read Psalm 90. My NASB labels this Psalm "God's Eternity and Man's Transitoriness," which is an apt description. Here's how the last couple of verses go:
Psalm 90: 13-17
13 Do return, O LORD; how long will it be? And be sorry for Your servants.
14 O satisfy us in the morning with Your lovingkindness, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.
15 Make us glad according to the days You have afflicted us, and the years we have seen evil.
16 Let Your work appear to Your servants and your majesty to their children.
17 Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us; and confirm for us the work of our hands; yes, confirm the work of our hands.
Don't you just love how this Psalm tells it like it is? You could cherry-pick out v. 14 and it sounds all sweet and lovely. But real life also involves suffering, evil, and affliction, which you see as you read the context. Our attitude, though, should be to be glad, to rejoice, and to give thanks in all circumstances. From everlasting to everlasting, God is God.
The past year has not been an easy one in our family, but God also allowed us some wonderful joys. Chief among these has been Collin and Kara's marriage. Watching them grow in love for one another this past year, and seeing them learn to lean on each, other especially as they experienced the loss of their first baby, has been very beautiful. We look forward to what the New Year will bring for them!
Only the Lord knows what 2009 has in store for any of us. We can fear or trust God, who has been our dwelling place in all generations. May He confirm for us the work of our hands in this coming year.
Our God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Our shelter from the stormy blast,
And our eternal home.
Under the shadow of Thy throne
Thy saints have dwelt secure;
Sufficient is Thine arm along,
And our defense is sure.
Before the hills in order stood,
Or earth received her frame,
From everlasting Thou art God,
To endless years the same.
Psalm 90: 13-17
13 Do return, O LORD; how long will it be? And be sorry for Your servants.
14 O satisfy us in the morning with Your lovingkindness, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.
15 Make us glad according to the days You have afflicted us, and the years we have seen evil.
16 Let Your work appear to Your servants and your majesty to their children.
17 Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us; and confirm for us the work of our hands; yes, confirm the work of our hands.
Don't you just love how this Psalm tells it like it is? You could cherry-pick out v. 14 and it sounds all sweet and lovely. But real life also involves suffering, evil, and affliction, which you see as you read the context. Our attitude, though, should be to be glad, to rejoice, and to give thanks in all circumstances. From everlasting to everlasting, God is God.
The past year has not been an easy one in our family, but God also allowed us some wonderful joys. Chief among these has been Collin and Kara's marriage. Watching them grow in love for one another this past year, and seeing them learn to lean on each, other especially as they experienced the loss of their first baby, has been very beautiful. We look forward to what the New Year will bring for them!
Only the Lord knows what 2009 has in store for any of us. We can fear or trust God, who has been our dwelling place in all generations. May He confirm for us the work of our hands in this coming year.
Our God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Our shelter from the stormy blast,
And our eternal home.
Under the shadow of Thy throne
Thy saints have dwelt secure;
Sufficient is Thine arm along,
And our defense is sure.
Before the hills in order stood,
Or earth received her frame,
From everlasting Thou art God,
To endless years the same.
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