Psalm 90

I was reading Psalm 90 the other day for devotions and I was impressed with it's beauty. Moses actually wrote this psalm, right before his death. It has so much understanding behind it's simple yet beautiful lines, but the thing that impressed me most was the fact that he wrote it at all.

The same Moses who begged God to choose another man to speak the words of God to Pharaoh wrote a whole psalm at the end of his life. Moses didn't think he was any good with words, but Psalm 90 is proof that God truly works through men to accomplish great personal accomplishments. 

I could have almost cried because I sensed so much pain accumulated through forty years wandering in a desert, leading a stubborn and rebellious people. Stress and pain Moses bore for forty years as the leader of the Israelites. Yet there was peace, and hope for the future. As if Moses really did feel fulfilled through God's will, and looking back on his life, knew that he had lived it to it's fullest for his Lord. 

For years God used Moses to carry out his plan for the Israelites, and it was at the end of his life that Moses overcame his own personal barrier to write this psalm. Moses had seen God Himself and spoken with Him and for Him, and as a little gift at the end of Moses' life, God granted him words--the very thing that caused Moses' doubt when God first approached him. It just goes to show that God is faithful--always. 

Psalm 90 shows us that Moses really understood God for who He is. And he praised Him, gave him glory, and asked one thing of Him: "make our efforts successful." Let this be our prayer. 

Psalm 90

Lord, through all the generations, you have been our home!

Before the mountains were born, before you gave birth to the earth and the world, from beginning to end, you are God. 

You turn people back to dust, saying, "Return to dust, you mortals!"

For a thousand years are as a passing day, as brief as a few night hours. 

You sweep people away like dreams that disappear. They are like grass the springs up in the morning. 

In the morning it blooms and flourishes, but by evening it is dry and withered. 

We wither beneath your anger; we are overwhelmed by your fury. 

You spread out our sins before you--our secret sins--and you see them all. We live our lives beneath your wrath, ending our years with a groan. 

Seventy years are given to us! Some even live to eighty.

But even the best years are filled with pain and trouble; soon they disappear, and we fly away.

Who can comprehend the power of your anger? Your wrath is as awesome as the fear you deserve. 

Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom. 

O Lord, come back to us! How long will you delay? Take pity on your servants!

Satisfy us each morning with your unfailing love, so we may sing for joy to the end of our lives. 

Give us gladness in proportion to our former misery! Replace the evil years with good. 

Let us, your servants, see you work again; let our children see your glory. 

And may the Lord our God show us his approval and make our efforts successful. 

Yes, make our efforts successful!