New Years Psalm 4
Relent, Lord! How long will it be?
Have compassion on your servants.
Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love,
that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.
Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,
for as many years as we have seen trouble.
May your deeds be shown to your servants,
your splendor to their children.
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.
Psalm 90:13-17
Have you ever been in the surf in a freak set? It’s pretty scary. A big wall of water builds right before your eyes. The power is awesome. It humbles you. That’s kind of what Psalm 90 has been doing as the Psalmist reminds us that God is God, that He is Holy and that sinners suffer under His wrath.
But that’s not where the Psalmist ends. He cries out to the Lord to relent. He petitions the Lord to show mercy and favour to God’s people. Even as He has afflicted (not unjustly), the Psalmist beseeches God to “make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us.”
The Psalmist gives words to the cry of humanity. Ease our suffering. Bring joy where there is sorrow. Will these cries fall on deaf ears, as perhaps we should expect? No, God in His grace and mercy has answered this deepest of prayers beyond all expectation.
In Jesus Christ, we can be glad even in the midst of affliction. But, more than this, in Jesus Christ, though we may suffer for 20 or 100 years. We can expect to be glad and sing, not for 20 or 100 years, but for eternity.
God has answered our greatest prayers in Jesus Christ. In the face of that mighty wave of God’s wrath, Jesus grabs our hand and pulls us under, He holds us tight, only to rise on the other side. And what is on the other side? Well, it’s the perfect wave that we will ride forever.
For Today:
Pray:
Have compassion on your servants.
Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love,
that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.
Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,
for as many years as we have seen trouble.
May your deeds be shown to your servants,
your splendor to their children.
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.
Psalm 90:13-17
Have you ever been in the surf in a freak set? It’s pretty scary. A big wall of water builds right before your eyes. The power is awesome. It humbles you. That’s kind of what Psalm 90 has been doing as the Psalmist reminds us that God is God, that He is Holy and that sinners suffer under His wrath.
But that’s not where the Psalmist ends. He cries out to the Lord to relent. He petitions the Lord to show mercy and favour to God’s people. Even as He has afflicted (not unjustly), the Psalmist beseeches God to “make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us.”
The Psalmist gives words to the cry of humanity. Ease our suffering. Bring joy where there is sorrow. Will these cries fall on deaf ears, as perhaps we should expect? No, God in His grace and mercy has answered this deepest of prayers beyond all expectation.
In Jesus Christ, we can be glad even in the midst of affliction. But, more than this, in Jesus Christ, though we may suffer for 20 or 100 years. We can expect to be glad and sing, not for 20 or 100 years, but for eternity.
God has answered our greatest prayers in Jesus Christ. In the face of that mighty wave of God’s wrath, Jesus grabs our hand and pulls us under, He holds us tight, only to rise on the other side. And what is on the other side? Well, it’s the perfect wave that we will ride forever.
For Today:
- Do you see the great generosity of God’s grace?
- Do you trust in Jesus to see you through to eternal life?
- Do you look forward to the new creation?
Pray:
- Praise the Father that He is full of grace and mercy.
- Give thanks for Jesus Christ who saves us and holds us to the end.
- Ask God for His Holy Spirit to help you and others trust in Jesus and look forward to the days of joy in eternal life.
Posted in Psalms
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