“Withers” (Ps 90)

“Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever You had formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God. You turn man to dust, and say, Return, O children of men... You carry them away like a flood; they are like a sleep. In the morning they are like grass which grows up: in the morning it flourishes and grow up in the evening it is cut down and withers” (vs1-6).

Man is nothing, and God is God (vs1-6). Man rules nothing. He is here today, gone tomorrow, and God is God forever. He says, “In the morning they are like grass which grows up: in the morning it flourishes and grows up; in the evening it is cut down and withers.”

Do not think lightly of the Most High, puny human, as if you can challenge Him and decide your course. We read, “ Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever You had formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God. You turn man to dust, and say, Return, O children of men”. He determines your pain or pleasure, and you'll answer to Him eventually, because when all of your life passes, that brief moment that it is, He is eternal and will decide your fate beyond the Judgment. He is awesome, to be feared and reverenced, and He is gracious. Man is nothing in His sight, but He stoops to behold our dealings and saves all who believe Him.

We must be realist (vs7-12)! He says, “The days of our lives are seventy years; and if by reason of strength they are eighty years, yet their boast is only labor and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away. Who knows the power of Your anger? For as the fear of You, so is Your wrath. So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom”. I heard that Steve Jobs, the leader of Apple Computers, refused some treatment because he thought that “magical thinking” could think away his cancer. How tragic that human souls don't deal with God as God because they think they can wish the train away, while standing on the tracks, but this isn't true. God is awesome, fearful, and you must GET READY to meet Him.

When I turned 40, I couldn't sleep that night, and walked at about 2am past a couple of graveyards. I read the tombstones. They would say, “1895 – 1971”, and I saw husbands and wives buried together, lavish, and even flower adorned tombs. But, the people weren't there! Their bones were there, and their tombstones recorded a long life, but the husband was no longer with the wife, the long life had ended, and what was it worth, if they didn't know Christ savingly? They'll awake to death eternal because they didn't prepare. And, I set my heart to one thing, to preparing to meet God when I die, which means PREPARING others also.

Get ready. Don't take this lightly, as if you can think it away.

Finally, we plead with God to show us some good (vs13-17)! He says, “Make us glad according to the days in which You have afflicted us, the years in which we have seen evil. Let Your work appear to Your servants, and Your glory to their children. And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands for us; yes, establish the work of our hands”. We are puny nothings, You're almighty, and You afflict and chasten us justly. But, we also ask that you turn to us, turn to us, and do us good by establishing the work of our hands. Like Noah, make us able to complete our task. Make me OBEDIENT, so you may make me happy. You show me my faults, but encourage me. Don't dump on me more than I can bear, but strengthen me by grace to bear the thorns of this short life with the dignity of faith (Numb 11:14). Let me believe your goodness and taste of your blessings in the spirit of worship. Help me to be happy, because You're in control, and I seek my reward from You.

This wise prayer DEALS with Christ squarely. It doesn't block Him out of the mind or resign us to unbelief, as if He's a bully that we must endure. No, He is loving, gracious, and prayer answering. He is holy, vengeful, and just in His destructions, but He also has another side. He doesn't merely give what we deserve, but He gives grace to those who ask. He says, “Return, O Lord! How long? And have compassion on Your servants. Oh, satisfy us early with Your mercy, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days!” Take Him seriously, ask Him for help, and expect joy. Live WITH the Almighty as His servant, asking Him to do what is pleasing IN you, so that He may give you undeserved joy and peace in His will, as His servant, as recognizing His power by bowing the knee.