January 1st, 2012
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

God’s Eternity, My Present

Please see the links to our EXTRA Bible Study notes at the bottom of the page.

Opening Prayer

God of this place and every place, Sovereign of this time and all time, Lord of the here and now, I praise You.

Read PSALM 90:1-17

[1] Psalms 90–106 A prayer of Moses the man of God. Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations. [2] Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. [3] You turn men back to dust, saying, “Return to dust, O sons of men.” [4] For a thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night. [5] You sweep men away in the sleep of death; they are like the new grass of the morning- [6] though in the morning it springs up new, by evening it is dry and withered. [7] We are consumed by your anger and terrified by your indignation. [8] You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence. [9] All our days pass away under your wrath; we finish our years with a moan. [10] The length of our days is seventy years- or eighty, if we have the strength; yet their span is but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away. [11] Who knows the power of your anger? For your wrath is as great as the fear that is due you. [12] Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. [13] Relent, O LORD! How long will it be? Have compassion on your servants. [14] Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days. [15] Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, for as many years as we have seen trouble. [16] May your deeds be shown to your servants, your splendor to their children. [17] May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us- yes, establish the work of our hands.

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.

Meditate

“Three things are revealed in this psalm; God’s sovereignty (1-6), God’s wrath (7-12), and God’s love (13-17). The latter is manifested in satisfying love (14a), recompensing joy (14b,15), and meaningful labor (17)” (Ray C. Stedman).

Think Further

A speck of dust in the universe, a blink of the eye in time. The immensity of the cosmos in space and time can lead to a feeling of personal insignificance, even less than that of a blade of grass (5,6)! What a difference is made when we see beyond the universe to the Creator who gave it all birth (2), and when the Lord has become “our dwelling place” (1), the place of rest and security (Psa. 71:3; 91:9). My early work was in nuclear physics research, and I have often reflected in awe that efforts to understand the formation of stars and galaxies involve the physics of the nucleus: the greatest and tiniest processes imaginable come together in the total picture.

Even more amazing is that it is not an impersonal force or energy binding it all, but in Christ we see “Hands that flung stars into space / To cruel nails surrendered” (Graham Kendrick). We see the Creator God acting to reconcile sinful humans (7-9,11): we are not just dust (or grass). God’s involvement in human life means that we can pray confidently, “establish the work of our hands” (17).

The psalm’s association with Moses (see the title) reminds us that Moses dies before entering the Promised Land. We often come up short, in terms of time, intentions, and accomplishments—but God brought the people into the land. Our lives are caught up in God’s purposes, our time in God’s time. The psalm faces the reality of human finitude and sinfulness (3-11), but does not end there. There is forgiveness and life. The death and resurrection of Christ give a new dimension to our perception of ourselves and time. We can throw ourselves into the present God gives us, knowing that “your labor in the Lord is not in vain” (1 Cor. 15:58).

Apply

On this first Sunday of 2012, include in your prayer the thankful affirmation of vs. 1 and 2 and the petition of v. 17.

Closing prayer

Lord God, You are the one who is, who was, and is to come. On this first day of the New Year, I surrender anew to You.

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