July 31st, 2011
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

Hope In God Alone

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

Opening Prayer

Loving Lord, as I go through this day, my hope is in You and You alone. You are my faithful and true Lord and God.

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

”Faithful One, so unchanging, / Ageless One, You’re my rock of peace … All through the storm / Your love is the anchor: / My hope is in You alone” (B. Doersten and D. Rademaker).

Think Further

Centuries after God’s delivering “my people” from Egypt they were again in a foreign land, in forced exile. Psalm 89 expressed their anguish as they sought to understand the overthrow of the Davidic kingship, contrary to so many of God’s promises (especially 89:35-39). Psalm 90 begins a new “book” of the Psalter with “a prayer of Moses.” The way forward lies in recognizing deserved judgment—and the grounds for hope! In their distress, petitioners rely on the long-experienced character of the Creator, for this is a psalm for all humanity. The God who “brought forth the whole world” and who exists for all time (2) knows human sin and acts in judgment (7-9,11). He can also be called on to “have compassion” because of his “unfailing love” (13,14). There is recall of the relationship with God of past generations (1), of being his “servants” (13,16) and of hope for future generations (16). The eternal character of God means he does not give up on people he has made.

The psalm bids us reflect on the transience of life (3-6), an experience sadly common only in times of tragedy and bereavement, and life’s “trouble and sorrow” (10), but that is not the whole picture. There is “wisdom” in a right evaluation (12): “Seen in the light of God, what is evanescent becomes durable, what is miserable becomes glorious … Faith is able to reach out to the eternity of God” (A. Weiser). Such “eternity” is not a remote philosophical abstraction but a reminder of long-term, permanent faithfulness and favor in relationship (17). In circumstances of distress and conflict a later writer affirmed, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever” (Heb. 13:8) and another was to hear, “I am the Alpha and the Omega” (Rev. 1:8).

Apply

Read vs. 13-17 again, and praise God for all he has given us in Christ. Ask for wisdom to live daily in that light.

Closing prayer

Tender Lord, continue in Your grace and mercy to be the same for me in the future as You’ve been in the past. I trust the future to You.

Click here to sign up to receive the EXTRAs via email each quarter.

© 2024 Scripture Union U.S.A. All rights reserved. Reproduction of the whole or any part of the contents without written permission is prohibited.

Encounter with God is published in the USA under license from Scripture Union England and Wales, Trinity House, Opal Court, Opal Drive, Fox Milne, Milton Keynes, MK15 0DF.

View all readings

Get ENCOUNTER:

in your email:

in Print:

Become a Member | Visit our store