Psalm 90 is a wonderful Psalm about how God can establish us and help us to live well.
God has always been established. Psalm 90:1-2 1 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.
There has never been a time when God was not. He always has been and always will be God. Because He has always been established, He is the One who can establish us. Verses 3-11 of Psalm 90 help us understand we are weak, we are as dust, we are limited, our lives are frail and short. But God can establish us.
We need to be established.
Psalm 90:12 begins: “Teach us.” We need to have an established relationship with God whereby we acknowledge He is the teacher and we are the students. There is no such thing as a “self-made” man or “self-made” woman. For only those who embrace that they have been created in the image of God and that they can be redeemed by God and be in a relationship with Him where He is the Lord of our lives, can truly become established.
As we move on in verse 12 we see that the Psalmist is asking for help with his priorities. Teach us to number our days aright.
Established Priorities.
We need to have our priorities established. So, we need God to show us how to use our time, how to schedule our lives, how to make time for that which is important, like the things that are eternal.
Teach us to number our days aright… Verse 12 goes on to say, “that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”
Established in wisdom.
We need to be established in wisdom. Verse 12 isn’t just about time management in light of our earthly responsibilities, but it is about prioritizing our lives wisely in light of eternity. Proverbs 24:3-5 3 By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is ESTABLISHED; 4 through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures. 5 A wise man has great power, and a man of knowledge increases strength;
Verse 14: “Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.”
Established in Love
We need to be established in the love of God. What did Paul pray in Ephesians 3:17-19? And I pray that you, being rooted and ESTABLISHED in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Oh friends, when we are established in the love of God, power flows into our lives! “That you, being rooted and established in love, may have power . . . ” When we are established in His love, He can root us, He can grow us, and He can fill us with all things good and with all things God. Who here wouldn’t want that?
Look at the end of verse 14: that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.
Established in joy.
The Christian life is the most joyful life. It is the most fun life. It is the most fulfilling life. Psalm 16:11: “You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.”
Joy comes from the inside out. It isn’t something that you can create for yourself. It has to be implanted in you or imparted to you by Jesus Himself. Jesus is the joy-giver.
Look at verse 16: May your deeds be shown to your servants, your splendor to their children.
Established in family life.
I think what the Psalmist is picturing is that people will see the power of God at work in their family. What if every father, every mother, and every child in a nuclear family was submitted to God’s will and wanted to see God at work in power in their family? What could happen? Can you picture it?
Finally, God can establish us in our life’s work.
Established in our work.
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.
Notice that the Psalmist prayed for favor for His work. He prayed for God’s blessing over His work. It is supernatural help to succeed as we work. When was the last time you prayed on your way to work, “God, establish me in the workplace. Help me succeed. Enable me to be an exceptional worker today?”
