Work and Glory
Psalm 90:16
Let your work appear to your servants, and your glory to their children.


This psalm has the threefold interest of subject, of authorship, and of association. Of subject, because it contrasts and combines God and man in the most thrilling and yet most natural way. All the greatness of God and all the weakness of man, and this so as to draw man to God in the longing cry, " Let Thy work appear to us, let the beauty," etc. And this interest is enhanced by the bare possibility that we read in this psalm, "a prayer of Moses, the man of God." How wonderful was his history, second only in interest to that of our Lord. And then the associations of this psalm — read as it is over the grave of our beloved departed ones. Therefore our attention is aroused when we come to consider the teachings of such a psalm.

I. "SHOW THY SERVANTS THY WORK" God worketh everywhere and always. Above all in Christ, in the Holy Ghost, and in all the operations of His grace. But man sees it not. Many things hide it. God must show it to him. And here Moses prays that his people may be made to see God's work. Let us, as we need to, make the prayer our own.

II. "AND THEIR CHILDREN THY GLORY." The glory spoken of is the self-manifestation of God. There might, in conception at least, have been God and no glory. But it pleased Him not thus to be. He came forth to communicate, to recreate, to redeem. That forthcoming was outshining. And Moses prayed not only for the generation then living, but for their children. What better prayer can parents offer for their children than this? What better defence against the anxiety on their behalf which they feel so often and so keenly? And God has, in large degree, answered for us this prayer. Let us be grateful for the blessing, and let us hand it on. Never consent that your children should receive a Godless education. The prayer of the patriot, like that of the saint, must be, "Show the children Thy glory."

(Dean Vaughan.)



Parallel Verses
KJV: Let thy work appear unto thy servants, and thy glory unto their children.

WEB: Let your work appear to your servants; your glory to their children.




The Religious Consecration of Our Households
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