Let the Favor of the Lord be Upon Us

If you’ve ever had a difficult boss, coach, parent, or other superior figure, you likely know what it means to desire their favor. In some cases it seems futile to even try, especially if they tend to find fault with anything and everything you do. In the best cases they can be pleased, if you work hard. Regardless, it’s challenging to live under such circumstances because you rarely feel they are pleased and therefore, you seldom feel satisfied. It’s comforting, then, to read Psalm 90 and realize that the Superior of superiors, the everlasting God, is able and willing to shine His favor upon His people.     

Our Dwelling Place

If anyone could speak of God as “our dwelling place” (Ps. 90:1) it would be the author of this Psalm, Moses, the prophet and friend of God who led Israel out of Egypt and through the wilderness. During this time in redemptive history, before Solomon built the temple in Jerusalem, the Lord dwelt among His people by way of the tabernacle. Earlier generations could also testify that He had been their dwelling place. The Lord had met with Adam in the garden (Gen. 2:15-17) and Abraham at his tent (Gen. 18:1-15). From generation to generation He had been faithful to His promise to dwell with His people.

               It is significant that Moses, who wrote the Pentateuch, also wrote Psalm 90. Just as he had written the creation account in Genesis 1-2, he wrote in this psalm, “Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God” (Ps. 90:2). It is no surprise, then, that this psalm tells the big story of the Bible—creation, the fall, redemption, and consummation.

               The apostle John tells us that “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). The reason Jesus came and tabernacled among us was to reveal God’s glory, “full of grace and truth” (v. 14). “He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power” (Heb. 1:3). He came to accomplish the redemption of God’s people. Yet we still wait for the consummation of His kingdom when we will dwell with God in the new Jerusalem and praise Him forever. In the meantime, we can take great comfort in the truth that no matter our circumstances, the Lord will be our dwelling place.  

Our Days

The mood of Psalm 90 changes between verses 1-2 and 3-17. Because of the fall death will come to us all—“You return man to dust” (Ps. 90:3). It’s not just death that threatens humankind though. God’s wrath also awaits the wicked, “by your wrath we are dismayed. You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence” (vv. 7-8). Our sins stain our souls and sentence us to separation from God, “Who considers the power of your anger, and your wrath according to the fear of you?” (v. 11).

               But in the midst of misery Moses sounds a note of mercy. There is a solution to God’s wrath. Those who turn to God for salvation will be saved. Moses begins by praying, “teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom” (Ps. 90:12). One of the ways we gain a heart of wisdom is by trusting in the One who “became to us wisdom from God” (1 Cor. 1:30). Next, Moses asks the Lord to “have pity on [His] servants” (Ps. 90:13). This is most fully displayed through Christ’s death on the cross that accomplished the redemption of God’s people. Then Moses asks the Lord to “satisfy” them with His “steadfast love” so that they can “rejoice and be glad” (v. 14). For all those who are united to Christ by faith, His joy becomes our joy. Moses also prays that the Lord will help them see their suffering as a gift from Him (v. 15). Those who follow in the footsteps of their Lord Jesus Christ, the suffering servant, will also suffer. Furthermore, Moses asks the Lord to reveal His “work” and “glorious power” to His people (v. 16). This, of course, would be most clearly demonstrated through Christ’s death and resurrection. Finally, Moses prays for “the favor of the Lord” to rest upon His people and asks Him to “establish the work of [their] hands” (v. 17). For those who are in Christ God’s favor rests upon us and our “labor is not in vain” (1 Cor. 15:58).

               God’s wrath was poured out upon His only Son, so that He can be our dwelling place. Because of Jesus our days are not futile and the works of our hands are not meaningless. God has chosen us in Christ and prepared works beforehand for us to do for His glory (Eph. 2:10). Therefore, let us fervently pray for the Lord to establish the work of our hands and sustain our days, so that we might declare His words and works to the next generation.

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Dear believer, take comfort today in the truth that the everlasting God is your dwelling place and His favor is upon you. He will give you wisdom. He will be merciful to you. He will satisfy you with His steadfast love. He will make you glad. He will show you His glorious power. And He will establish the work of your hands.