Listen

Let your acts be seen by your servants; let your glory be seen by their children. Let the kindness of the Lord our God be over us. Make the work of our hands last. Make the work of our hands last!

Psalm 90:16-17

Think

Verses sixteen and seventeen of Psalm 90 are the continuation of the petitions of supplication, the plea from God’s servants to remove God’s wrath. God’s servants are praying for God to wrap them in compassion – the Hebrew word is hesed – meaning faithful love. The prayer for compassion is a prayer for God’s action: “Let your acts be seen by your servants; let your glory be seen by their children.” Compassion that transforms suffering must come from an act of the Lord.

The presence of God’s glory signals a new era where humanity will exist under God’s favor. The psalmist has no knowledge of what kind of work God will do to bring this transition. But the psalmist believes and places his trust in the God who has been faithful over time and continues to be compassionate to all generations.

And so we can trust, too: The hesed that God shares with you and me continues. And it is made known through our faithful love shown to God and God’s children.

Tom Baynham

Pray

Holy God, I have heard your voice and felt your hesed – your faithful love – throughout the week. As I continue this journey with you, I pray that my hesed for you will be made known in my care of those less fortunate than myself. Amen.

Go

O people, lay up your treasures in glory.

Your treasures in this world will fade away, but the things of the Lord will last forevermore!