Oh satisfy us early with thy mercy ; literally, satisfy us in the morning with thy mercy ; i.e. "after a night of trouble, give us a bright morning of peace and rest." That we may rejoice and be glad all our days; rather, and we will rejoice and be glad, etc. read more
The secret of satisfaction. I. MAN CRAVES FOR SATISFACTION . He may have many advantages and gifts, much wealth, friends, health, and much beside; and these may divert, interest, and absorb him; but they cannot really satisfy. His soul will hunger still. II. GOD 'S MERCY ALONE CAN MEET THAT CRAVING . For: 1 . It puts out of the way all that hinders our satisfaction. The sense of guilt; the tyranny of sin; the burden of care; the fear of death. 2 . It... read more
Make us glad according to the days wherein thou hast afflicted us. Proportion our time of joy to our time of sorrow: as the one has lasted many long years, so let the other. And the years wherein we have seen evil; or, "suffered adversity." read more
Make us glad. None can overestimate the blessing that God's gift of gladness is to us. How it sweetens intercourse, encourages work, lightens our burdens, and helps us over many a difficult place! But there are forms of gladness to which no praise can be given. The laughter of fools is like "the crackling of thorns under a pot"—so says Ecclesiastes. And the gladness of evil men over evil has poison in it, notwithstanding all its loudness. And all mere man made gladness is without... read more
Let thy work appear ante thy servants, end thy glory unto their children. The "work" and the "glory" are the same thing—some vast exertion of the Divine power and majesty, which will result in great good to his people. If we accept the Mosaic authorship of the psalm, the establishment of Israel in the laud of Canaan may reasonably be taken as the "work" spoken of. read more
Prayer for Divine revealing of the mystery of life. This prayer, as referable to the Israelites, is a presage of the end of their pilgrimage, of their forgiveness, and of their settlement in Canaan. The issue of present Divine dealings was a glory which could only come to the children of the Mosaic generation. But Moses could properly pray that what God was actually then doing—his work by his disciplinary dispensations—might at once be revealed to his servants. To know what God is... read more
And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us (comp. Psalms 45:1-17 :24, "Thou art fairer than the children of men;" Psalms 27:4 , "To behold the beauty of the Lord;" Isaiah 33:17 , "Thine eyes shall see the King in his beauty"). The "beauty of God" is upon us when we see and realize the loveliness of his character. And establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it. The repetition adds nothing, except it be emphasis. God is asked,... read more
Prayer and work. "And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it." I. THAT GOOD MEN ARE ENGAGED IN IMPORTANT WORK . God has a work to do ; and the psalmist prays that it may be made manifest to their eyes. We desire to see God's work—the revelations and exercises of his great power and love. But the thought here is of our work. 1 . It is divinely appointed. Not... read more
This psalm is one of the most remarkable in the whole collection. It is said, in the title, to be “A Prayer of Moses, the man of God;” or, as it is in the margin, “being a Psalm of Moses.” The original word - תפלה tephillâh - means properly(1) intercession, supplication for anyone;(2) prayer or supplication in general;(3) a hymn or inspired song.Gesenius, Lexicon. In Psalms 72:20, the word is applied to the whole preceding part of the Book of Psalms - “The prayers of David, the son of Jesse,... read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 90:13
Return, O Lord, how long? rather, turn, O Lord ; i.e. "turn from thy anger—how long will it be ere thou turnest?" And let it repent thee concerning thy servants. God "is not a man, that he should repent" ( Numbers 23:19 ); and yet from time to time "it repents him concerning his servants" ( Deuteronomy 32:36 ; Psalms 135:14 ). He relents, that is, from his fierce anger, allows himself to be appeased, and has compassion upon those who have provoked him. read more