Have Pity on Your Servants

Psalms 90:10-11 ESV

 

10 The years of our life are seventy,

    or even by reason of strength eighty;

yet their span is but toil and trouble;

    they are soon gone, and we fly away.

11 Who considers the power of your anger,

    and your wrath according to the fear of you?

 

I just turned 73 years old a few days ago, so I am ever aware that my life on this earth is fleeting and that I must make the best use of the time God has given to me on this earth. And I know far too well the toil and trouble that is part of living on this earth in these flesh bodies, too. In fact, as I am writing this today I am suffering from some kind of bug – fever, headache, nausea, and dry heaves (began Saturday night), although the nausea is getting better and I am able to eat something, though very little.

 

And I must admit that I look forward to that day when Jesus calls me home and my life of suffering is over on this earth. Oh, what a glorious day that will be when I see my Lord face to face and I am with him for eternity. But while I am waiting for his return I will walk in the fear of the Lord, and by the grace of God, and in his strength, I will endure suffering, and I will continue to honor my Lord with my life and I will not let the things of this world get me down.

 

Psalms 90:12-17 ESV

 

12 So teach us to number our days

    that we may get a heart of wisdom.

13 Return, O Lord! How long?

    Have pity on your servants!

14 Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,

    that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.

15 Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,

    and for as many years as we have seen evil.

16 Let your work be shown to your servants,

    and your glorious power to their children.

17 Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us,

    and establish the work of our hands upon us;

    yes, establish the work of our hands!

 

Oh, yes! We must never take the time we have on this earth lightly or for granted. We must always see our lives on this earth through God’s eternal perspective. And we must seek out his truth and his wisdom that we might live by it. And then we must walk in his ways and in his truth even when we are suffering greatly. And I know that my suffering pales by comparison to what other Christians throughout the world are suffering, but it still hurts. And so I pray for God’s mercy and his healing of my body.

 

But no matter what suffering we are called to endure, God’s grace is sufficient to see us through, or else I would not be sitting here typing this right now. For in my own strength there is no way! And we can know the joy of the Lord even in our suffering. And when we are following the Lord in obedience, especially in times when we are hurting physically, he will show us his plan and his purpose for it all, and he will use it all for our good that we might continue to mature in our walks of faith in him.

 

Near the Cross 

 

Hymn lyrics by Fanny J. Crosby, 1869

Music by William H. Doane, 1869

 

Jesus, keep me near the cross;

There a precious fountain,

Free to all, a healing stream,

Flows from Calvary's mountain.

 

Near the cross, a trembling soul,

Love and mercy found me;

There the bright and morning star

Sheds its beams around me.

          

Near the cross! O Lamb of God,

Bring its scenes before me;

Help me walk from day to day

With its shadow o'er me.

 

Near the cross I'll watch and wait,

Hoping, trusting ever,

Till I reach the golden strand

Just beyond the river.

        

In the cross, in the cross,

Be my glory ever,

Till my raptured soul shall find

Rest beyond the river.

 

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