Psalms 90:16

Let Thy work appear unto Thy servants, and Thy glory unto their children.

The religious consecration of our households

I. Truths suggested in this prayer.

1. That real religion, wherever it exists, is a Divine production in the human mind. “Thy works,” etc. It is a work, and a work of God. God begins it.

2. That they who have experienced its power and preciousness themselves are anxious for its prevalence among those most dear to them. “Their children.”

3. That the preservation of religion in families is a leading object of God’s dispensations.

4. That it becomes the young, as they rise to years of consciousness and maturity, to unite their prayers with the prayers that are offered on their behalf. O satisfy us with Thy mercy.

II. Encouragements to present this prayer.

1. It is a point in which God’s glory, and man’s good, are found to meet and centre. You do not run counter to the tide of Divine designs, but in unison. It is God’s work, and God’s glory.

2. It is a subject to which the richest promises are made.

3. It has been amply answered in every age.

III. Practical hints for our own conduct.

1. Aim to be the instrument of fulfilling your own prayer. Show them God’s glory.

2. Take heed there is nothing in your conduct to counteract your instruction.

3. Ascribe to God all the glory of success. (Evangelist.)

Desire that God would let His work appear

I. The “work” of God, as mentioned here, denotes, primarily, the establishment of Israel in the promised land of Canaan; ultimately, the preparation of the way for the Messiah and His Church.

II. When this “work” may be said to “appear.” It may be described as appearing anew in different periods; as a work, delayed at times, yet “revived in the midst of the years.” Often, after seeming to have let alone His work, has the Divine Being awoke, laid bare His arm, and set His hand a second time to His unfinished work. The degree of piety prevailing at any time is the gauge by which we may measure that progress of this work in the prosperity of Israel.

III. Why it is so desirable that this prayer should be accomplished. The first concern of a Christian is, that his own life may be given to him as a prey; that He who has begun may perform the good work of His grace in his own soul: the second is, that the same good work may extend to others; that they also may be sharers with ourselves of the same salvation.

1. This desire is the dictate of piety,--of a regard to the glory of God.

2. It is equally the dictate of benevolence,--of a regard for the happiness of others. (R. Hall, M.A.)

Work and glory

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.)