Psalm 92: In Praise of Good Work

The weekend Psalm for:
November 7-8.2009
Read Psalm 92 from the English Standard Version
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The Big Idea

I've had a lot of projects that I started with all the best intention, only to realize that they did not live up to my hopes or expectations. So often, I step back from what I have done, look at it objectively, and I see every fault. In woodworking, it's the mis-cut miter; in teaching, it is the well intentioned statement that was misconstrued; in writing, it's the idea that's way clearer in my head than it is on paper.

Face it: My best efforts are pretty lame.

No wonder the Psalmist says "For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work; at the works of your hands I sing for joy." What God does matters. What God redeems endures.

The fool doesn't understand the works of the Lord, and in fact, tries to build and make things that will upstage God. In the final analysis, they are corrupt, doomed, and unrighteous.

This Psalm reminds us to put our trust in the faithfulness of God. That's the only way our best efforts will ever add up to anything.

Meditation

Years ago--more years that I care to think about--we did a paper-mache art project. I was in second or third grade, and I settled on making a reindeer. Our art teacher taught us to make a wire frame to support the sculpture while we were working on it.

It was a beauty. Perfect, well proportioned, painted the ideal "reindeer brown" and shellacked to preserve it for posterity. Throughout the project, I knew who was going to get the finished project--my grandfather (I called him 'Pa'). I gave it to him with great fanfare.

It rocked. No, I mean it rocked--it didn't sit level on all four feet. At some point, my idealistic vision cleared: This was an ugly reindeer. Two sharp points of wire jutted out of the antlers; its eyes were big and bright red; any resemblance to a deer was strictly coincidental. Pa didn't care. It sat on top of one of his bookcases until he passed away, when I was well into my 20s.

I'm quite sure that all of my life's work will wind up looking like that pathetic reindeer. For Pa (and for God), it was not the quality of the workmanship--it was the love that drove it. Only God's works are Good. Everything else is basically junk, unless it is done in a spirit of Love for the Lord. God's grace redeems us, and the praise for works in the Bible always amounts to praise for the wonderful works of God.

Praying With This Psalm
You can pray scripture prayers for yourself or for others.

• Father God, let _________ give thanks to you and sing praises to your name.
  
  
• May ______ recognize that their work is frail and faltering when they work apart from you.
  
  
• Oh, God let ______ be planted in your courts and flourish there. May _____ bear fruit for you throughout their lives.
  
  
• Father, may _______ declare that you are righteous, and may they know you as their rock--the only solid point of reference to judge the meaning of their work in this life.

Related Scriptures and Scripture Prayers

• I Cor 15:57. Where Thanksgiving grows...
  Lord, let _____ give thanks to you, and may they know that you have given them the victory through Jesus Christ by taking hold of your grace in repentance and trust.

• Romans 5:10. We were all enemies of God...
  Lord God, may _______ recognize that without Jesus Christ, we are all enemies of God, no matter how we try, or how much good we do. May _____ be reconciled to you through the death of Jesus Christ.
   
  
• Ephesians 2:19. The righteous find a home...
  Father God, give ______ your grace, so that they will no longer be a stranger and an alien, but let them find their home and their identity in your household. May ____ recognize that all who come to you through Jesus Christ are fellow citizens with the rest of your saints.  

(Some Rights Reserved, CC-BY-NC, 2009). L. J. Sam Helgerson, PhD