What does Psalms 90:16 mean?
"Let thy work appear unto thy servants, and thy glory unto their children." - Psalms 90:16
The verse Psalms 90:16 in the King James Version of the Bible reads: "Let thy work appear unto thy servants, and thy glory unto their children." This verse is a plea to God for His work and glory to be revealed to His people and their descendants. It reflects a longing for the presence and power of God to be made evident in the lives of believers.
This verse is found within Psalm 90, which is attributed to Moses, the great leader of Israel. The psalm is a reflection on the eternal nature of God and the fleeting nature of human life. It acknowledges the sovereignty and majesty of God, contrasting it with the frailty and brevity of human existence. Within this context, Psalm 90:16 serves as a prayer for God to make His presence known to His people, both in their own lives and in the generations that follow.
There are several themes present in this verse, the first being the concept of God's work. The phrase "Let thy work appear unto thy servants" speaks to the desire for God's divine activity to be evident in the lives of those who serve Him. This could refer to God's provision, protection, guidance, or any other way in which He is actively involved in the lives of His people. The psalmist is expressing a longing for a tangible experience of God's work and presence, desiring to see His hand at work in their daily lives.
The second theme in this verse is the idea of God's glory being revealed to the children of His servants. The psalmist prays for God's glory to be made known to the next generation, emphasizing the passing down of faith from one generation to the next. This reflects the importance of faith in the family and community, as well as the desire for the continuation of God's work and presence beyond the current generation.
The context of this verse is significant as well. As mentioned earlier, Psalm 90 is attributed to Moses, who led the Israelites out of Egypt and through the wilderness. The experiences of the Israelites during this time were marked by God's miraculous interventions, His provision for their needs, and His continuous presence with them. In this context, the plea for God's work and glory to be manifest is rooted in the history of Israel and the collective memory of God's faithfulness to His people.
Symbolism is also present in this verse. The "work" of God can be understood as His providence, His miraculous interventions, and His ongoing activity in the world. The "glory" of God represents His divine presence, His majesty, and His power. By asking for God's work and glory to be revealed, the psalmist is expressing a desire for a tangible experience of God's power and presence.
Overall, Psalm 90:16 is a prayer for God to make His work and glory known to His people and their descendants. It reflects a longing for a deeper experience of God's presence and a desire for the continuation of faith from one generation to the next. The themes of God's work and glory, as well as the context of Israel's history, provide a rich backdrop for understanding the significance of this verse within the broader scope of the biblical narrative.
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Psalms 90:16 - "Let thy work appear unto thy servants, and thy glory unto their children."
"Let thy work appear unto thy servants, and thy glory unto their children." - Psalms 90:16
"In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up; in the evening it is cut down, and withereth." - Psalms 90:6
"Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations." - Psalms 90:1
Psalms 90:6 - "In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up; in the evening it is cut down, and withereth."
Psalms 90:4 - "For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night."
Psalms 90:17 - "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."
"Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth." - Psalms 119:90
Psalms 90:13 - "Return, O LORD, how long? and let it repent thee concerning thy servants."
Psalms 90:5 - "Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep: in the morning they are like grass which groweth up."
Psalms 90:11 - "Who knoweth the power of thine anger? even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath."
Psalms 90:7 - "For we are consumed by thine anger, and by thy wrath are we troubled."
Psalms 90:1 - "Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations."
Psalms 90:3 - "Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men."
"Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men." - Psalms 90:3
Psalms 119:90 - "Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth."
"So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom." - Psalms 90:12
Psalms 90:15 - "Make us glad according to the days wherein thou hast afflicted us, and the years wherein we have seen evil."
Psalms 90:12 - "So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom."
Psalms 90:14 - "O satisfy us early with thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days."
Psalms 90:8 - "Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy countenance."
Psalms 90:9 - "For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told."
"For we are consumed by thine anger, and by thy wrath are we troubled." - Psalms 90:7
"For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night." - Psalms 90:4
"O satisfy us early with thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days." - Psalms 90:14
Psalms 90:2 - "Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God."
Psalms 90:10 - "The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away."
"Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep: in the morning they are like grass which groweth up." - Psalms 90:5
"Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God." - Psalms 90:2
"Return, O LORD, how long? and let it repent thee concerning thy servants." - Psalms 90:13