Today we come to the end of another year; and every time Old Year's Day comes we can and usually do look backward and forward. However it is important that we look with the eye of faith, when we look back at what happened, and when we look forward to what we would like to have take place in the year ahead.
We do have a versification of Moses' words in Psalm 90 that we do well to keep in mind. The words are these:
O God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come
Our shelter in the stormy blast,
And our eternal home.
Under the shadow of Thy throne
Thy saints have dwelt secure;
Sufficient is Thine arm alone,
And our defense is sure.
Moses states it thus in Psalm 90:1, 2: "Lord, Thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations," and then later in verse 2: "Even from everlasting to everlasting, Thou art God."
When then by faith we look back at what happened, not only in the days of this year, nor in all our life, but from the day that God made man and placed him in the garden of Eden, we can and should say that God has been our dwelling place. When with the eye of faith we look forward, we can and should say that God will take care of us. For He is from everlasting to everlasting the almighty, faithful God of our salvation. He will not for a moment lose control of all creation. No one shall be able to do anything that will not work together for our good.
Our versification is not wrong when it states that God is our eternal home. Moses did say that He is our dwelling place. And the idea is that we have constant covenant fellowship with Him. He has not left us but watched carefully over us. And since He is from everlasting to everlasting the Almighty One, we can look forward with confidence.
Not only looking back can we see how marvelously He defended and protected His church in Christ, and will do so in the future. But we can and should look up to Christ at God's right hand as our Savior.
Read: Psalm 90
Psalter versification: 247:1, 2
Daily Meditations
on the Heidelberg Catechism
Song for Meditation: Psalter number 217
Why not sing along??
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Through the Bible in One Year
Read today:
Malachi 3 ; Malachi 4:1-6
Revelation 22:1-21
Psalm 150:1-6
Proverbs 31:25-31
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Quote for Reflection:
“Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.“ (John 15:14) Think, above all, of the mercy which has been shown you, and learn to rejoice daily in your Friend! What if your body is bent over with disease? What if the poverty and trials of your life are overwhelming? What if your earthly friends all forsake you, and you are alone in this world? All this may be true: but if you are in Christ, then you have a friend, a mighty Friend, a loving Friend, a wise Friend, a Friend that never fails. Oh, think, think habitually about your Friend! Yet in a little while and your Friend will come to take you home, and you will live with Him forever. Yet a little while and you will see Him as you have been seen by Him, and know Him as you have been known by Him. And then you will hear the glorified saints in heaven proclaim, that he is the rich and happy man who has had Christ for his friend.” -J. Ryle
Additional Info
- Date: 31-December
