Psalms 90:16

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

Psalms 90:16 (KJV)

Context

Psalm 90 is the only psalm in the Book of Psalms attributed to Moses. It is a prayer that contrasts the eternal nature of God with the shortness and weakness of human life. In verse 16, Moses asks God to show His work to His servants and His glory to their children. This request comes after earlier verses that speak of God’s anger and the brief span of human days. Moses turns from sorrow to a plea for God to act visibly among His people.

Meaning

The “work” of God means His powerful actions in the world, especially His care and guidance. For Israel, this included leading them through the wilderness and into the promised land. The “glory” of God refers to His majesty, holiness, and power made known to people. Moses asks that the present generation would see God’s work, and that their children would also see His glory. This is a prayer for a living, visible experience of God, not just a memory of past deeds.

Some understand God’s work as the great work of salvation, the redemption that God planned and would accomplish through the Messiah. In this view, Moses longs for the day when God’s saving power would be fully revealed. The mention of children shows that Moses cared about future generations. He wanted them to know God’s power and majesty for themselves, not only through stories.

Biblical connections

Psalm 90:17 continues the thought by asking the Lord to establish the work of our hands. The first request is to see God’s work; the second is for God to bless our own efforts. This shows a clear progression from beholding God’s power to depending on Him in daily labor. The prayer in verse 16 also echoes the desire of Moses to see God’s glory, as recorded in Exodus 33:18, where Moses asks to see God’s glory. Here, Moses asks not for himself alone but for all God’s servants and their descendants.

Application

We can pray this verse for ourselves and for our families. Ask God to show His work in your life, making His power and guidance clear. Pray that your children and grandchildren would see His glory and know Him personally. Teach the next generation about God’s mighty acts, but also ask God to reveal Himself to them directly. Trust that God is sovereign and that His work continues beyond what we can see or understand.

Reflection

This verse encourages us to look for God’s activity in the present. It is easy to focus on past blessings or future hopes, but Moses asks for a present revelation. God’s work and glory are not only historical facts; they are living realities. When we pray this verse, we express our dependence on God and our longing for His presence to be known among us and by those who come after us.