Let the favor of the Lord our God be on us;

establish for us the work of our hands—

establish the work of our hands! (Psalm 90:17 CSB)

Do you call it the daily grind? Does it seem to be often in vain? Does anyone ever notice? Does it even matter? I am talking about your daily work. I prefer vocation, that is, calling. But most refer to it as their job or occupation. Whatever you call it—and I encourage you to consider it your calling (even if you hope to move on to a more “significant” calling later)—it will only be successful through the blessing of the Lord upon it.

Moses has one psalm attributed to him: Psalm 90. Perhaps he wrote it as he was preparing to cross the eternal Jordan and his people were preparing to cross the earthly river of the same name. Moses closes his psalm with the plea, “Lord, please establish the work of our hands.” Lord, he was saying, let these dear children of yours work hard in the jobs you give them. And, please, cause them to flourish. Moses wrote similar words in his final sermon before this younger generation of the children of Abraham was to cross into the land of promise.

He stressed obedience to the law of the tithe unto the Lord for the sake of the Levites with the result: And the Lord your God will bless you in all the work of your hands that you do. (See Deut. 14:22-29.) He offered the expectation of joyous worship and thanksgiving to the Lord because the Lord your God will bless you in all your produce and in all the work of your hands, and you will have abundant joy. (See 16:9-15). He instructed in the virtue of generosity for the sake of the resident alien, the fatherless, and the widow, again with an expected outcome: so that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands. (See 24:19-22).

So what’s my point? Do not take your work lightly. Do not live in constant discouragement. Are you doing your work as unto the Lord? And yet, are you sometimes (lots of the time!) discouraged like me? Do not fret. He sees. He knows. He cares. It is not in vain. Your work and my work have meaning. And if the Lord is on your side and my side, then we have not only his favor, but his own commitment to our flourishing to his glory and our good.