I. The prayer of the Psalmist is not the prayer of the wearied, disappointed prophet, "It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life," but the prayer of one who looks forward, of one who would fain build what will be continued by them that come after. "Show Thy servants Thy work, and their children Thy glory." Amid all that is fleeting and perishable, make us to know what Thoudoest; and for our children we can ask no richer gift. The work of God is the glory of God.
II. The "work" of God and the "glory" of God are shown to us when we care to know that neither we nor our fellows are left alone in the world without a heavenly Friend and heavenly guidance, when we bring ourselves to believe, and to rejoice in the belief, that God Himself is acting on all these human hearts, urging them to turn to Him, and to love Him, and to seek the good of others by aiding others also to love Him more.
III. Then the concluding utterance follows naturally. Once let us believe in our hearts that God is working in the world, and then it becomes an axiom that wetoo, in our humble measure, have a work to do, a work lofty and ennobling because it is done for Him and with Him, because we are in truth admitted to very co-operation with God.
H. M. Butler, Harrow School Sermons,1st series, p. 424.
References: Psalms 90:16; Psalms 90:17. G. Brooks, Outlines of Sermons,p. 241; H. W. Beecher, Christian World Pulpit,vol. xv., p. 51.