GOD'S SEAL OF APPROVAL (Psalm 90)

And let the loveliness of our Lord, our God, rest on us, confirming the work that we do. Oh, yes, affirm that work that we do. (Psalm 90:17, MSG)

Psalm 90 is from Moses. Beautiful poetry from the man God used to used to write such vivid accounts of creation and the patriarchs, as well as his own life story.

Here he asks for God's loveliness to rest on us. "Lovely" is not a word I often associate with God. Perhaps this verse is the one Wendell Loveless had in mind when he wrote this chorus from my childhood:

Altogether lovely, He is altogether lovely,
And the fairest of ten thousand, this wonderful Friend divine;
He gave Himself to save, Now He lives in heav'n to keep me,
He is altogether lovely, is this wonderful Savior of mine.

As well as, of course, as Chris Tomlin's contemporary "Here I am to Worship." Altogether lovely, worthy, wonderful--Amen!

God's loveliness lies, not in the symmetry of beauty of His features, but in His character. He is my friend and my Savior, my protector and my husband.

And the funny thing, that loveliness validates my work.

I looked up the difference between confirm and affirm. It's a matter of proving vs. declaring. First God pokes around my work, my words, testing them for truth. Then He declares and supports them. God gives it His Seal of Approval.

Wow. That sounds like pride of the most awful sort, but this verse suggests it's available to all of us. If God could write a review of my books, what would He say? Of course, He chooses to work through His people. Until we can get a glimpse into those heavenly records, all we can do is to support each other.

Since God offers to give us His seal of approval, He deserves my very best. I should strive for quality because He is my ultimate editor.

Today's favorite verses, which again made me think of writers: Long before you brought earth itself to birth, from "once upon a time" to "kingdom come"--you are God. (Psalm 90:2 MSG)