A prayer of the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed and pours out his complaint before the LORD
102:Title The author was passing through an experience of deep grief when he wrote this, and in vs 1-11 he expresses this sorrow in very picturesque language. His sadness is tied up altogether with the ruined condition of Jerusalem (vs 13,14. Compare Lam 1:1-13; 2:1-2; 3:1-6; Luke 19:41-44). Verses 25-27 of this psalm are quoted in Heb 1:10-12, and applied to the Lord Jesus. So this can be called a Messianic psalm. One theme of it is the future restoration of Jerusalem – vs 15,21,22. In this regard this psalm is similar to Psalms 95-100. \fp All this will happen when the LORD (Jehovah) appears in glory – v 16. This refers to the coming of God’s kingdom. But before that wonderful time comes there will be much sorrow and affliction for the people of God, as appears in the opening verses of this psalm. And there will be earnest prayers that the kingdom of God might come (Matt 6:10).⚜
102
📚Hear my prayer, O LORD,and let my cry come to you.
2 📚Do not hide your face
from me in the day
I am in trouble,
but bow down
your ear to me.
In the day I call, answer me speedily.
3 📚For my days are consumed
like smoke,
and my bones are burned
like a hearth.
4 📚My heart is beaten down
and withered like grass,
so that I forget to eat my bread.
5 📚Because of the sound
of my groaning my
bones cling to my skin.
6 📚I am like a pelican
of the wilderness.
I am like an owl of the desert.
7 📚I lie awake, and am like
a sparrow alone
on the housetop.
102:6-7 Indicates loneliness and desolation of heart.⚜
8 📚My enemies taunt me
all day long,
and those who act like
madmen against me swear
an oath against me.
9 📚For I have eaten ashes
like bread,
and mixed my drink with
weeping 📖,
102:9 Ashes are symbolic of mourning (2 Sam 13:19; Esther 4:1, 3; Job 2:8; 42:6). This may mean that the ashes on which he sat or poured on his head became mixed with his food. Or perhaps he is using the word metaphorically.⚜
10 📚Because of your indignation
and your wrath.
For you have lifted me up
and thrown me down.
102:10 He traces his sorrow and affliction to God’s anger. See note at Ps 90:7-11.⚜
11 📚My days are like
a lengthening shadow,
and I am withered like grass 📖.
12 📚But you, O LORD,
will remain forever,
and the remembrance
of you to all generations.
13 📚You will arise and
have mercy on Zion,
for the time to favour her,
yes, the set time, has come.
14 📚For your servants take
pleasure in her stones,
and favour to its dust.
102:14 Stones and dust mean the city’s ruins.⚜
15 📚So the nations will fear the name of the LORD,
and all the kings of the earth your glory.
16 📚For the LORD will build Zion;
he will appear in his glory.
17 📚He will have regard for
the prayer of the destitute,
and will not despise their prayer.
18 📚This will be written
for the generation
to come;
and the people who are yet to be
created will praise the LORD.
19 📚For he looked down
from the height of his
sanctuary;
from heaven the LORD saw
the earth,
20 📚To hear the groaning
of the prisoner,
to free those who are dying,
21 📚To declare the name
of the LORD in Zion,
and his praise in Jerusalem,
22 📚When the peoples and
the kingdoms are gathered
together to serve the LORD.
102:21-22 For complete fulfillment these words still look to the future.⚜
23 📚He brought down my strength
in the way;
he shortened my days.
24 📚I said, “O my God,
do not take me away
in the midst of my days;
your years are throughout
all generations.
102:24 The writer longs to live until he sees the restoration of Zion, the fulfillment of his own words.⚜
25 📚Of old you laid the foundation
of the earth,
and the heavens are
the work of your hands.
26 📚They will perish, but
you will remain;
yes, all of them will become
old like a garment;
like a cloak you will change
them,
and they will be changed.
102:26 Isa 34:4; 51:6; Matt 24:35; 2 Pet 3:10; Rev 20:11. Creation is like a garment God wears. Clothing speaks of someone who made it or who wears it. Those who worship creation, the sun, moon, stars, or any other material object, are occupied, not with God, but with garments which are getting old and will perish.⚜
27 📚But you are
the same,
and your years will have no end.
102:25-27 According to the inspired writer to the Hebrews (Heb 1:10-12) these words were spoken to the Lord Jesus before His incarnation. In the Hebrew of v 24 there is the usual Old Testament word for God. This is further proof that the writers of the New Testament regarded Jesus as God, the incarnation of Jehovah of the Old Testament, the great Creator of the universe.⚜
28 📚The children of your servants
will continue,
and their offspring will be
established before you”.
102:12-28 With v 12 the tone of the psalm changes. The writer has spoken of the brevity of his own life. Now he speaks of God’s eternal being. And thinking of God’s greatness brings hope and assurance to his sad heart. He knows things will change, that God has a wonderful plan which He will fulfill.⚜