←Psalm 102→BSB

In This Chapter 9 places 26 terms 2 themes 2 resources

Places

    Key Terms

    To Be Kindly Disposed 6 Greatness 5 Swear 3 Fear 2 Glory (Presence of God) 2 Strength 2 Fear (State) Awe (State) Fear (Terror) Fear (Reverence) Fear (Awe) Fearful Respect Respect (Among People) Glory (Splendor) Praise (Glorify) Praise (Respect) Force to Serve Serve Enslave Hold in Bondage Gain Control Over Be Complete Complete Complete Certainty Be Fully Assured

    Themes

    Psalms of Suffering The Poor and Needy in the Psalms

    Resources

    Mercy Articles Music Articles

    The Prayer of the Afflicted

    A prayer of one who is afflicted, when he grows faint and pours out his lament before the LORD.

    ⓘ A frail and afflicted human being prays for...

    A frail and afflicted human being prays for the Lord’s compassion on Jerusalem and for his presence with its inhabitants.
    ⓘ The psalmist appeals to the Lord not to...

    The psalmist appeals to the Lord not to turn away (or hide your face). Israel experienced his turning his face away during their exile.
    1Hear my prayer, O LORD;let my cry for help come before You.2Do not hide Your face from mein my day of distress.Incline Your ear to me;answer me quickly when I call.
    3For my days vanish like smoke,and my bones burn like glowing embers.4My heart is afflicted, and withered like grass;I even forget to eat my bread.5Through my loud groaningmy skin hangs on my bones.6I am like a desert owl,like an owl among the ruins.
    ⓘ The psalmist cannot sleep (see 63:6–8). Like a...

    The psalmist cannot sleep (see 63:6–8). Like a bird on the roof, he feels isolated from both friends (see 88:8) and enemies.
    7I lie awake;I am like a lone bird on a housetop.
    8All day long my enemies taunt me;they ridicule me and curse me.9For I have eaten ashes like breadand mixed my drink with tears10because of Your indignation and wrath,for You have picked me up and cast me aside.11My days are like lengthening shadows,and I wither away like grass.
    ⓘ The topic changes from the psalmist’s miseries to...

    The topic changes from the psalmist’s miseries to the Lord’s glory. A vision of the Lord’s compassionate kingship gives him confidence in Zion’s future.
    12But You, O LORD, sit enthroned forever;Your renown endures to all generations.13You will rise up and have compassion on Zion,for it is time to show her favor—the appointed time has come.14For Your servants delight in her stonesand take pity on her dust.
    ⓘ When the Lord arises (102:13), the nations will...

    When the Lord arises (102:13), the nations will tremble with fear because they will see his glory (see 8:1; 19:1–4a; 24:7). The rebuilding of Zion and the Temple portray God’s glory and fulfill this promise. An even greater fulfillment will come with the New Jerusalem (Rev 21).
    15So the nations will fear the name of the LORD,and all the kings of the earth will fear Your glory.16For the LORD will rebuild Zion;He has appeared in His glory.17He will turn toward the prayer of the destitute;He will not despise their prayer.
    ⓘ The Lord will have mercy; Jews and Gentiles...

    The Lord will have mercy; Jews and Gentiles alike will worship him.
    18Let this be written for the generation to come,so that a people not yet created may praise the LORD.19For He looked down from the heights of His sanctuary;the LORD gazed out from heaven to earth20to hear a prisoner’s groaning,to release those condemned to death,21that they may proclaim the name of the LORD in Zionand praise Him in Jerusalem,22when peoples and kingdoms assembleto serve the LORD.
    ⓘ Although the psalmist suffers in the present, he...

    Although the psalmist suffers in the present, he bases his hope for the future on the Lord’s past faithfulness.
    23He has broken my strength on the way;He has cut short my days.24I say: “O my God, do not take me in the midst of my days!Your years go on through all generations.
    ⓘ In contrast with the permanence of the Creator,...
    • In contrast with the permanence of the Creator, the created order will wear out like a piece of clothing (see Isa 40:28).
    • The writer to the Hebrews describes this passage as having been addressed to Jesus, the Son (Heb 1:10–12).
    25In the beginning You laid the foundations of the earth,and the heavens are the work of Your hands.26They will perish, but You remain;they will all wear out like a garment.Like clothing You will change them,and they will be passed on.27But You remain the same,and Your years will never end.†28The children of Your servants will dwell securely,and their descendants will be established before You.”