Psalm Chapter 102

A Prayer of the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed, and poureth out his complaint before the LORD.

Psalm 102:1 Hear my prayer, O LORD, and let my cry come unto thee.
2 Hide not thy face from me in the day when I am in trouble; incline thine ear unto me: in the day when I call answer me speedily.
3 For my days are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burned as an hearth.
4 My heart is smitten, and withered like grass; so that I forget to eat my bread.
5 By reason of the voice of my groaning my bones cleave to my skin.
6 I am like a pelican of the wilderness: I am like an owl of the desert.
7 I watch, and am as a sparrow alone upon the house top.
8 Mine enemies reproach me all the day; and they that are mad against me are sworn against me.
9 For I have eaten ashes like bread, and mingled my drink with weeping,
10 Because of thine indignation and thy wrath: for thou hast lifted me up, and cast me down.
11 My days are like a shadow that declineth; and I am withered like grass.

This is the groaning of one who is greatly troubled. He feels as if the whole world has turned against him including God. His enemies are rejoicing in his troubles. He feels sick, tired and wonders if life is worth living. In all this he remembers God.

Psalm 102:12 But thou, O LORD, shalt endure for ever; and thy remembrance unto all generations.
13 Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come.

It may seem here that the burdens of the one in prayer are not only for himself but for his nation. Surely in the past and in present time the nation of Israel has suffered from other oppressing nations. This came about by the will of God because of the sins of Israel but God always had a plan for Israel and will always bring them back to Himself. He then will send judgment upon the nations that oppressed His people.

Psalm 102:14 For thy servants take pleasure in her stones, and favour the dust thereof.
15 So the heathen shall fear the name of the LORD, and all the kings of the earth thy glory.
16 When the LORD shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory.

Here we have prophecy of the coming King that will bring peace and glory to the earth. This is the promised Messiah to come. It takes careful spiritual discernment to understand the word of God and recognize His word.

When Jesus first came to the earth He was not recognized by the Jews because He did not come the first time to set up an earthly kingdom of righteousness. He had to come the first time to preach the message of repentance and then to pay the price for all sin by shedding His blood. The blood of Jesus is the only covering for sin. There is no other way to escape the judgment that is coming upon all who have sinned. Through faith in Jesus our sin is covered and we are not judged by any sin that is under the blood of Jesus.

Psalm 102:17 He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer.
18 This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people which shall be created shall praise the LORD.
19 For he hath looked down from the height of his sanctuary; from heaven did the LORD behold the earth;
20 To hear the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those that are appointed to death;

This is what Jesus came to fulfill and do for all that call upon Him. He sees the one in prison, the one facing execution and the one grieving over loved ones that have suffered death. He sees those placed in nursing homes where many are forgotten. He sees those in hospitals awaiting the results of surgery. He sees those cast down after going through a divorce. He is the answer to the troubled, the broken hearted and fearful.

Psalm 102:21 To declare the name of the LORD in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem;
22 When the people are gathered together, and the kingdoms, to serve the LORD.

This is a prophetic promise of the kingdom to come under the leadership of Jesus Christ.

Psalm 102:23 He weakened my strength in the way; he shortened my days.
24 I said, O my God, take me not away in the midst of my days: thy years are throughout all generations.
25 Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands.

We are reminded here of the wonders of the original creation. When I see the newness of spring, the color of the fall, the whiteness of winter, I never cease to marvel of the variety and greatness of God. God is not a boring God.

Psalm 102:26 They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed:

When all evil is defeated by Christ, the earth will be changed as we know it now. All evil will be burned away and the earth will become new.

Psalm 102:27 But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end.

God never changes. What was wrong in the past is still wrong. What God was like in the Old Testament is still what God is like today.

Psalm 102:28 The children of thy servants shall continue, and their seed shall be established before thee.

Those that trust in God will be established forever. All others will perish. We do not have to be part of the perishing crowd. There is no reason for any soul to be lost. Jesus made a way for all to be saved by repenting or turning from sin and turning to Him by faith. Then all things become new and the old sins are washed away. We become "born again" by the spirit of God. -DC

Psalm 103

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