PSALM 102 - AFFLICTED BUT TRUSTING

 

Introduction

The title of this psalm is “A prayer of one afflicted when he is faint and pours out his complaint before the Lord”. So, this is an example of how we can call out to God when we are distressed.

The psalm does not tell us the occasion for its writing, but some the language indicates it may be written during the exile of Israel in Babylon after the destruction of Jerusalem in 587-586 B.C. Solomon’s temple, the first temple, was destroyed along with the city.

Those who went into exile lost their homes and possessions. Some of their family and friends died during the invasion or the trip to Babylonia. They were forced to live in a foreign land, subject to the will of their captors. In losing the temple, they lost the ability to practice their religion as they had done. You can see why they were suffering. 

The Distress

102:1-11

The psalmist calls out to God, begging him to hear and respond to his prayer of distress. (1-2)  He asks this four times: “hear my prayer; let my cry come to you; incline your ear to me; answer me speedily”. The repetition shows his desperation.

His distress has created physical symptoms:

1. he feels he is dying (his days vanish) (3,11);
2. his very bones hurt;
3. he is depressed (heart withered or blighted, 4);
4. he cannot eat and is losing weight (4-5);
5. he groans (5);
6. he cannot sleep (7);
7. he is taunted by enemies (8); and
8. he cries (9). 

The reason for his suffering is God’s wrath. God has cast him (and maybe all of Israel) aside, evidently due to sin since God’s wrath is involved. We see God’s wrath as the psalmist seeks of God’s indignation and anger. (10) This would match with the suffering in exile. And it could be that the taunting came from the Babylonians who would claim the psalmist’s God was not helping them.

Who The Lord Is

102:12-17

The psalmist turns his focus from his suffering to the character of God. In contrast to the life of the psalmist, which is vanishing, God is eternal and eternally reigning (“enthroned forever”). Because God is eternal and sovereign, his promises cannot fail. And God promised to deliver Israel from captivity when they repented and the duration of their time of punishment was over. (Leviticus 26:40-44)

The psalmist believes God will have compassion\mercy on Israel in exile (“you will arise and have pity on Zion,  v.13). He has hope. He might remember the words of the Lord through Jeremiah: “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me and I will hear you.” (Jeremiah 29:11-12) 

He believes the time has come for him to show favor to Israel. It may be that he, like Daniel, was aware of Jeremiah’s prophesy concerning the length of the exile and believes, as Daniel did, that the time for deliverance is at hand. (Jeremiah 25:11-13 and 29:10)

The psalmist also believes the time will come when the Gentile nations will fear the Lord because he rebuilds Zion. (15) God will appear in glory, meaning his glory is manifested in his deliverance of his people. 

But also would apply to the second coming. When Jesus comes to redeem his people, he will also appear in glory. (Matthew 16:27; 24:30)

Hope For The Future

102:18-22

The psalmist believes God will deliver his people, so he wants the psalm written and preserved so future generations will read it, know what God did, and praise him for it. 

God did preserve the psalm. We read it today and praise God and we learn how to handle affliction. The apostle Paul wrote:

For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. (Romans 15:4) 

The Israelites will return to Jerusalem, referred to as Zion, and praise God. This again may point toward the second coming of Christ, for the psalmist says all people will worship God. As Philippians 2:10-11 says, “at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord, to the glory of God the Father”.  

Prayer For Extended Life

102:23-24a

God shortened the psalmist’s life through suffering, but the psalmist asked God to let him live longer. He does not want to die in exile and wants to see God’s deliverance of his people.

God Is Eternal (Not So The Earth)

102:24b-28

In contrast to the psalmist’s short life, he knows God continues, eternal through all generations. He created the heavens and the earth, but they will eventually cease to exist in their present form. God will change them. (26) and his people will live in his presence: the Israelites when the temple is rebuilt, and all believers in the new heavens and earth. (Revelation 22:3) 

The writer of Hebrews quoted these verses and applied them to Christ. (Hebrews 1:10-12) He is eternal. He is with us now, he hears and answers our prayers. In John 14:14, Jesus tells his disciples, "If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it”. He will return and deliver us into his presence. (John 14:3)

Takeaways

We can cry out to God when we are afflicted.

We can have confidence that God is willing and able to keep his promises.

The ultimate promise is that we who have come to faith in Christ will be taken to be with him either at death or at his return.