Psalms102
New Living Translation
1 Lord, hear my prayer! Listen to my plea!
2 Don’t turn away from me in my time of distress. Bend down to listen, and answer me quickly when I call to you.
3 For my days disappear like smoke, and my bones burn like red-hot coals.
4 My heart is sick, withered like grass, and I have lost my appetite.
5 Because of my groaning, I am reduced to skin and bones.
6 I am like an owl in the desert, like a little owl in a far-off wilderness.
7 I lie awake, lonely as a solitary bird on the roof.
8 My enemies taunt me day after day. They mock and curse me.
9 I eat ashes for food. My tears run down into my drink
10 because of your anger and wrath. For you have picked me up and thrown me out.
11 My life passes as swiftly as the evening shadows. I am withering away like grass.
12 But you, O Lord, will sit on your throne forever. Your fame will endure to every generation.
13 You will arise and have mercy on Jerusalem— and now is the time to pity her, now is the time you promised to help.
14 For your people love every stone in her walls and cherish even the dust in her streets.
15 Then the nations will tremble before the Lord. The kings of the earth will tremble before his glory.
16 For the Lord will rebuild Jerusalem. He will appear in his glory.
17 He will listen to the prayers of the destitute. He will not reject their pleas.
18 Let this be recorded for future generations, so that a people not yet born will praise the Lord.
19 Tell them the Lord looked down from his heavenly sanctuary. He looked down to earth from heaven
20 to hear the groans of the prisoners, to release those condemned to die.
21 And so the Lord’s fame will be celebrated in Zion, his praises in Jerusalem,
22 when multitudes gather together and kingdoms come to worship the Lord.
23 He broke my strength in midlife, cutting short my days.
24 But I cried to him, “O my God, who lives forever, don’t take my life while I am so young!
25 Long ago you laid the foundation of the earth and made the heavens with your hands.
26 They will perish, but you remain forever; they will wear out like old clothing. You will change them like a garment and discard them.
27 But you are always the same; you will live forever.
28 The children of your people will live in security. Their children’s children will thrive in your presence.”
Study
Psalms 102Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Psalms 102. The full AI study guide (summary, themes, context) has its own page.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: A sorrowful complaint of great afflictions. (1–11). Encouragement by expecting the performances of God's promises to his church. (12–22). The unchangeableness of God. (23–28).
vv1-11
The whole word of God is of use to direct us in prayer; but here, is often elsewhere, the Holy Ghost has put words into our mouths. Here is a prayer put into the hands of the afflicted; let them present it to God. Even good men may be almost overwhelmed with afflictions. It is our duty and interest to pray; and it is comfort to an afflicted spirit to unburden itself, by a humble representation of its griefs. We must say, Blessed be the name of the Lord, who both gives and takes away. The psalmist looked upon himself as a dying man; My days are like a shadow.
vv12-22
We are dying creatures, but God is an everlasting God, the protector of his church; we may be confident that it will not be neglected. When we consider our own vileness, our darkness and deadness, and the manifold defects in our prayers, we have cause to fear that they will not be received in heaven; but we are here assured of the contrary, for we have an Advocate with the Father, and are under grace, not under the law. Redemption is the subject of praise in the Christian church; and that great work is described by the temporal deliverance and restoration of Israel. Look down upon us, Lord Jesus; and bring us into the glorious liberty of thy children, that we may bless and praise thy name.
vv23-28
Bodily distempers soon weaken our strength, then what can we expect but that our months should be cut off in the midst; and what should we do but provide accordingly? We must own God's hand in it; and must reconcile this to his love, for often those that have used their strength well, have it weakened; and those who, as we think, can very ill be spared, have their days shortened. It is very comfortable, in reference to all the changes and dangers of the church, to remember that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever. And in reference to the death of our bodies, and the removal of friends, to remember that God is an everlasting God. Do not let us overlook the assurance this psalm contains of a happy end to all the believer's trials. Though all things are changing, dying, perishing, like a vesture folding up and hastening to decay, yet Jesus lives, and thus all is secure, for he hath said, Because I live ye shall live also.
Key Words
תְּפִלָּה: intercession, supplication; by implication, a hymn
עָנִי: depressed, in mind or circumstances
כִּי: (by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
עָטַף: to shroud, i.e. clothe (whether transitive or reflex.); hence (from the idea of darkness) to languish
שָׁפַךְ: to spill forth (blood, a libation, liquid metal; or even a solid, i.e. to mound up); also (figuratively) to expend (life, soul, complaint, money, etc.); intensively, to sprawl out
שִׂיחַ: a contemplation; by implication, an utterance
פָּנִים: the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition (before, etc.)
שָׁמַע: to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
שַׁוְעָה: a hallooing
בּוֹא: to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
Cross References
Psalms 102Explicitly quoted in Hebrews 1 as addressed to Christ in His immutable divine nature.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
Matches the exact petition to let the sighing/groaning of those appointed to death come before God.
Supported by JFB
Parallel imagery of eating the bread of tears and having tears to drink in great measure.
Supported by JFB
Daniel's prayer for Jerusalem recognizing the set seventy years of captivity was coming to an end.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Prophetic call for Zion to arise and shine, tied to the set time of her favor.
Supported by JFB
Thematic parallel of declaring God's righteousness to a generation/people yet to be born.
Supported by JFB
Graphic physiological description of extreme suffering where bone cleaves to skin/flesh.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Identifies the same solitary desert birds (pelican, owl) as symbols of desolation.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Contrasts man's transient shadow-like days with God's dwelling place throughout all generations.
Supported by JFB
Parallel imagery of the earth waxing old like a garment while God's salvation remains.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Parallel comparison of a withered, afflicted state to a bottle in the smoke.
Expresses being full of heaviness and heart-smitten, looking for comforters but finding none.
Lamentations parallel where bones cleave to skin and become withered like a stick.
Hezekiah's lament on his life being cut off and removed like a shepherd's tent.
The Messiah's mission to bind up the brokenhearted and proclaim liberty to captives.
Prophetic fulfillment of nations and kingdoms gathering together in Jerusalem to serve the Lord.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Man's beauty consuming away like a moth under God's rebukes and indignation.
A seed serving Him, accounted to the Lord for a generation.
Internal connection: God's eternal years directly answer the psalmist's prayer over short days.
Supported by JFB
The ultimate declaration of God's unchangeable nature: 'I am the Lord, I change not.'