INTRODUCTION - Read Psalm 102; Jeremiah 29:1-14; Nehemiah 1:4-6; 8:5-10
The writer of this Psalm is unknown, but many commentaries agree that it is likely to have been Nehemiah, Jeremiah or Daniel, during the time of exile to Babylon; for this was definitely a time of "sadness" and "anxiety". These men were also known as "men of prayer", who would pray not only for their own concerns, but also for the people in their communities - God's people, the Israelites.
Psalm 102:1-11, is a personal "sad complaint" in which the Psalmist speaks of his own "great affliction". Yet, it would have been a something that most of the Jewish people would have been feeling during this time of exile.
"Hear my prayer, Lord, LET MY CRY FOR HELP COME TO YOU. Do not hide your face from me. WHEN I AM IN DISTRESS, turn your ear to me. WHEN I CALL, ANSWER ME QUICKLY."
Psalm 102:1&2 (NIV)
"When I heard these things, I SAT DOWN AND WEPT. For some days I mourned and fasted and PRAYED before the God of Heaven." Nehemiah 1:4 (NIV)
Psalm 102:12-22 are words of encouragement for God's people. as they consider the HOPE and STRENGTH they can have from their "eternal God", who would ANSWER THEIR PRAYERS. They could have confidence and faith in their God, who would, IN TIME, rescue them from their affliction.
"The Lord will REBUILD JERUSALEM, and His glory will be seen. He will ANSWER THE PRAYERS OF THE NEEDY. He will NOT REJECT THEIR PRAYERS." Psalm 102:16&17 (CEV)
"Do not grieve, for the JOY OF THE LORD IS YOUR STRENGTH." Nehemiah 8:10b (NIV)
Finally, Psalm 102:23-28, is another "prayer of lament" for the afflicted, but it is also a time of hope. The Psalmist looks forward to the "resurrection" of his nation, because of his eternal, omnipotent, omnipresent, creator God, and His Son Jesus Christ. They would have a bright future. God is gracious and cares for His people. We, like the Israelites, can have a calm confidence for our future and that of our children.
"No Zion, thou shalt never perish. The sun is not set forever; brighter days are in store for thee."
Charles Spurgeon
"For I know the plans I have for you", declares the Lord, "PLANS TO PROSPER YOU and not to harm you, TO GIVE YOU A HOPE AND A FUTURE." Jeremiah 29:11
MY PRAYER - Read Psalm 102:1-11; Nehemiah 1:4-11, 4:4-14; Daniel 9:3-19; Jeremiah 12, 20;7&8.
The Psalmist "humbly begs God" to listen to his prayer of suffering. In their books, Nehemiah, Jeremiah and Daniel are known for their prayers, both their "complaints", and their blessings for God's people. These men all suffered in their life, at one time or another, with "great trouble and grief". At times they felt the "anger (wrath) of God", not only for themselves personally, but for their family, friends and community.
The Psalmist likens himself to birds - the PELICAN, OWL and SPARROW. These were usually "emblems of gloom". Writers in the Word would usually use EAGLES who were symbols of strength, but the grief of his people had really brought him down. He was feeling, not only "melancholy", but also "alone, like a bird who had lost it's mate or it's young."
We, even as Christians, feel this way when we have lost a loved one, or when we have gone through a real trial, and are grieving, depressed or anxious. But by PERSEVERING IN PRAYER we can find THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD WILL LIFT US UP.
"The Sovereignty of God in all things is an unfailing ground for CONSOLATION - HE RULES AND REIGNS whatever happens, and therefore ALL IS WELL!" Charles Spurgeon
Daniel, Nehemiah and Jeremiah were all MEN OF FAITH. They knew from experience that God would LISTEN TO THEIR PRAYERS. He was a GOD OF MERCY AND COMPASSION and the Psalmist, whoever he may have been, knew that God would not have ignored him, in his prayer.
In the style of one who was truly MOURNING, His pain was TRULY DEEP INSIDE. It effected his body as well as his internal organs spiritually (the heart), and he had "no appetite". Worst of all was the "affliction that came from enemies". These men all faced "constant disapproval and rejection". They were "forever mocked", particularly persecution for the work they were doing for the Lord. The Psalmist felt like "life was short and had no meaning".
"At that time I, Daniel, mourned for 3 weeks. I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips; and I used no lotions at all until the 3 weeks were over." Daniel 10:2&3 (NIV)
"At this the administrators and satraps tried to find grounds to charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent. Finally these men said: "We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of the Lord.". Daniel 6:4-5 (NIV)
GOD'S ANSWERS - Read Psalm 102:12-22; Jeremiah 29:4-12; Nehemiah 8:5-9:31
God is always LOVING, MERCIFUL and GRACIOUS. Although Jerusalem was in a time of distress, there would come a time "when she would be helped". God would LISTEN TO HIS PEOPLE'S PRAYERS and they would be GREATLY ENCOURAGED.
"Then you will call on me and pray to me, and I will listen to you." Jeremiah 29:12 (NIV)
"You will come and have MERCY on Jerusalem, because the time has now come TO BE KIND TO HER, the RIGHT TIME HAS COME." Psalm 102:23 (CEV)
God took notice of the prayers of His afflicted people, even the groans and moaning, and He answered them with GRACE. In this case it was with the release of His people who had been "prisoners and captives in Babylon".
"But in your GREAT MERCY you did not put an end to them or abandon them, for you are a GRACIOUS AND MERCIFUL GOD." Nehemiah 9:31 (NIV)
"This is what the Lord says: "When 70 years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place." Jeremiah 29:10 (NIV)
"Though in deep affliction the Psalmist had great confidence that the Psalmist would ACT and SHOW MERCY to Jerusalem once again. At GOD'S APPOINTED TIME Jerusalem would be the object of God's favour. He had a set time for their RESTORATION and would never again leave them in ruin." David Guzik
The Psalmist's intent here in this Psalm was to say that the REBUILDING OF JERUSALEM would be an object of PRAISE AND WORSHIP for the Jewish people for MANY GENERATIONS to come. They will want to encourage and bring joy to their children with their stories, by "bringing delight" to them.
"Ezra praised the Lord, the great God; and all the people lifted their hands and responded, "Amen! Amen!" They bowed down and worshipped the Lord with their faces to the ground."
Nehemiah 8:6 (NIV)
"Stand up and praise the Lord your God, who is from everlasting to everlasting. Blessed be your glorious name, and may it be exalted above all blessing and praise." Nehemiah 9:5 (NIV)
The RESTORATION OF JERUSALEM was the first part of God's greater work He was to do for His people and for the whole world. It was a testimony for the future, for "people who were not yet created may praise the Lord". God would look down from Heaven to:
* See what would happen in the WHOLE WORLD.
* Listen to the groaning of HIS PEOPLE.
* Bring SALVATION at His appointed time.
* Proclaim the NAME OF THE LORD - HIS SON JESUS.
* Gather His people TOGETHER.
* Receive the PRAISE AND WORSHIP of His servants.
"For God so loved the world that He gave HIS ONLY SON, that whoever believes IN HIM shall not perish but have ETERNAL LIFE. For God did not send HIS SON INTO THE WORLD to condemn the world, but TO SAVE THE WORLD THROUGH HIM." John 3:16&17
WHO IS MY GOD? - Read Psalm 102:23-28; Daniel 7, 2 Corinthians 12:1-10
Once again, in the last part of this Psalm, the Psalmist confesses "his weaknesses and frailities". He writes, like the Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians, that there were times, although he was a man of great faith, he struggled with personal weaknesses. Yet, it was in his weakness, that he found his greatness STRENGTH IN THE LORD.
"Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time He said: "My grace is all you need. My power works best in weaknesses." So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That's why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in insults, hardships, persecutions and troubles that I suffer for Christ. FOR WHEN I AM WEAK, THEN I AM STRONG." 2 Corinthians 12:8-10 (NLT)
God is ETERNAL and He sent His son Jesus, who like His Father, "is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow". (Hebrews 13:8) God and His Son Jesus were UNCHANINGING and have complete power over CREATION. God was also OMNIPOTENT and OMNIPRESENT, and like Paul in his writings, the Psalmist ends his Psalm with a "note of confidence and triumph". Even if he did not see God's ULTIMATE VICTORY in his own day, he knew it would definitely be seen in the life of his children.
"He was given AUTHORITY, HONOUR and SOVEREIGNTY over all the nations of the world, so the people of every race, nation and language would obey Him. HIS RULE IS ETERNAL - it will NEVER END! His Kingdom will never be destroyed." Daniel 7:14 (NLT)
"But YOU WILL NEVER CHANGE and YOUR LIFE WILL NEVER END. Our children will LIVE IN YOUR PRESENCE and their children will remain with You." Psalm 102:28 (CEV)
CONCLUSION
There is a wonderful PROGRESSION IN THIS PSALM:
* The Psalmist begins with an HONEST DECLARATION OF HIS OWN MISERY.
* Then he looks OUTSIDE HIMSELF to the PEOPLE AND COMMUNITY AROUND HIM.
* He then goes to look for the SALVATION OF THE WORLD.
* Finally, he looks OUTSIDE HIS TIME TO FUTURE GENERATIONS.
The Psalmist distress was not HOPELESS, for through FAITH he saw a glorious future for unborn generations. God will never forget about us. He will always protect and restore us, NOW, as he did in the PAST, and He will do so in the FUTURE.
"DON'T SUFFER ALONE! When you feel attacked and overwhelmed with anxiety, LOOK TO THE LORD, your friends and your mentors, and THEY WILL CARRY YOU THROUGH!" Max Lucado
"RESTORATION AND REFORMATION come and are still coming! The GOOD NEWS OF ABOUNDING GRACE and the POWER OF THE GOSPEL is the REVIVAL OF THE CHURCH, and it will go on into Heaven for the RESURRECTED." C.M Ward
"The Devotional Bible: Experiencing the Heart of Jesus - New Century Version - ", Max Lucado, 2003, Thomas Nelson
"The Holy Bible - New International Version", 2011, Biblica
"The Holy Bible - New Living Translation", 2015, Tyndale House Publishers
Guzik, David, "Psalm 102: Afflicted, But Full of Trust - Enduring Word Bible Commentary",
2020, ewm, enduringword.com
Henry, Matthew & Manser, Martin H, "The New Matthew Henry Commentary", 2002, Zondervan
Spurgeon, Charles, "The Treasury of David: Commentary on Psalms", 1885, 2021, Christianity.com
Ward, C.M, "Review Time Pulpit - Book 8, General Council of Assemblies of God", 1964, Radio Department Copyright.
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