Psalms 102
Psalms 102 is part of “Book IV: The Numbers Book” (90–106) in the outline of Psalms.
Psalms 102 summary
Some think that David penned this psalm at the time of Absalom's rebellion; others that Daniel, Nehemiah, or some other prophet, penned it for the use of the church, when it was in captivity in Babylon, because it seems to speak of the ruin of Zion and of a time set for the rebuilding of it, which Daniel understood by books, Dan 9:2. Or perhaps the psalmist was himself in great affliction, which he complains of in the beginning of the psalm, but (as in Ps. 77 and elsewhere) he comforts himself under it with the consideration of God's eternity, and the church's prosperity and perpetuity, how much soever it was now distressed and threatened.…
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Some think that David penned this psalm at the time of Absalom's rebellion; others that Daniel, Nehemiah, or some other prophet, penned it for the use of the church, when it was in captivity in Babylon, because it seems to speak of the ruin of Zion and of a time set for the rebuilding of it, which Daniel understood by books, Dan 9:2. Or perhaps the psalmist was himself in great affliction, which he complains of in the beginning of the psalm, but (as in Ps. 77 and elsewhere) he comforts himself under it with the consideration of God's eternity, and the church's prosperity and perpetuity, how much soever it was now distressed and threatened. But it is clear, from the application of Psa 102:25, Psa 102:26, to Christ (Heb 1:10-12), that the psalm has reference to the days of the Messiah, and speaks either of his affliction or of the afflictions of his church for his sake. In the psalm we have, I. A sorrowful complaint which the psalmist makes, either for himself or in the name of the church, of great afflictions, which were very pressing (Psa 102:1-11). II. Seasonable comfort fetched in against these grievances, 1. From the eternity of God (Psa 102:12, Psa 102:24, Psa 102:27). 2. From a believing prospect of the deliverance which God would, in due time, work for his afflicted church (Psa 102:13-22) and the continuance of it in the world (Psa 102:28). In singing this psalm, if we have not occasion to make the same complaints, yet we may take occasion to sympathize with those that have, and then the comfortable part of this psalm will be the more comfortable to us in the singing of it. A prayer of the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed, and poureth out his complaint before the Lord.
Source: Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible (1706–21; Romans–Revelation completed by Nonconformist ministers). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Psalms 102 (GNV)
Geneva Bible 1599 (public domain)
Hear My Prayer, O Lord
1A prayer of the afflicted, when he shall be in distresse, and pour forth his meditation before the Lord. O Lord, heare my prayer, and let my crye come vnto thee. 2Hide not thy face from me in the time of my trouble: incline thine eares vnto me: when I call, make haste to heare me. 3For my dayes are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burnt like an herthe. 4Mine heart is smitten and withereth like grasse, because I forgate to eate my bread. 5For the voyce of my groning my bones doe cleaue to my skinne. 6I am like a pelicane of the wildernesse: I am like an owle of the deserts. 7I watch and am as a sparrowe alone vpon the house top. 8Mine enemies reuile me dayly, and they that rage against me, haue sworne against me. 9Surely I haue eaten asshes as bread, and mingled my drinke with weeping, 10Because of thine indignation and thy wrath: for thou hast heaued me vp, and cast me downe. 11My dayes are like a shadowe that fadeth, and I am withered like grasse. 12But thou, O Lord, doest remaine for euer, and thy remembrance from generation to generation. 13Thou wilt arise and haue mercy vpon Zion: for the time to haue mercie thereon, for the appointed time is come. 14For thy seruants delite in the stones thereof, and haue pitie on the dust thereof. 15Then the heathen shall feare the Name of the Lord, and all the Kings of the earth thy glory, 16When the Lord shall build vp Zion, and shall appeare in his glory, 17And shall turne vnto the prayer of the desolate, and not despise their prayer. 18This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people, which shalbe created, shall prayse the Lord. 19For he hath looked downe from the height of his Sanctuarie: out of the heauen did the Lord beholde the earth, 20That he might heare the mourning of the prisoner, and deliuer the children of death: 21That they may declare the Name of the Lord in Zion, and his prayse in Ierusalem, 22When the people shalbe gathered together, and the kingdomes to serue the Lord. 23He abated my strength in the way, and shortened my dayes. 24And I sayd, O my God, take me not away in the middes of my dayes: thy yeeres endure from generation to generation. 25Thou hast aforetime layde the foundation of the earth, and the heauens are the worke of thine hands. 26They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: euen they all shall waxe olde as doeth a garment: as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed. 27But thou art the same, and thy yeeres shall not fayle. 28The children of thy seruants shall continue, and their seede shall stand fast in thy sight.