Psalm 102: A Prayer for the Afflicted

 

 A Prayer for the Afflicted – 
 When the faint pour out their heart before the Lord.

 1    Hear my prayer, O Lord!

       And let my cry for help come to You.

 2   Do not hide Your face from me in the day of my distress – incline Your ear to me;

       In the day when I call answer me quickly.

 3   For my days  have been consumed in smoke, and my bones have been scorched like a hearth.

 4   My heart has been smitten like grass and has withered away, indeed, I forget to eat my bread.

 5   Because of the loudness of my groaning my bones cling to my flesh.

 6   I resemble a pelican of the wilderness, I have become like an owl of the waste places.

 7   I  lie awake, I have become like a lonely bird on a housetop.

 8   My enemies  have reproached me all day long, those who come against me have used my name as a curse. 

 9   For I have eaten ashes like bread and mingled my drink with weeping– 

10   Because of Your indignation and Your wrath, for You have lifted me up and cast me away.

 11   My days are like a lengthened shadow, and I wither away like grass. 

 12   But You, O Lord, abide forever, and Your name to all generations.  

 13   You will arise and have compassion on Zion, for it is time to be gracious to her, for the appointed time has come.

 14   Surely Your servants find pleasure in her stones and feel pity for her dust.

 15    So the nations will fear the name of the Lord and all the kings of the earth Your glory.

 16   For the Lord has built up Zion, He has appeared in His glory.

 17   He has regarded the prayer of the destitute and has not despised their prayer.

 18   This will be written for the generation to come, that a people yet to be created may praise the Lord.

 19   For He looked down from His holy height, from heaven the Lord gazed upon the earth—

 20   To hear the groaning of the prisoner, to set free those who were doomed to death.  

 21   That men may tell of the name of the Lord in Zion and His praise in Jerusalem—

 22   When the peoples are gathered together, and the kingdoms, to serve the Lord. 

 23   He has weakened my strength in the way, He has shortened my days.

 24   I say, “O my God, do not take me away in the midst of my days, Your years are throughout all generations.”

 25 “Of old You founded the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands. 

 26   Even they will perish, but You endure. And all of them will wear out like a garment—

          Like clothing You will change them and they will be changed.”

 27   “But You are the same, and Your years will not come to an end.

 28   “The children of Your servants will continue, and their descendants will be established before You.”  

Spending Time With the Lord Gives Strength to Endure

This psalm is helpful now -- and for the coming of the last days. It is written in several parts.  The psalmist is afflicted perhaps because he is unable to withstand the pressures that are all around. To continue to be strong in our spirit we must take our strength from God's Spirit every day.  The enemy will overpower us and our peace will be taken away when we do not daily spend time polishing “our armor” of God. Read Ephesians 6:10-20.   

Verses 10 and 11 are the result of not spending valuable time with God, while verse 12 assures us that God is always present and will care for his own.  But there is also something we must do — He also promises we remain strong when we abide in Him daily.  He reminds us of His great love and mercy that will endure through all generations to come.

 

“Of old You founded the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands.

Even they will perish, but You endure. And all of them will wear out like a   garment—

Like clothing You will change them and they will be changed.”

 “But You are the same, and Your years will not come to an end.

 “The children of Your servants will continue, and their descendants will be established before You.”