Psalm 102 - Cameron Jungles - Wed PM, Nov. 13, 2013

“Prayer of the Afflicted”

Psalm 102

(Eastside Baptist/Wed PM/Nov. 13, 2013)

 

A prayer of an afflicted person who has grown weak and pours out a lament before the LORD.

 

1.      A Cry for Help (vv. 1–2).

 

 ¹ Hear my prayer, LORD; let my cry for help come to you. ² Do not hide your face from me when I am in distress. Turn your ear to me; when I call, answer me quickly.

 

2.      The Distressful Situation (vv. 3–11).

 

 ³ For my days vanish like smoke; my bones burn like glowing embers. ⁴ My heart is blighted and withered like grass; I forget to eat my food. ⁵ In my distress I groan aloud and am reduced to skin and bones. ⁶ I am like a desert owl, like an owl among the ruins. ⁷ I lie awake; I have become like a bird alone on a roof. ⁸ All day long my enemies taunt me; those who rail against me use my name as a curse. ⁹ For I eat ashes as my food and mingle my drink with tears ¹⁰ because of your great wrath, for you have taken me up and thrown me aside. ¹¹ My days are like the evening shadow; I wither away like grass.

 

3.      Confidence in the Lord in the Midst of a Distressful Situation (vv. 12–17).

 

 ¹² But you, LORD, sit enthroned forever; your renown endures through all generations. ¹³ You will arise and have compassion on Zion, for it is time to show favor to her; the appointed time has come. ¹⁴ For her stones are dear to your servants; her very dust moves them to pity. ¹⁵ The nations will fear the name of the LORD, all the kings of the earth will revere your glory. ¹⁶ For the LORD will rebuild Zion and appear in his glory. ¹⁷ He will respond to the prayer of the destitute; he will not despise their plea.

 

4.      God’s Concern for His Distressed People (vv. 18–22).

 

 ¹⁸ Let this be written for a future generation, that a people not yet created may praise the LORD: ¹⁹ "The LORD looked down from his sanctuary on high, from heaven he viewed the earth, ²⁰ to hear the groans of the prisoners and release those condemned to death." ²¹ So the name of the LORD will be declared in Zion and his praise in Jerusalem ²² when the peoples and the kingdoms assemble to worship the LORD.

 

5.      Hope for the Future, because God is Eternal (vv. 23–28).

 

²³ In the course of my life he broke my strength; he cut short my days. ²⁴ So I said: "Do not take me away, my God, in the midst of my days; your years go on through all generations. ²⁵ In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. ²⁶ They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. Like clothing you will change them and they will be discarded. ²⁷ But you remain the same, and your years will never end. ²⁸ The children of your servants will live in your presence; their descendants will be established before you."