DEVASTATED-Psalm 102

Old Testament, Psalms, Sermons

St James Carlisle - Words from Psalm 102, from morning prayer, which will resinate with many. | FacebookAn afflicted man: A prayer of an afflicted [lowly, downcast] person who has grown weak and pours out a lament [plea, murmuring, musing] before the Lord. “Hear my prayer, Lord; let my cry for help [outcry] come to you. Do not hide your face from me when I am in distress [trouble, adversity]. Turn [bend, incline] your ear to me; when I call, answer me quickly” (Ps 102:1-2).

Devastated, humbled, weakened: “For I eat ashes as my food and mingle [mixed, blended] my drink with tears because of your great wrath, for you have taken me up and thrown me aside [flung/threw me down]” (Ps 102:9-10). “In the course of my life he broke [humbled, weakened, drained, took away] my strength; he cut short my days. So I said: “Do not take me away, my God, in the midst of my days…” (Ps 102:23-24a).

Psalm 102 laments the destruction of Jerusalem and prays for its restoration. A prayer for personal restoration (Ps 102:1-11, 23-28) frames the prayer for the rebulding of Zion / Jerusalem after the exile (Ps 102:12-22). It is categorized as an individual lament, and as 1 of 7 penitential psalms (6, 32, 38, 51, 130, 143) where the speaker confesses sin and connects his troubles to that sin (Ps 6:1-3; 32:3; 38:3-5, 18; 51:3-4; 130:3-4; 143:1-2). He bemoans his condition and seeks relief (Ps 102:1ff), as in the other penitential psalms, but without an explicit acknowledgment of sin in Psalm 102. It is the cry of one whose suffering is unexplained, like Job. Yet he does emphasize the suffering and discipline often associated with sin (Ps 102:10, 23-24). Likely, he sees God’s wrath as connected to his sin, but no explicit connection is made.

The psalm moves from personal distress to a broader perspective on God’s eternal nature and His plans for Zion. It’s a complex psalm that interweaves themes of individual suffering, national hope, and divine sovereignty. The psalm can be roughly divided into 3 sections:

  1. Personal lament (1-11).
  2. Hope in God’s eternal nature and plans for Zion (12-22).
  3. Reflection on the contrast between human frailty and God’s unchanging nature (23-28).

Questions:

  • Why is Psalm 102 considered one of the 7 penitential psalms (Ps 6:1-3; 32:3; 38:3-5, 18; 51:3-4; 130:3-4; 143:1-2; 102:10, 23-24)?
  1. What is the situation of the psalmist (Introduction. Ps 102:1-2; 13:1)? How does his cry for help compare with Jesus’ Gethsemane prayer (Mt 26:39, Mk 14:35-36)?
  2. Have you felt such affliction (Ps 102:3-5; Job 30:30; Lam 1:13)?
    • Have you compared yourself to animals (Ps 102:6-7)? How does this foreshadow Christ’s suffering (Ps 22:6; Mt 27:46)?
    • How does the sudden shift in tone from Ps 102:8-11 to Ps 102:12 reflect and express his faith and hope (Ps 42:5; 77:10-12)?
  3. How does God’s eternity contrast with your own fleeting life (Ps 102:11-12, 24-27; 39:4-5; Eccl 1:4; 3:14-15 Jas 4:14)?
  4. How do you view God’s “appointed time” (Ps 102:13)? How would you contrast your time with God’s timing (Jn 2:4; 7:6; Gal 4:4, Eph 1:10)?
  5. Do you long for Zion’s restoration (Ps 102:13-16)? How does this relate to the new Jerusalem (Rev 21:1-4)? What do you long for?
    • Do you experience God’s response “to the prayer of the destitute” (Ps 102:17) and “the groans of the prisoners” (Ps 102:19-20; 1 Pet 5:7; Rom 5:3-5; Heb 6:19-20)? How does this foreshadow Christ’s ministry (Lk 4:18-19; Isa 61:1)?
    • Who are “a people not yet created” (Ps 102:18)? How are your struggles related to God’s faithfulness (Rom 15:4, 1 Cor 10:11; Eph 2:10)?
    • Do you have faith in God’s sovereignty over the nations (Ps 102:21-22; Dan 2:21; Ac 17:26-27)? How does this relate to the Church (Eph 2:19-22, 1 Pet 2:4-5)? Do you remember God’s faithfulness in times of distress (Lam 3:21-23)?
  6. Can you relate your individual suffering (Ps 102: 23-24, 3-5, 9-11) to your corporate hope (Ps 102:12-13, 15-16, 21-22)?
  7. How do you understand God as Creator and His unchanging nature (Ps 102:25-27; Gen 1:1; Jn 1:1-3, Col 1:16-17; Jas 1:17; Heb 1:10-12)?
  8. What comfort do you draw from God’s promise about the children of God’s servants (Ps 102:28; Isa 59:21, Jer 32:39)?
  • I have hope for Zion, but is there hope for me?
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