This is a Psalm
of extremes. We initially read the words of a person in deep distress, verses
1-11. Then there is a sudden change. We are confronted with the eternal,
unchanging God and hope is stirred in the writer’s heart, verses 12-28. How can
the same person be so different? It can only be the result of the Psalmist
lifting his eyes from his problems and fixing them on God. God is greater than
our problems and helps us put life into perspective.
The Psalm is
called a prayer of the afflicted. The person described is in severe trouble, hungry,
in physical agony and ultimately facing death. They describe their waning
strength as ‘a shadow which is fading away’. What is the reason for this state
of affairs? The writer says it is because of God’s ‘indignation’ and ‘wrath’.
God is angry. We are not told who the individual is and why they are in these
difficult circumstances.
In his book
on the Psalms, A G Clarke suggests that the key to the understanding of the
whole psalm lies in verses 24b to 27. I tend to agree. These verses are
repeated in Hebrews 1 verses 10-12. The Father (God) speaking to the Son (The
Lord Jesus Christ). The Father states that the Son made the heavens and the
earth, they will pass away but the Son is eternal and His years ‘shall have no
end’.
So, the
question is. How does this help us understand the rest of Psalm 102? It would
seem logical, considering our knowledge of the sufferings of Christ and His
death, so see that the Psalm is all about the experience of the Lord Jesus
Christ. The original writer may have had some similar experiences but the fulfilment
would seem to be seen in the Lord Jesus. Let’s look at it again.
In verses
1-11 we hear the Son speaking to the Father. He is expressing the extremities
of his sufferings, the loneliness of his soul. He looks for an answer to his
crying and prayer. He reflects on the reproach of his enemies and records that
he is suffering because of God’s fury.
There is a
brief reply from the Father, verses 12-15, which hints at the future blessing
that the Son will bring to the nation of Israel and the rest of the nations of
the world.
The third
section, verses 16-22, is a commentary by the Holy Spirit on those future days
when the world will be blessed by God. Verse 18 states that these things are
written ‘for the generation to come’ i.e. not for the people who read it
initially. This strengthens the argument for a ‘future’ interpretation of the
psalm.
The closing
verse of the psalm gives a final glimmer of hope. As long as the eternal God
exists, His servants will serve Him. Let us go out and do that today.
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