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PSALM 102

STROPHE DIVISIONS OF MODERN TRANSLATIONS

NASB NKJV NRSV TEV NJB
Prayer of an Afflicted Man for Mercy on Himself and Zion
    MT Intro
A Prayer of the Afflicted, when he is faint, and pours out his complaint before the Lord		 The Lord's Eternal Love Prayer for Healing in Sickness The Prayer of a Troubled Youth Prayer In Misfortune
102:1-7 102:1-2 102:1-2 102:1-2 102:1-2
  102:3-7 102:3-11 102:3-8 102:3-5
        102:6-8
102:8-11 102:8-11      
      102:9-11 102:9-11
102:12-17 102:12-17 102:12-17 102:12-17 102:12-14
        102:15-17
102:18-22 102:18-22 102:18-22 102:18-22 102:18-22
102:23-28 102:23-28 102:23-24 102:23-28 102:23-24
    102:25-28   102:25-27
        102:28

READING CYCLE THREE (see "Bible Interpretation Seminar")

FOLLOWING THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR'S INTENT AT PARAGRAPH LEVEL

This is a study guide commentary which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.

Read the chapter in one sitting. Identify the subjects (reading cycle #3). Compare your subject divisions with the five translations above. Paragraphing is not inspired, but it is the key to following the original author's intent, which is the heart of interpretation. Every paragraph has one and only one subject.

WORD AND PHRASE STUDY

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 102:1-7
 1Hear my prayer, O Lord!
 And let my cry for help come to You.
 2Do 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.
 3For my days have been consumed in smoke,
 And my bones have been scorched like a hearth.
 4My heart has been smitten like grass and has withered away,
 Indeed, I forget to eat my bread.
 5Because of the loudness of my groaning
 My bones cling to my flesh.
 6I resemble a pelican of the wilderness;
 I have become like an owl of the waste places.
 7I lie awake,
 I have become like a lonely bird on a housetop.

102:1-7 This strophe describes the psalmist's situation (i.e., "the day of my distress," Ps. 102:2,23-26; see Psalm 6).

  1. feels YHWH has hidden His face (i.e., no sense of His presence)
  2. his days are consumed in smoke, Ps. 102:3
  3. his bones have been scorched, Ps. 102:3
  4. his heart has been smitten, Ps. 102:4
  5. he has forgotten to eat because of his loud groaning, Ps. 102:4b-5a
  6. his bones cling to his flesh, Ps. 103:5b
  7. he looks like a bird of the wilderness, Ps. 102:6,7b
  8. he cannot sleep, Ps. 102:7a

It is possible that what looks like physical illness is really a person grieving over exile and the loss of the temple (cf. Ps. 102:14,18-22,23-28).

102:1-2 The Psalm opens with a series of prayer requests.

  1. hear my prayer ‒ BDB 1033, KB 1570, Qal IMPERATIVE, cf. Ps. 17:6; 39:12; 54:2; 55:1; 61:1; 64:1; 143:1
  2. let my cry for help come to You ‒ BDB 9, KB 112, Qal IMPERFECT used in a JUSSIVE sense
  3. do not hide Your face from me ‒ BDB 711, KB 771, Hiphil JUSSIVE, cf. Ps. 27:9; 69:17; 143:7
  4. incline Your ear to me ‒ BDB 639, KB 692, Hiphil IMPERATIVE, cf. Ps. 17:6; 31:2; 71:2; 86:1; 88:2
  5. quickly ‒ BDB 554, KB 553, Piel IMPERATIVE (lit. "be quick," see NJB, most English translations translate it as an ADVERB [BDB 555])
  6. answer me ‒ BDB 772, KB 851, Qal IMPERATIVE

102:1 "Lord" This is the covenant name for Israel's God (cf. vv. 1, 12, 15, 18, 21, 22). It is first used (not in Genesis 1, which has Elohim) in Gen. 2:4 (i.e., the special creation of Adam and Eve).

SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY, D.

102:2 "Your face" This is a Hebrew idiom for the personal presence of YHWH (cf. Num. 6:25; Ps. 10:11; 13:1; 27:9; 30:7; 44:24; 51:9; 69:17; 80:3,7,19; 88:14; 143:7).

SPECIAL TOPIC: ANTHROPOMORPHIC LANGUAGE USED TO DESCRIBE GOD

▣ "day" This imagery (BDB 398) is repeated five times.

  1. in the day of my distress, Ps. 102:2a
  2. in the day when I call, Ps. 102:2c
  3. my days, Ps. 102:3a
  4. all day long, Ps. 102:8a
  5. my days, Ps. 102:11

The Hebrew word yom can be literal or figurative.

SPECIAL TOPIC: DAY (yom)

▣ "Your ear" This is anthropomorphic imagery. See SPECIAL TOPIC: GOD DESCRIBED AS HUMAN (anthropomorphism).

102:3 This verse used fire imagery to describe the psalmist's current situation.

SPECIAL TOPIC: FIRE

102:6 "pelican. . .owl" Often in the OT, birds and wild animals are used to denote not only abandoned places, but the presence of the demonic (i.e., Isa. 13:19-22; 34:11-15; Zeph. 2:14). Here the focus is on the element of abandonment or aloneness.

Also note the birds mentioned are Levitically unclean (cf. Lev. 11:13-19), which is another way to assert the sense of rejection! See UBS, Fauna and Flora of the Bible.

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 102:8-11
 8My enemies have reproached me all day long;
 Those who deride me have used my name as a curse.
 9For I have eaten ashes like bread
 And mingled my drink with weeping
 10Because of Your indignation and Your wrath,
 For You have lifted me up and cast me away.
 11My days are like a lengthened shadow,
 And I wither away like grass.

102:8-11 This strophe continues the description of the hurting psalmist.

  1. his enemies (possibly invaders) reproach him continuously, Ps. 102:8
  2. his enemies deride him
  3. his enemies use his name as a curse (cf. Isa. 65:15; Jer. 29:22)
  4. he has eaten ashes and drunk tears (these were signs of mourning, see SPECIAL TOPIC: GRIEVING RITES, cf. Ps. 42:3; 80:5)
  5. same as #4
  6. his days are like a lengthened shadow (i.e., his pain lasts a long time)
  7. he withers away like grass (cf. Gen. 6:3; Job 10:4; 14:1-2; Ps. 78:39; 90:5-6; 102:4; 103:15-18; Isa. 40:6; 1 Pet. 1:24-25)

The theological issue is why was he suffering. Psalm 102:10 reveals that he was experiencing divine judgment (cf. Psalm 38). One wonders if he is a symbol or representative of the nation (cf. Ps. 102:12-17,18-22).

102:8b
NASB, NKJV, NRSV  "Those who deride me""
REB  "mad with rage"
NJB, Peshitta  "those who once praised me"
TEV  "those who mock me"
LXX  "those who used to commend me"
JPSOA  "my deriders"

The MT has "those who deride me" (BDB 237 II, KB 248, Poal PARTICIPLE. The basic root הלל has two distinct and opposite meanings.

  1. praise, KB 248 II
  2. make a fool of, KB 249 III

The UBS Text Project, p. 375, cannot decide which one is original. Number 1 implies the psalmist's enemies were close friends or covenant partners. Number 2 implies the enemies were foreign nations who exiled God's people.

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 102:12-17
 12But You, O Lord, abide forever,
 And Your name to all generations.
 13You will arise and have compassion on Zion;
 For it is time to be gracious to her,
 For the appointed time has come.
 14Surely Your servants find pleasure in her stones
 And feel pity for her dust.
 15So the nations will fear the name of the Lord
 And all the kings of the earth Your glory.
 16For the Lord has built up Zion;
 He has appeared in His glory.
 17He has regarded the prayer of the destitute
 And has not despised their prayer.

102:12-17 This strophe has a national emphasis. YHWH has an international purpose for Israel.

SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN

Notice the things the psalmist asserts about YHWH.

  1. He sits enthroned forever (cf. Ps. 9:7; 10:16; 29:10; Lam. 5:19)
  2. His name (lit. "remembrance," BDB 271, cf. Ps. 30:4; 97:12) abides to all generations (cf. Exod. 3:15; Ps. 135:13; also note Ps. 100:5; 119:90)
  3. He acts in grace toward His covenant people
  4. He has built up Zion
  5. He has appeared (i.e., to Zion) in His glory
  6. He regards the prayers of the destitute (BDB 792, occurs only here and Jer. 17:6, where it is used of a tree/scrub; the root comes from the VERB, "to strip bare")

The psalmist asks YHWH to act on Israel's behalf for His greater purpose!

102:12
NASB  "abide"
NKJV, Peshitta  "shall endure"
NRSV, REB, NJB, JPSOA  "are enthroned"
TEV  "(no VERB)"
LXX  "remain"

The MT has the VERB (BDB 442, KB 444, Qal IMPERFECT which basically means "be seated" or "dwell." This imagery denotes YHWH's presence on the throne of the universe.

The common call for YHWH "to arise" is part of this same imagery. See note at v. 13.

▣ "forever" See SPECIAL TOPIC: FOREVER ('olam)

102:13 "You will arise" This VERB (BDB 877, KB 1086) has a wide semantic field. It could denote

  1. YHWH rising from His throne to act (cf. Ps. 119:126)
  2. YHWH awaking from sleep (imagery for His lack of action)
  3. YHWH becoming active after a period of purposeful inactivity

▣ "Zion" See SPECIAL TOPIC: ZION

▣ "the appointed time has come" The NOUN (BDB 417) has the connotation of "an appointed time" (cf. Ps. 75:2; Dan. 8:19). The concept that YHWH is in control of time, space, history is central to the character of the one true creator God (cf. Ecclesiastes 3).

102:14-17 These verses imply the destruction of the temple.

  1. the nations (i.e., who did this) will fear, Ps. 102:15
  2. YHWH will build up Zion and show her His glory, Ps. 102:16
  3. the prayers of the destitute (i.e., the exiled people of God) will be heard
  4. note Ps. 102:18-22

102:14 "Surely Your servants find pleasure in her stones" This phrase reminds me of the deep emotional attachment that modern Judaism has for the wailing wall in Jerusalem (i.e., the foundation stones of Solomon's temple). Judaism (i.e., the Mosaic Law) is linked to a special place of worship (i.e., the tabernacle, later the temple in Jerusalem).

▣ "her dust" This NOUN (BDB 779, KB 862) is often used of the debris of destroyed cities (cf. 1 Kgs. 20:10; Neh. 4:2,10; Ezek. 26:4,12).

102:15 "the nations will fear" Through the years of my Bible study, I have become convinced that YHWH has always desired the salvation and restoration of all humans made in His image. I have tried to document this basic presupposition in the following Special Topic.

Of course, this brings up the question about God's OT promises to the nation of Israel. I have also tried to document the revelatory change from the OT to the NT in a Special Topic (see below).

SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN

SPECIAL TOPIC: WHY ARE OT COVENANT PROMISES SO DIFFERENT FROM NT COVENANT PROMISES?

▣ "fear" See SPECIAL TOPIC: FEAR

▣ "the name of the Lord" See SPECIAL TOPIC: "THE NAME" OF YHWH

▣ "glory" See SPECIAL TOPIC: GLORY (OT, kabod)

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 102:18-22
 18This will be written for the generation to come,
 That a people yet to be created may praise the Lord.
 19For He looked down from His holy height;
 From heaven the Lord gazed upon the earth,
 20To hear the groaning of the prisoner,
 To set free those who were doomed to death,
 21That men may tell of the name of the Lord in Zion
 And His praise in Jerusalem,
 22When the peoples are gathered together,
 And the kingdoms, to serve the Lord.

102:18-22 This strophe is a promise about YHWH's restoration of His covenant people to Judah and her temple.

Hebrews 1 quotes Ps. 102:25-27 as relating to Jesus. In this sense Ps. 102:28 relates to the new people of God (i.e., believing Jews and Gentiles, cf. Rom. 2:28-29; 9:6; Gal. 3:7-9,13-14,29; 6:15-16)! In my opinion, Jesus is the ultimate and final revelation of God, therefore, we must view the OT through the eyes of the NT and not the other way around. The NT is about Jesus, not Israel.

102:18a Revelation is recorded to document and explain YHWH's will and actions. They become the basic guidelines for His people in each successive generation. Faithful followers honor, respect, and obey Scripture (i.e., Ps. 119:105; Prov. 6:23).

SPECIAL TOPIC: THE BIBLE (its uniqueness and inspiration)

SPECIAL TOPIC: INSPIRATION

SPECIAL TOPIC: ILLUMINATION

102:19 YHWH knows what is happening on earth (cf. Exod. 2:25; 3:7; Neh. 9:9; Job 28:24; Ps. 14:2; 33:13-14; 53:3; 80:14; Lam. 3:50; 5:1; Acts 7:34; see full note at Ps. 33:13-17).

The term "earth" (BDB 75) can have several meanings, see SPECIAL TOPIC: LAND, COUNTRY, EARTH

▣ "from His holy height. . .from heaven" These are parallel. The first might refer to the temple on Mt. Moriah, but when both are taken into account, it refers to YHWH's dwelling place above the atmosphere of the earth.

SPECIAL TOPIC: HEAVEN

SPECIAL TOPIC: HEAVEN AND THE THIRD HEAVEN

102:20 These images refer to exiled Judeans (and possibly Israelites).

102:21 This is a prayer that the exiled may return to Judah.

102:22 This, like so many Psalms in Book IV, has a universal emphasis (see SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN). The phrase, "the kingdom will serve the Lord," reminds me of Rev. 5:9-14 and 11:15!

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 102:23-28
 23He has weakened my strength in the way;
 He has shortened my days.
 24I say, "O my God, do not take me away in the midst of my days,
 Your years are throughout all generations.
 25Of old You founded the earth,
 And the heavens are the work of Your hands.
 26Even 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.
 27But You are the same,
 And Your years will not come to an end.
 28The children of Your servants will continue,
 And their descendants will be established before You."

102:23-28 This strophe, like the two previous ones, uses personal imagery in a national sense. It affirms YHWH's act of creation (Ps. 102:26); He is eternal (102:27)! His people have gone through a devastating time (defeat, destruction, exile), but He will restore them (102:28) because as "heaven and earth" are the work of His hands (cf. Ps. 8:6; 19:1; Isa. 45:12; 48:13), so too, the covenant people (cf. Ps. 138:8; 143:5; Isa. 45:11; 60:2; 64:8; even Assyria, Isa. 19:25).

102:23-24 The LXX translates these verses as YHWH speaking to the psalmist. The NT book of Hebrews 1:10-12 quotes Ps. 102:25-27 as referring to Jesus. The MT translates the same Hebrew consonants in a different way (cf. Tyndale OT Commentaries, vol. 16, Psalms 73-150, pp. 395-396).

102:23 "strength" The term (BDB 470) was used of national strength being affected by YHWH's judgment (cf. Lev. 26:20; Lam. 1:6,14; Amos 2:14).

▣ "the way" See SPECIAL TOPIC: THE PATH, THE WAY

102:24 "O my God" This VOCATIVE uses the general ANE name/title for deity, El.

SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY, A.

102:25-27 These verses from the LXX are quoted in Heb. 1:10-11, where they are applied to Jesus (cf. Heb. 13:8).

102:27 "But You are the same" YHWH does not change nor do His purposes (cf. Ps. 33:11; Mal. 3:6; James 1:17). Psalm 102:27 is a dramatic contrast to 102:26. Even heaven and earth will pass away (cf. Isa. 34:4; 51:6; Matt. 5:18; 24:35; Mark 13:31; Luke 21:33; 2 Pet. 3:10; Rev. 20:11), but not YHWH!

For a good brief discussion of God's unchangeableness see Millard Erickson, Christian Theology, 2nd ed., pp. 304-308.

102:28 The VERBS of v. 28 are so encouraging. Faithful followers will dwell with YHWH forever (cf. Ps. 23:6).

  1. "will continue" ‒ BDB 1014, KB 1496, Qal IMPERFECT, basically meaning
    1. "to settle down," cf. 2 Sam. 7:10; 1 Chr. 17:9
    2. "to abide in peace and security," cf. Deut. 33:12; Ps. 16:9; Jer. 23:6; 33:16
    3. this is imagery of a secure homeland guarded by YHWH, cf. 1 Pet. 1:3-5
  2. "will be established" ‒ BDb 465, KB 464, Niphal IMPERFECT, basically meaning "firmly established"
    1. the world, cf. 1 Chr. 16:30; Ps. 93:1; 96:10
    2. the covenant people, cf. 2 Sam. 7:16; Ps. 89:4

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

This is a study guide commentary which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.

These discussion questions are provided to help you think through the major issues of this section of the book. They are meant to be thought provoking, not definitive.

  1. Is this Psalm about an individual or the nation?
  2. Explain the imagery of Ps. 102:6-7.
  3. Does Ps. 102:14 imply a reference to the destruction of the temple?
  4. Does the universal emphasis of Ps. 102:15,22 refer to restoration from exile or an eschatological setting?
  5. Are heaven and earth permanent or transitory?
  6. How is Ps. 102:28 related to
    1. Gen. 12:1-3
    2. Rom. 2:28-29

 

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