Psalm
102 reminds me of training for sports. In practice we usually had
drills that are designed to teach us how to react. The idea is that
you can train your body to respond in a certain way, so that during
competition you react quickly and properly, rather than hesitating
and missing an opportunity. It doesn’t matter what sport you play,
all have difficult and tedious drills that are practiced to prepare
you for the live game. Many of the Old Testament events and symbols
were given to prepare the people for the Messiah. This psalm is
written by a young Jew suffering the effects of the Babylonian
captivity. He is physically weak and losing hope; in desperation, he
calls out to God Almighty, “Hear
my prayer, O Lord; let my cry for help come to You… when I call,
answer me quickly… For
my
days vanish like smoke“.
He describes his situation to us, “My
heart is blighted… I am
reduced
to skin and bones… I lie awake… my enemies taunt me… mingle my
drink with tears“.
Some of us recognize this place in our own life. And like many of
us, he places the blame squarely on God, “because
of
Your
great wrath… You have taken me up and
thrown
me aside… I wither away like grass“.
Even in his struggle, he has one thing perfectly clear, “But
You, O Lord, sit enthroned forever“.
This seed of truth can sustain us even in the toughest of times. Do
you believe there is a bigger purpose for your current trials?
Next
the writer begins to recall the “Sunday school” lessons from his
youth as he reminds himself of God’s promises. “You
will arise
and
have compassion on Zion“.
This term Zion is used for both the Jewish nation, and the
inhabitants of God’s eternal home in heaven. He adds, “the
appointed time has come… the Lord will rebuild Zion… He will
respond to the prayer of the destitute… that a people not yet
created may praise the Lord“.
I believe my life was bathed in the prayers of others long before I
turned my heart to God. “The
Lord looked down from His sanctuary on high… to
hear
the groans of the prisoners and release those condemned to death…
So the name of the Lord will be declared“.
I declare God’s truth because I have personally experienced His
renewal. “In
the course of my life
He
broke my strength“, so
that I could learn to trust in His.
The psalm ends with a
restored strength and commitment, as the writer desires to teach what
he now knows. “Do
not take me away, O my God, in the midst of my days“.
He begins to put things into their proper perspective, “You
laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of
Your hands“.
He says of every created thing, “They
will perish, but You remain“.
He says with certainty, “You
remain the same, and Your years will never end“.
His prayer is now filled with hope, “The
children of Your servants will live in Your presence; their
descendants will be established before You“.
Interestingly, Hebrews chapter 1 quotes this psalm and explains this
was given in preparation for the Messiah. “In
the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets… but in
these last days He has spoken to us by his Son… through whom he
made the universe. The Son is… the exact representation of His
being, sustaining all things by His powerful word. After He had
provided purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the
Majesty in heaven“.
Practice is over, the action is now live. Will you take the lessons
you have learned through God’s Word and let your actions honor God?