Title. - A prayer of the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed, and poureth out his complaint before the Lord, This Psalm is a prayer far more in spirit than in words. The formal petitions are Jew, but a strong stream of supplication runs from beginning to end, and like an under-current, finds its way heavenward through the moanings of grief and confessions of faith which make up the major part of the Psalm. It is a prayer of the afflicted, or of "a sufferer," and it bears the marks of its parentage; as it is recorded of Jabez, that "his mother bore him with sorrow," so may we say of this Psalm; yet as Rachel's Benoni, or child of sorrow, was also her Benjamin, or son of her right hand, so is this Psalm as eminently expressive of consolation as of desolation. It is scarcely correct to call it a penitential Psalm, for the sorrow of it is rather of one suffering than sinning. It has its own bitterness, and it is not the same as that of Psalm 51:1. The sufferer is afflicted more for others than for himself, more for Zion and the house of the Lord, than for his own house. When he is overwhelmed, or sorely troubled, and depressed. The best of men are not always able to stem the torrent of sorrow. Even when Jesus is on board, the vessel may fill with water and begin to sink. And poureth out his complaint before the Lord. When a cup is overwhelmed or turned bottom over, all that is in it is naturally poured out; great trouble removes the heart from all reserve, and causes the soul to flow out without restraint; it is well when that which is in the soul is such as may be poured out in the presence of God, and this is only the case where the heart has been renewed by divine grace. The word rendered "complaint" has in it none of the idea of fault-finding or repining, but should rather be rendered "moaning," - the expression of pain, not of rebellion.

To help the memory we will call this Psalm the Patriot's Plaint.

Division - In the first part of the Psalm, Psalm 102:1-11, the moaning monopolizes every verse, the lamentation is unceasing, sorrow rules the hour. The second portion, from 12-28, has a vision of better things, a view of the gracious Lord, and his eternal existence and care for his people, and therefore it is interspersed with sunlight as well as shaded by the cloud, and it ends up right gloriously with calm confidence for the future, and sweet restfulness in the Lord. The whole composition may be compared to a day which, opening with wind and rain, clears up at noon and is warm with the sun, continues fine, with intervening showers, and finally closes with a brilliant sunset.

Hints to Preachers

Psalm 102:1. -

I. Afflicted men may pray.

II. Afflicted men should pray even when overwhelmed.

III. Afflicted men can pray - for what is wanted is a pouring out of their complaint, not an oratorical display.

IV. Afflicted men are accepted in prayer - for this prayer is placed on record.

Psalm 102:1, Psalm 102:2. - Five steps to the mercy-seat. The Psalmist prays for,

I.:Audience: "Hear my prayer."

II.:Access: "Let my cry come before thee."

III.:Unveiling: "Hide not thy face."

IV. An intent ear: "Incline thine ear."

V. Answer. - C. Davis.

Psalm 102:1, Psalm 102:17, Psalm 102:19, Psalm 102:20. - An interesting discourse may be founded upon these passages.

I. The Lord entreated to hear - Psalm 102:1.

II. The Promise given that he will hear - Psalm 102:17.

III. The Record that the Lord has heard - Psalm 102:19 and Psalm 102:20.

Psalm 102:2. -

I. Prayer in trouble is most needed.

II. Prayer in trouble is most heeded.

III. Prayer in trouble is most speeded: "Answer me speedily."

Or,

I. Prayer in trouble: "In the day," etc.

II. The prayer of trouble: "Hide not thy face;" not remove the trial, but be with me in it. A fiery furnace is a paradise when God is with us there. - G. R.

Psalm 102:2 (first clause). - He deprecates the loss of the divine countenance when under trouble.

I. That would intensify it a thousandfold.

II. That would deprive him of strength to bear the trouble.

III. That would prevent his acting so as to glorify God in the trouble.

IV. That might injure the result of the trouble.

Psalm 102:2 (last clause). -

I. We often need to be answered speedily.

II. God can so answer.

III. God has so answered.

IV. God has promised so to answer.

Psalm 102:3-11. -

I. The causes of grief.

1. The brevity of life. Psalm 102:3.

2. Bodily pain: Psalm 102:3.

3. Dejection of spirit. Psalm 102:4, 19 102:5.

4. Solitariness. Psalm 102:6, 19 102:7.

5. Reproach. Psalm 102:8.

6. Humiliation. Psalm 102:9.

7. The hidings of God's countenance. Psalm 102:10.

8. Wasting away. Psalm 102:11.

II. The eloquence of grief.

1. The brevity of life is as vanishing "smoke."

2. Bodily pain is fire in the bones.

3. Dejection of spirit is "withered grass." Who can eat when the heart is sad?

4. Solitariness is like "The pelican in the wilderness, the owl in the desert, and the sparrow upon the house top."

5. Reproach is being surrounded by madmen - "they that are mad."

6. Humiliation is "eating ashes like breast," and "drinking tears."

7. The hidings of God's countenance is lifting up in order to be cast down.

8. Wasting away is a shadow declining and grass withering. - G. R.

Psalm 102:4. - Unbelieving sorrow makes us forget to use proper means for our support.

I. We forget the promises.

II. Forget the past and its experiences.

III. Forget the Lord Jesus, our life.

IV. Forget the everlasting love of God. This leads to weakness, faintness, etc., and is to be avoided.

Psalm 102:6. - This as a text, together with Psalm 103:5, makes an interesting contrast, and gives scope for much experimental teaching.

Psalm 102:7. - The evils and benefits of solitude; when it may be sought, and when it becomes a folly. Or, the mournful watcher - alone, outside the pale of communion, insignificant, wishful for fellowship, set apart to watch.

Psalm 102:9. - The sorrows of the saints - their number, bitterness, sources, correctives, influences, and consolations.

Psalm 102:10. -

I. The trial of trials - thine indignation and thy wrath.

II. The aggravation of that trial - former favour, "thou hast lifted me up," etc.

III. The best behaviour under it: see Psalm 102:9, and Psalm 102:12 and Psalm 102:13.

Psalm 102:10 (last clause.) - The prosperity of a church or an individual often followed by declension; worldly aggrandisement frequently succeeded by affliction; great joy in the Lord very generally succeeded by trial.

Psalm 102:11, Psalm 102:12. - I and Thou, or the notable contrast.

I.:I: my days are like a shadow,

1. Because it is unsubstantial; because it partakes of the nature of the darkness which is to absorb it; because the longer it becomes the briefer its continuance.

2. I am like grass cut down by the scythe; scorched by drought.

II.:Thou: Lord. Ever enduring. Ever memorable. Ever the study of passing generations of men. - C. D.

Psalm 102:13. -

I. Zion often needs restoration. It needs "mercy."

II. Its restoration is certain, "Thou shalt arise," etc.

III. The seasons of its restoration are determined. There is a "time" to favour her; a "set" time.

IV. Intimations of those coming seasons are often given: "The time, the set time, is come." - G. R.

Psalm 102:13, Psalm 102:14. -

I. Visitation expected.

II. Predestination relied upon.

III. Evidence observed.

IV. Enquiry suggested - Do we take pleasure in her stones? etc.

Psalm 102:13, Psalm 102:14. - The interest of the Lord's people in the concerns of Zion one of the surest signs of her returning prosperity.

Psalm 102:15. - The inward prosperity of the church essential to her power in the world.

Psalm 102:16. - God is Zion's purchaser, architect, builder, inhabitant, Lord.

I. Zion built up. Conversions frequent; confessions numerous; union firm; edification solid; missions extended.

II. God glorified. In its very foundation; by its ministry; by difficulties and enemies; by poor workers, and poor materials; and even by our failures.

III. Hope excited. Because we may expect the Lord to glorify himself.

IV. Inquiry suggested. Am I concerned, as built, or building? not merely doctrinally, but experimentally?

Psalm 102:17. -

I. The destitute pray.

II. They pray most.

III. They pray best.

IV. They pray most effectually. Or the surest way to succeed in prayer is to pray as the destitute; show the reason of this.

Psalm 102:18. -

I. A memorial.

II. A magnificat. - W. Durban.

Psalm 102:18-21. -

I. Misery in extremis.

II. Divinity observant.

III. Deity actively assisting.

IV. Glory consequently published.

Psalm 102:19-22. -

I. The notice which God takes of the world, Psalm 102:19.

Psalm 102:1

"Hear my prayer, O Lord." Or O Jehovah. Sincere suppliants are not content with praying for praying's sake, they desire really to reach the ear and heart of the great God. It is a great relief in time of distress to acquaint others with our trouble, we are eased by their hearing our lamentations, but it is the sweetest solace of all to have God himself as a sympathizing listener to our plaint. That he is such is no dream or fiction, but an assured fact. It would be the direst of all our woes if we could be indisputably convinced that with God there is neither hearing nor answering; he who could argue us into so dreary a belief would do us no better service than if he had read us our death-warrants. Better die than be denied the mercy-seat. As well be atheists at once as believe in an unhearing, unfeeling God. "And let my cry come unto thee." When sorrow rises to such a height that words become too weak a medium of expression, and prayer is intensified into a cry, then the heart is even more urgent to have audience with the Lord. If our cries do not enter within the veil, and reach to the living God, we may as well cease from prayer at once, for it is idle to cry to the winds; but, blessed be God, the philosophy which suggests such a hideous idea is disproved by the facts of everyday experience, since thousands of the saints can declare, "Verily, God hath heard us."

Psalm 102:2

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13 Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion, for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come.

14 For thy servants take pleasure in her stones, and favour the dust thereof.

15 So the heathen shall fear the name of the Lord, and all the kings of the earth thy glory.

16 When the Lord shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory.

17 He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer.

18 This shall be written for the generation to come; and the people which shall be created shall praise the Lord.

19 For he hath looked down from the height of his sanctuary; from heaven did the Lord behold the earth;

20 To hear the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those that are appointed to death;

21 To declare the name of the Lord in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem;

22 When the people are gathered together, and the kingdoms, to serve the Lord.

23 He weakened my strength in the way; he shortened my days.

24 I said, O my God, take me not away in the midst of my days; thy years are throughout all generations.

25 Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the work of thy hands.

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