June 21, 2020
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in Psalm? Here’s today’s reading:
Psalm 102 (ESV)
Do Not Hide Your Face from Me
A Prayer of one afflicted, when he is faint and pours out his complaint before the Lord.
1 Hear my prayer, O Lord;
let my cry come to you!.…..Continue Reading
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God is such a solid source of comfort
Life can be hard and people can be unkind and evil and we can suffer all kinds of things because of it. Psalms like this are a comfort to know we are not the first to go through it, that we are not alone and God always has an answer…even if it is just His presence with us through it. God is in control and He does care and that will never change…it is true through all generations. I like what the Psalm says about His regard for Zion, how much greater for us who have His Spirt within…how much more is He a compulsion for us to pray and turn things over to God and seek His salvation. And the promise that comes when we seek Him is He will answer. He will provide. Even if it is He that is bringing us through the wringer, He always has a greater purpose and greater provisions. So there is always a reason for hope. Always a reason to turn to Him and cast our cares upon Him because He cares for us…
This Psalm is a beautiful account of Israels history and how God kept his promise. The vivid description of Joseph in chains causes me to admire his faith even more. He may have been physically harnessed but his prayers broke through the dark, damp dungeon,
Psalm 102:12 (ESV)
But you, O LORD, are enthroned forever; you are remembered throughout all generations.
When we are young and healthy we think life will go on forever. However, with time comes the consequences of this sin-cursed world and physical hardships. Yet, just as this psalmist, we can rejoice when our perspective remains on the one who is enthroned forever.
I will pass from this life and like so many before me, my name will be forgotten. However, God is enthroned forever and he will be remembered through all generations.
As I read of nations fearing the Lord, how I wish this were true of our generation. One day this will be true in the future, but how different our world would be if all feared God. Certainly, this political unrest and rioting that we see around us would be changed when nations recognize the Prince of Peace. It will be a world where we see the fulfillment of verses 18-22 when peoples gather together, and kingdoms, to worship the LORD.
I love the combination of God’s love for Zion and the reflection of his regard for the prayers of the destitute. I am sure the psalmist, who in the middle of whatever pain he is suffering, counts himself within this group.
In verse 20, I cannot help but think that those who do not know Christ, those who are dead in their trespasses and sins, are the prisoners of verse 20. And Jesus, who was enthroned in heaven, humbled himself and took on himself the form of a man so that he can set the prisoner free!
So the nations shall fear the name of the Lord,
And all the kings of the earth Your glory.
16 For the Lord shall build up Zion;
He shall appear in His glory.
17 He shall regard the prayer of the destitute,
And shall not despise their prayer.
18Let this be recorded for a generation to come,
so that a people yet to be created may praise the Lord:
19that he looked down from his holy height;
from heaven the Lord looked at the earth,
20to hear the groans of the prisoners,
to set free those who were doomed to die,
21that they may declare in Zion the name of the Lord,
and in Jerusalem his praise,
22when peoples gather together,
and kingdoms, to worship the Lord.