Suggested Bible Reading: Psalm 102-104
Devotional Thought:
Title: “The Soul in Torment has Hope.”
Psalm 102 is indeed the prayer of someone afflicted, overwhelmed with sorrow, and lamenting before the Lord. The deep sorrow is eventually relieved in its latter part by the remembrance of the eternity and glory of our God. “Hear my prayer, O Lord” are the opening words of the Psalm, a plea from the heart of a man in trouble, to the heart of a God who hears the cries of His suffering people. How he longs for the smile of God upon him. For his God to hide his face from him in his sorrow would add to his distress. If God would only show Himself, lifting up His countenance upon him in the day of his trouble, this would bring relief. His plea is urgent as well; “Answer me speedily“, he cries. He had prayed, he had cried, he had called, and he yearns for the ear of God to be inclined towards him. The psalmist was certain that there was no help or comfort apart from God. There is no doubt that deep sorrow and grief causes physical affects upon the body as well as emotional affects upon the mind. The writer cries out, “My days are consumed like smoke.” Like a man in a dense fog, he feels his helplessness as the days of his trouble waste away, and, like a man in a fever, his bones burn, his body affected by the pain of his distressed spirit. His heart, the source of strength, is as grass that has been cut down, scorched by the sun and withered. He feels his utter weakness. He is dried up. His anxiety has robbed him of his appetite so that he even forgets to eat, with the natural consequence that, as he groans, his bones cleave to his skin. His whole appearance now is that of a weary and distressed man. Much of this language may be figurative; however, there is no doubt that it is very true that suffering and sorrow affect not only the spirit of a man, but also his interest in the practical things of daily life. The troubled psalmist neglects his food, and his body suffers accordingly. He concludes this psalm with recognition that God is his only hope. Having been occupied with his mournful circumstances and misery, the psalmist now turns to the greatness and faithfulness of his God. He rejoices that the Lord will arise for the deliverance of Zion. Our great God will endure forever. All generations will remember Him when the memory of adversaries and suffering has faded and gone. The eternal God is his refuge, abiding always, and this thought he develops further in the closing verses of the psalm. “They shall perish, but thou shalt endure.” (vs. 12) Like a garment that has waxed old and needs to be changed, so they shall indeed be changed, but, “Thou art the same.” Jehovah is the changeless One, inhabiting eternity, and this changelessness is the glory of His Son and our Savior. The years of the Eternal One has no end, and the psalmist concludes on the happy note that this everlasting life is the portion of God’s children as well. We, as He, will live forever! His servants and their children, and their seed after them, shall be established eternally before the One who we have loved and served.
Personal Prayer Requests:
- Lord, please help me to never forget how temporary this life is and how sure my eternity is because of you.
- Lord, please help me to always interpret my circumstances in light of what I know to be true from God’s word. Please help me to never allow my circumstances to affect my theology.
- Lord, thank you for the hope and assurance of eternal life with you. May I be faithful in this life and in the midst of its trials.