(Dear Lord Jesus, guide me and give me insight as I read and study Your word, and let it be the meditation of my heart...)
(Psalm 102:1-28) Hear my prayer, Lord!
And let my cry for help come to You.
2 Do not hide Your face from me on the day of my distress;
Incline Your ear to me;
On the day when I call answer me quickly.
3 For my days have ended in smoke,
And my bones have been scorched like a hearth.
4 My heart has been struck like grass and has withered,
Indeed, I forget to eat my bread.
5 Because of the loudness of my groaning
My bones cling to my flesh.
6 I resemble a pelican of the wilderness;
I have become like an owl of the ruins.
7 I lie awake,
I have become like a solitary bird on a housetop.
8 My enemies have taunted me all day long;
Those who deride me have used my name as a curse.
9 For I have eaten ashes like bread,
And mixed my drink with weeping
10 Because of Your indignation and Your wrath;
For You have lifted me up and thrown me away.
11 My days are like a lengthened shadow,
And I wither away like grass.
12 But You, Lord, remain forever,
And Your name remains to all generations.
13 You will arise and have compassion on Zion;
For it is time to be gracious to her,
For the appointed time has come.
14 Surely Your servants take pleasure in her stones,
And feel pity for her dust.
15 So the nations will fear the name of the Lord,
And all the kings of the earth, Your glory.
16 For the Lord has built up Zion;
He has appeared in His glory.
17 He has turned His attention to the prayer of the destitute
And has not despised their prayer.
18 This will be written for the generation to come,
That a people yet to be created may praise the Lord:
19 For He looked down from His holy height;
From heaven the Lord looked upon the earth,
20 To hear the groaning of the prisoner,
To set free those who were doomed to death,
21 So that people may tell of the name of the Lord in Zion,
And His praise in Jerusalem,
22 When the peoples are gathered together,
And the kingdoms, to serve the Lord.
23 He has broken my strength in the way;
He has shortened my days.
24 I say, “My God, do not take me away in the middle of my days,
Your years are throughout all generations.
25 In time of old You founded the earth,
And the heavens are the work of Your hands.
26 Even they will perish, but You endure;
All of them will wear out like a garment;
Like clothing You will change them and they will pass away.
27 But You are the same,
And Your years will not come to an end.
28 The children of Your servants will continue,
And their descendants will be established before You.”
TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:
And let my cry for help come to You.
2 Do not hide Your face from me on the day of my distress;
Incline Your ear to me;
On the day when I call answer me quickly.
3 For my days have ended in smoke,
And my bones have been scorched like a hearth.
4 My heart has been struck like grass and has withered,
Indeed, I forget to eat my bread.
5 Because of the loudness of my groaning
My bones cling to my flesh.
6 I resemble a pelican of the wilderness;
I have become like an owl of the ruins.
7 I lie awake,
I have become like a solitary bird on a housetop.
8 My enemies have taunted me all day long;
Those who deride me have used my name as a curse.
9 For I have eaten ashes like bread,
And mixed my drink with weeping
10 Because of Your indignation and Your wrath;
For You have lifted me up and thrown me away.
11 My days are like a lengthened shadow,
And I wither away like grass.
12 But You, Lord, remain forever,
And Your name remains to all generations.
13 You will arise and have compassion on Zion;
For it is time to be gracious to her,
For the appointed time has come.
14 Surely Your servants take pleasure in her stones,
And feel pity for her dust.
15 So the nations will fear the name of the Lord,
And all the kings of the earth, Your glory.
16 For the Lord has built up Zion;
He has appeared in His glory.
17 He has turned His attention to the prayer of the destitute
And has not despised their prayer.
18 This will be written for the generation to come,
That a people yet to be created may praise the Lord:
19 For He looked down from His holy height;
From heaven the Lord looked upon the earth,
20 To hear the groaning of the prisoner,
To set free those who were doomed to death,
21 So that people may tell of the name of the Lord in Zion,
And His praise in Jerusalem,
22 When the peoples are gathered together,
And the kingdoms, to serve the Lord.
23 He has broken my strength in the way;
He has shortened my days.
24 I say, “My God, do not take me away in the middle of my days,
Your years are throughout all generations.
25 In time of old You founded the earth,
And the heavens are the work of Your hands.
26 Even they will perish, but You endure;
All of them will wear out like a garment;
Like clothing You will change them and they will pass away.
27 But You are the same,
And Your years will not come to an end.
28 The children of Your servants will continue,
And their descendants will be established before You.”
TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:
Verses 18-20 depicts the plight and the hope of all people, for those back then, those living right now, and even those in the future. As it is written and explained in God's word for all to see and know, as soon as we are born, we are all prisoners - slaves to sin - doomed to death. Even the earth and space will pass away. But because only God will endure, it stands to reason that we must be reconciled to Him in order to endure with Him for eternity. And the only way this is possible is if He redeems us from our death sentence.
This is the reason why God came to earth in flesh, to pay the price for all sin. All we need to do is to believe in Jesus and His work on the cross. When we accept His free gift of salvation, we are set free from death and slavery to sin - we are born again - we become God's children - God's willing servants. We will be established with Him in His home which is not of this world.
This hope is a present certainty which we can embrace. And the security of God's grace and faithfulness should inspire us to be comforted, encouraged and strengthened! Seeing and knowing the glory of the Lord will create in us a desire to serve Him and one another!
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