Breathingbook

This study is a continuation from Psa 102: A Prayer of the Afflicted Part 1.

The last thing we touched on was how the man under affliction believed he was in the last sunset of his life and would soon die. That’s all about to change, because now we come to Psa 102:12 which is where the Lord begins overwhelming the man to speak through him.

You might say, wait a minute, Heb 1:10-12 only quotes Psa 102:25-27, not Psa 102:12-22? Yet, there are similarities between Psa 102:12-22 and Psa 102:25-27which show the two go together. Outside these verses, the others take on the fleshly humanistic traits of fear and complaining, but within these verses alone, there is praise of God, revelation of His purpose, what He will do, and an overall change in tone to the writing.

It’s as if someone else has written them.

Heb 1:10-12 tells us that someone is God.

So, the man in affliction, having poured out all his complaint to God, finally receives an answer. God moves and speaks through him, and gives the man the lasting legacy of God’s Word.

God does this first in Psa 102:12-22 and then in (Heb 1:10-12 quoted) Psa 102:25-27.

Psa 102:12-13 But Thou, O LORD, shalt endure for ever; and Thy remembrance unto all generations. 13 Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come.

Thou, O LORD, shalt endure for ever; and Thy remembrance unto all generations The Hebrew word “LORD” here is “Jehovah.”

In Heb 1:8 Jesus is God I covered how Heb 1:8,9 showed the Father was addressing the Son. In Heb 1:10-12 Jesus’ Nature Eternal I showed how that address literally carried over into Heb 1:10-12. And, because both of those studies (and others previous) have firmly established Jesus Christ as LORD (Jehovah), we also know this OT verse is speaking of Jesus Christ’s eternal life and remembrance throughout all generations.

Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion Whenever we’re trying to understand what “Zion” represents, first we need to understand it’s a pretty big topic and there are many scriptures about “Zion” to consider. To help, I wrote What is Zion?, to lay out the verses showing how Zion came to represent the Tabernacle of David, and then, the Tabernacle within believers. I also felt it was important to show how Solomon moved the Tabernacle from Mount Zion to Mount Moriah when He built his version of the temple.

In 2 Sam 7:11a-16 God told David He would make David’s seed His own Son. He also told him his heir would have an eternal kingdom and He would build a House for His Name. The Son that God was speaking about was Jesus Christ, but Solomon believed the prophecy was about himself, so he built his temple on Mount Moriah and moved the Ark of God there. The thing is, the prophecy said God would build a house for Himself, through the seed of David, who would be God’s own Son. This Son would also have a kingdom that lasted throughout eternity. None of these things apply to Solomon. Although Solomon is known for his great wisdom, his father David was obviously much wiser, because He followed after the Lord God faithfully all the days of his life. There are many things which blatantly indicate the corruption which came into Solomon’s life, but the most pertinent is that he did not follow God in faithfulness throughout all the days of his life. He publicly worshipped false gods and for that reason alone, if one claiming to be Solomon rose from the dead, he would be disqualified.

So, we see and know that it was not up to Solomon to build God’s house, but for Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, who rose again from the dead to everlasting life (Acts 2:29-36).

So, we have the Tabernacle of David which, up until David’s death, sat upon Mount Zion, and we have God’s promise that He would build a house for His Name through His Son.

2 Sam 7:13,14 He shall build an house for My Name, and I will stablish the throne of His kingdom for ever. 14 I will be His Father, and He shall be My Son. If He commit iniquity, I will chasten Him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men.

The Lord Jesus Christ, whom all believers follow through faith in His Name, now lives on eternally sitting at the right hand of the Father in heaven. Jesus told us the kingdom of God is not here or there, but is within believers (Lk 17:21). This is done through the abiding of the Holy Spirit who is given to every believer as a seal of God’s promise (Eph 1:13-14). So God – the Lord Jesus – comes in the form of the Holy Spirit into our hearts at “conception” or “new birth.” This IS the process of being “born again” from above (Jn 3:5-8.)

You might wonder how the kingdom of heaven can be both “above” and “within” believers? From the time John the Baptist began to preach about the coming of Jesus Christ, he cried, “The kingdom of heaven is at hand!” (Mat 3:1-2). What that basically means is that wherever Jesus IS, “heaven” is there also. So Jesus is “abiding” within believers while He is at the same time also “above,” and as long as He is “abiding” in us, we are also “abiding” in Him above (Jn 14:19-20), for He keeps us with Him wherever He is at (Jn 17:24).

Jn 14:19-20 Yet a little while, and the world seeth Me no more; but ye see Me: because I live, ye shall live also. 20 At that day ye shall know that I am in My Father, and ye in Me, and I in you.

So the building of the Lord continues to go forth. How does this building work? Well, Jesus told us He was going away to receive for Himself a Kingdom (Lk 19:11-27). What that meant was the preparation process was going to take some time, because even though we have the abiding Holy Spirit at “conception,” maturing in the Lord is still a process.

As newly born again, we come to the Lord with a minimum of knowledge of Him. At that point we begin our task of knowing the Lord, more and more, day by day. It is as when a young child grows into adulthood and yet it may be many years before (or if ever) they actually become “mature” adults.

In other words, as believers grow more mature, the entire body of Christ grows collectively more mature with them.

Amos 9:11 In that Day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old.

Now, when any house is built by a Master builder, first the foundation is laid, then the beams, walls, roof, and final adornments are put into place. Those who stand by watching, both watch and pray. Taking turns they ask, “Is it ready? Are you finished?”

At this, the Master builder simply turns, smiles, and says, “No, not quite yet.”

All this waiting, watching, and praying continues to go on for what seems a long time for the watchers, but not the Master builder, for He’s just finishing His work in perfect perfection, making everything prepared, so that it’s all just “right.” This continues up unto the day when the Master builder finally turns and with a wink and a smile, says, “Get ready. Everything’s prepared. It’s time.”

It’s going to be like that when they Lord arises and has “mercy upon Zion,” because that means the Lord has prepared His people like a finely fermented wine brought out for one final marriage banquet.

for the time to favour her… has come The psalmist says the time of the Lord’s favor has come.

Psa 102:14-15 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.

For Thy servants take pleasure in her stones and favour the dust 1 Pet 2:5-8 tells us “believers” are the lively “stones” and Isa 54:11-12; Rev 21:10-21 tell us they adorn the walls of the City of the Living God (which is Zion/New Jerusalem).

The word “For,” here, indicates that believers are actively taking pleasure in Zion’s “stones” and favoring her “dust,” is a part of this day arriving.

Heb 11:1-2 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good report.

Dust is a metaphor used in Mk 6:11 where the Apostles were told to shake the very dust off their feet of those cities which would not receive them or their words. Here, the metaphor means the servants of the LORD favor the dust of the City of Zion/New Jerusalem so much they would never shake it off.

So the heathen shall fear the name of the LORD…the kings of the earth Thy glory When the prophecies/promises of Zion begin to manifest, the heathen – those that do not know God and the rulers of the earth – will fear the name of the LORD Jesus Christ and His glory.

Psa 102:16-18 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.

When the LORD shall build up Zion, He shall appear in His glory Any time the Lord reveals or manifests another part of Himself, He reveals another part of His glory. For example, Isa 4:5-6 is one of the prophetic scriptures speaking of what God will do with Zion.

Isa 4:5-6 And the LORD will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for upon all the glory shall be a defense. 6 And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the daytime from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain.

He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer The Heb word for “regard” is “panah,” and speaks of turning to face something with attention. The Heb word for “destitute” is “‘ar’ar” and refers to those who feel exposed and need God’s covering. The Heb word for “despise” is “bazah” and gives the idea of disesteeming, having disdain or scorning something as being unworthy.

This means something wonderful happens that removes hindrances to our prayers. One might surmize that when the Devil is cast down from heaven and not able to accuse the brethren to the Father anymore, that it would impact the prayers of the saints considerably (Rev 12:9-10).

This shall be written for the generation to come… the people which shall be created shall praise the LORD This seems to sound self-explanatory: Psalm 102 has been written for the generation in which the Lord begins to “arise and have mercy upon Zion.”

Psa 102:19-22 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.

He hath looked down … from heaven… To hear… the prisoner; to loose those… appointed to death… To declare the name of the LORD in Zion… His praise in Jerusalem This points to God doing wonderful things, unimaginable. By all indications, this time of celebration will not be without it’s trying “wilderness” times of great inspection.

When the people are gathered together, and the kingdoms, to serve the LORD People being gathered together to the Lord is what it has ALWAYS been all about.

During this time the LORD will be showing forth His glory and many other things (coupled with certain persecutions) will take place to ensure that those choosen elect of the Lord – yet who have tarried behind – will come to Him and receive the Lord Jesus as their Savior.

Psa 102:23-24 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.

He weakened my strength in the way; He shortened my days This is as if the psalmist is experiencing a hiccup back to his former fears expressed at the beginning of the psalm (Psa 102:1-11). As he looks back at the things that have happened to him, he says (paraphrased), “He weakened my strength.”

“He shortened my days” means the psalmist believes this ordeal has taken away days from the longevity of his life.

O my God, take me not away in the midst of my days This is a plea to the Lord that He not destroy the psalmist completely. He pleads with God not to kill him.

Thy years are throughout all generations Here, the psalmist’s writing style changes back to Holy Spirit filled, influenced, influenced, overwhelming.

“Thy years are throughout all generations” speaks of God’s eternal life and presence throughout the multiple generations of peoples who have lived upon the earth.

Psa 102:25-26 Of old hast Thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of Thy hands. 26 They shall perish, but Thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt Thou change them, and they shall be changed

Thou laid the foundation of the earth… the heavens are the work of Thy hands This is where Heb 1:10-12begins quoting Psa 102:25-27. This section has been thoroughly covered in Heb 1:10-12 Jesus’ Nature Eternal, but to briefly reiterate: Jesus is God and Creator of all things.

• He is the Word of God (Jn 1:1-3) who’s been with the Father forever.
• God created everything by Jesus (Eph 3:9).
• There is nothing that is made that is not made by Him (Jn 1:1-3).
• He’s the image of the invisible God (the Father) (Col 1:15-19).
• Everything created in heaven and earth are by Jesus (Col 1:15-19).
• By Jesus everything continues to exist (are upheld by the word of His power (Heb 1:3).

They shall perish, but Thou shalt endure This word “perish” is “‘abad” and speaks of one “wandering away.” This should be understood as saying that the foundations of the earth and the heavens will all one day be changed into a new heaven and new earth (Rev 21:1), but Jesus Christ will never change (Heb 13:8).

shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt Thou change them, and they shall be changed The Heavens and the earth will wear out similar to the way a garment is able to be worn many times until that garment is changed for another. The bible says in Rev 20:11; 21:1 that the earth and heaven simply pass away or vanish at the time of the great judgment (Rev 20:12-15). This does not mean they will be annihilated, but transformed (Rev 21:1).

In fact, the bible says the earth abides forever (Eccl 1:4; Psa 104:5).

Psa 102:27-28 But Thou art the same, and Thy years shall have no end. 28 The children of thy servants shall continue, and their seed shall be established before Thee.

Thou art the same… Thy years shall have no end Again, this speaks of the eternal nature of Jesus.

The children of thy servants shall continue… their seed shall be established before Thee This speaks of how the children of God’s servants will continue serving Him and until that final day when the Lord returns: their children’s children will continue to serve the Lord and be established before Him.

You might wonder why God would create such a Psalm, where a man reveals the starkness of his own humanity, cries out about his pain, is overwhelmed by the Spirit of God, hiccups back to his fleshly humanity, and then back to the whelming of the Holy Spirit of God again? Because it allows a great truth to be revealed in that it teaches us to trust in God alone and not in the humans through whom God chooses to speak. That is why Jesus said, Follow Me (Mat 4:19). We need to know Him for ourselves.

Peace out!

Loris Anne James