Psalms 102
Big idea: One of the seven penitential psalms, and its opening images are all of solitude in the wrong company: a pelican of the wilderness, an owl of the waste places, a sparrow alone on a housetop. Then verse 12 turns on two words — but you — and the psalm stops being about a body and becomes about a city, and then about time itself. Its ending is the most vertiginous comparison in the Psalter: they will perish, but you will endure; you will change them like a cloak. Hebrews 1 quotes it of the Son.
Psalm 102 ends with a God who does not wear out. Psalm 103 lists what that God has actually done.
102:1–11 — Like a sparrow alone on the housetop
One of the seven penitential psalms, and its title is the only one in the Psalter that describes a condition rather than an occasion: a prayer of the AFFLICTED, when he is overwhelmed. The images are all of solitary birds in ruined places — a pelican in the wilderness, an owl among rubble, a sparrow alone on a roof. And verse 10 credits the whole thing to God: you took me up and threw me away.
1 A Prayer of the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed and pours out his complaint before Yahweh. Hear my prayer, Yahweh! Let my cry come to you. 2 Don’t hide your face from me in the day of my distress. Turn your ear to me. Answer me quickly in the day when I call. 3 For my days consume away like smoke. My bones are burned as a torch. 4 My heart is blighted like grass, and withered, for I forget to eat my bread. 5 By reason of the voice of my groaning, my bones stick to my skin. 6 I am like a pelican of the wilderness. I have become as an owl of the waste places. 7 I watch, and have become like a sparrow that is alone on the housetop. 8 My enemies reproach me all day. Those who are mad at me use my name as a curse. 9 For I have eaten ashes like bread, and mixed my drink with tears, 10 because of your indignation and your wrath; for you have taken me up and thrown me away. 11 My days are like a long shadow. I have withered like grass.
102:12–22 — The set time has come
'But you' — and the psalm turns from a dying body to a city, without pretending the body has improved. What lifts it is a single conviction: the SET TIME has come. Time is described as scheduled rather than open-ended, and the evidence given for the turn is touchingly small — God's servants love Zion's stones and pity its dust. The affection is for rubble.
12 But you, Yahweh, will remain forever; your renown endures to all generations. 13 You will arise and have mercy on Zion, for it is time to have pity on her. Yes, the set time has come. 14 For your servants take pleasure in her stones, and have pity on her dust. 15 So the nations will fear Yahweh’s name, all the kings of the earth your glory. 16 For Yahweh has built up Zion. He has appeared in his glory. 17 He has responded to the prayer of the destitute, and has not despised their prayer. 18 This will be written for the generation to come. A people which will be created will praise Yah, 19 for he has looked down from the height of his sanctuary. From heaven, Yahweh saw the earth, 20 to hear the groans of the prisoner, to free those who are condemned to death, 21 that men may declare Yahweh’s name in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem, 22 when the peoples are gathered together, the kingdoms, to serve Yahweh.
102:23–28 — You will change them like a cloak
The psalm returns to the dying man and makes the contrast its final argument: my days are shortened, YOUR years have no end. Then the image of the universe as clothing — the heavens wearing out and being changed like a cloak — which Hebrews 1 quotes and applies to the Son. And the last verse gives the sufferer the only continuity available to him: children.
23 He weakened my strength along the course. He shortened my days. 24 I said, “My God, don’t take me away in the middle of my days. Your years are throughout all generations. 25 Of old, you laid the foundation of the earth. The heavens are the work of your hands. 26 They will perish, but you will endure. Yes, all of them will wear out like a garment. You will change them like a cloak, and they will be changed. 27 But you are the same. Your years will have no end. 28 The children of your servants will continue. Their offspring will be established before you.”
Scripture text: World English Bible (public domain).