Psalms 102

The church complaineth of her heavy affliction, and prayeth for deliverances, comforting herself with Gods ever abiding mercy, and in the everlasting endless or unlimited power of the Lord, and promising that she will praise and thank him for it. And by the deliverance from the Babylonian Captivity, and the restuaration of the Temple and City; there is likewise understood the deliverance by Christ, and the calling of the Heathen to his Communion.

1. A prayer of the oppressed, [Or, for the oppressed: understand here the oppressed and afflicted Captives in Babylon] being, (or when he is) overwhelmed [viz. With straight and fears; in this sence is the word overwhelmed likewise taken, Psalms 61:3. and 77.4. and 107.5. and 142.4. and 143.4.] and pouring out his complaint [making it known freely and abundantly, from the bottom of is heart] before the face of the LORD.

2. O LORD, hear my prayer; and let my crying come to thee.

3. Hide not thy face from me, [i.e. Withdraw not thy help from me. See the Annot. Job 13.on verse 24.] inline thine ear to me in the day of my distress: in the day, when I cry, hear me speedily. [Heb. Make haste, or hasten, hear me.]

4. For my days, [The days of my life] are consumed like smoak: [others, in, or into smoak,] and my bones are burnt up as an hearth; [others, as a fire-brand on the bearth. See Job. 21.on verse 24.]

5. Mine heart is smitten ad withered like grass, [Which being cut down, doth wither and turn hay] (so) that I have forgotten to eat my bread: [as if he said. I had no mind or pleasure to take my necessary refreshment, or to use any means of sustenance.]

6. My bones cleave to my flesh, [To my skin he will say; I am so wasted that I have nothing left me but skin and bones. See Job 19.on verse 20. Jerm.4.v.8.] because of the voice of my sighing. [i.e. by reason of my sighing which cometh daily from me with loud groans and crying.]

7. I am become like unto the Bittor, (or Bittern) of the wilderness, I am become as a stone-Owle of the Deserts: [i.e. I am fain to abide all alone and solitary, being forsaken by all men: I make a strange noise and sound, much like the Bittern, and screetch-Owle, Job 30:29.]

8. I watch, [I can take no rest nor sleep] and am become like a solitary sparrow on the roof: [i.e.like a silly Sparrow that hath lost its mate, or companion.]

9. Mine enemies reproach me all the day: [viz. The Babylonians or Chaldeans] these that rage against me, [See the Annot. Psalm 5.on verse 6.] swear by me. [i.e. when they swear to do some body a mischief, then they threaten they will serve him, to become like me: or, they use my Name for a form of cursing. Compare Num.5.21. Isai 65.15. Jerem.29.22. together with the annot. Others, they swear against me.]

10. For I eat ashes as bread: [He will say; since mourning, I lie in ashes. It happeneth often, that I eat ashes with my food: others, I am so cast down and troubled, that I find no more comfort nor relish in my bread, or other meat, then if I were eating of ashes] and mingled my drink, [Hebrew, my drinks: i.e. whatsoever I drink] with tears:

11. Because of thy perturbation, [Heb. From the face of thy perturbation] and thy great wrath: for thou hast lift me up, and thrown me down (again.)

12. My days [The days of my life] are as a declining shadow: [viz. At the going down of the Sun: then the shadow is indeed stretched out to a great length, but it is of no durance, the night presently intercepting it. Ps.109.13. and 144.4.] and I wither away as grass. [See above, verse 5.]

13. But thou LORD, abides in eternity, and thy remembrance [i.e. the remembrance of thy glorious acts, and benefits formerly archieved, and shewed unto thy people, See Exodus 3:15. and Psalms 135:13.] from generation.]

14. Thou shalt arise, thou wilt have mercy over Zion, [i.e. Over thy people, and over the City of Jerusalem] for the time to be gracious unto her, for the appointed time is come. [viz. The end of the LXX. Years of our Captivity, foretold by thy Prophets. See 2 Chron.36.21. Jer.25.12. and 29.10. Dan.9.2.24,25. However it appeareth plainly, by the last words of this verse, that this Psalm was made about the latter end of the Babylonian Captivity.]

15. For thy servants, [i.e. we Jews, Nehem.1.3. and 2.3. and 4.2.] take pleasure in her stones; [i.e. they longed and would be delighted to see, that the City of Jerusalem were built up again, and were much grieved, that it was made a heap of stones] and have compassion with her cumber. [or dust, or rubbish.]

16. Then shall the heathen, [viz. Those that shall see the wonderful deliverance of thy people, and the fulfilling or accomplishment of thy promises] fear the Name of the LORD: and all the Kings of the earth thy Glory:

17. When the Lord shall have built up Zion, shall have appeared in his Glory.

18. Shall have turned himself to the prayer of him that is wholly stripped. [Understand hereby the poor Jews, that were in the Babylonian Captivity] and not disdained their prayer.

19. That [viz. Our deliverance out of the Babylonian Captivity:] shall be described for the following generation; ad the people that is to be created, [i.e. the people that shall be born or come hereafter, many ages hence long after: nevertheless, it may likewise be understood of the people of Israel, which being delivered out of the Babylonian Captivity, were as raised up again out of the dust, and new created as it were. See Psalm 22.32. Ezek.ch.37.] shall praise the LORD.

20. For that he shall have looked downwards from the height of his holiness: [This is taken out of Deut.26.15.Other. of his holy height, i.e. from heaven] that the LORD shall have regarded upon earth, [i.e. upon us that dwell on earth] from heaven.

21. For to hear the sighting of the Captives: [viz. Of Babylon, or that were carried away Captives to Babylon. [Heb. Of the Captive or bounden] for to make loose the children death. [which were appointed to die; as Psalm 79.v.11. and 44.23.]

22. That the Name of the LORD be recounted in Zion, and his praise at Jerusalem.

23. When the Nations shall be gathered together, the Kingdoms also for to serve the LORD. [i.e. when God shall make but one people of Jews and Gentiles, and gather a Church unto himself out of all the Kingdoms of the earth. See Acts 2:5. Eph.2.13,14.]

24. He hath pressed down my strength [He viz. God] upon the way: [when I was carried away Captive to Babylon, where I have continued in captivity hitherto] he hath shorted my days. [viz. The days of my life; insomuch that many of us died and perished in grief and misery. See the like speeches, Job 21:22. and see likewise Psa.55.on v.24.]

25. I said, [viz. Then when the Lord afflicted me upon the way to Babylon, v.24. setting such thoughts as these in opposition, to the former temptation and fear of sudden death] My God; take me not away [Heb. Take me not up, viz. Out of this life. See the annot. Job 36.on v.20.] in the midst of my days: thy years are from generation to generation. [Heb. From generation of generation. The Prophet will say, LORD, since thou abides forever, therefore shall thy Church also continue thus, and none of all her enemies and persecutors shall ever be able to suppress her as he concludeth, v.29.]

26. Thou hast formerly [Heb. Before thy face, i.e. in this place, formerly in former times] founded the earth, and the heavens are the works of thine hands. [the Apostle Heb.1. verse 10,11,12. Maketh use of these words, to prove the Godhead of Christ, the same being declared here, not onely to be the creator of all things and eternal, but likewise the Redeemer ad Saviour of his Church. See v.14.16,23,29. For which cause the Apostle doth likewise in the place alledged, ascribed unto him the Name of the LORD, out of v.13. ab.]

27. They shall perish (or pass away) [Heaven and Earth namely, Hebr. 1.10,11.] but thou shalt abide standing: and they all [i.e. all the heavens] shall wax old like a garment, thou shalt change them as a raiment, and they shall be changed.

28. But thou art the same, [viz. That thou wast before from all Eternity, and thou abides the same likewise unto Eternity] and thy years shall not be ended.

29. The children of thy servants [i.e. our children and posterity] shall dwell, [i.e. have a permanent and abiding habitation with thee, which shall never be changed; or they shall dwell in Zion, v.22. and Psalm 69. V.36.37.] and their seed shall be established before thy face.