Wisdom Books Psalms

Praise The King

Discover Jesus as: King of Glory Psalms 100-102 Read on Bible Gateway (HCSB)

Day 442 of 730
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Teaching Notes

INTRO

Psalm 102 has been described as a psalm of lament, but the end of the psalm has also been described as a Messianic psalm. Our phrase for Psalms is King of Glory, so the end of this study will help point us to the coming Messiah—our King of Glory. Wiersbe suggests Psalm 102 could have been written after the destruction of Jerusalem.1 The description attached to the psalm is one we have not heard before: “A prayer of an afflicted person who is weak and pours out his lament before the Lord.” We do not know the name of the author, but he described himself in this opening description. Verses 8, 14, and 16 seem to outline those areas of affliction. After 70 years of destruction and affliction, the prayer asked God to bring them back into His fold and His presence (Jeremiah 25:11–12; 29:10).

TEACHING

Psalm 102:1-5: The psalmist begged God to listen to him, not hide from Him, to listen to him carefully, and to answer him quickly (vv. 1–2). In verse 3, his days vanished like smoke—they seem to be fleeting away (Psalm 31:10; 144:4). In verse 4, the psalmist described the emotional and physical toll he was experiencing—his bones burned, his heart was afflicted, he withered like grass, and he ate little (Psalm 90:4–6; Lamentations 4:8). Even his flesh is barely surviving (v. 5). His entire body was becoming sick from all he was facing—he was physically grieving all the loss.

Psalm 102:6–11: The psalmist next describes himself as a desert owl, and then as a solitary bird left to watch over the area (vv. 6–7). His enemies taunted and made fun of him all day long (v. 8). He had nothing to eat but ashes and drank his own tears with his water because he had been put aside from the presence of God (v. 9–10). This is another picture of possibly crying over the destruction of Jerusalem (Psalm 51:11). The word “shadow” usually referred to the idea that life would end shortly. The psalmist withered like the dying grass and recognized his time on earth would not be long (v. 11).

Psalm 102:12–14: Beginning in verse 12, the psalmist moves from listing his complaints to focusing on God. This is one of the best transitions you’ll see in the psalms of moving out of the depths of problems by looking to the Lord. God wants to walk with us. He is “enthroned forever” as our Lord and God. MacArthur describes this movement as “from earth to heaven— from his dilemma to God.”2 The psalmist knew that one day, God would rise up and show favor to Jerusalem because “the appointed time has come” (vv. 13–14). I believe we are walking into that appointed time for Jerusalem now, and I believe God can be moving in your life right now as well! We have to embrace that moment God gives us.

Psalm 102:15–22: These verses are the Messianic portion of this psalm. Wiersbe explains, “The throne of David was gone and would not be claimed until the Son of David came to earth, but the throne of God in heaven was secure.”3 When the King of Glory returns, He will rule over all the nations (v. 15). This is a beautiful picture of what is to come. This psalmist knew the Messianic word and understood God is bigger than anything he or his nation had experienced. Jesus is the Word in flesh and we can find hope in Him and His Word. The restoration of Zion is coming in “a later generation” (v. 18). Alexander Maclaren said, “’Zion cannot die while Zion’s God lives.’”4 Jerusalem cannot disappear because God lives forever.

God will look down from heaven to hear the groaning and to set free those who have been condemned to die (vv. 19–20). All those whom God saves will praise the name of God and serve Him (vv. 21–22; Isaiah 2:1–4).

Psalm 102:23–28: The psalmist stated he wanted to live long enough to see God’s redemption of Jerusalem. He emphasized that God will reign forever and his own offspring would be established before God. Verse 27 describes the coming Messiah, “But You are the same, and Your years will never end” (Hebrews 1:10–12). God is the Alpha and the Omega. The psalm confirms the eternality and the deity of Christ.

CLOSING

So how do we fight the good fight when things seem overwhelming? Consider these statements and scripture verses we can embrace:

  1. Fight the good fight for the faith. (1 Timothy 6:12)
  2. Our breakthrough in Christ has already been fulfilled. (Romans 6:10–11; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 1:3—2:14)
  3. Jesus’ wholeness and oneness with God has been fulfilled, so there will never be any distance or separation between them and us. (Romans 5:1–2; Ephesians 2:13–18)
  4. God’s grace works within us for our benefit as we grow in Him. (Romans 8:28, 32; Philippians 2:13)
  5. We are satisfied in Christ. (Philippians 1:6; Hebrews 12:2)

Because of Christ in your life, you can fight the good fight. It's a lot simpler teaching this than living this, but when you hold onto Christ in your life, anything is possible

  1. Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary: Old Testament (Colorado Springs: David C. Cook, 2004), p. 274.

  2. John MacArthur, John MacArthur Bible Commentary (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2005), p. 665.

  3. Wiersbe, p. 275.

  4. Alexander Maclaren; quoted in Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary: Old Testament (Colorado Springs: David C. Cook, 2004), p. 276.

Questions

  1. In Psalm 100, how are we admonished to serve the Lord? What is the evidence that we as believers are filled with the Spirit of God (Ephesians 5:18–21)? What are some other things that will fill us with joy in the Lord? (Colossians 3:16–25)
  2. What does it say we should do in Psalm 100:3 (1 Kings 18:39)? The HCSB says to acknowledge He is God. Are there times when you have trouble doing this? How can you overcome your fear of acknowledging the Lord to others? (Deuteronomy 31:6)
  3. What does it mean to live with a heart of integrity (Psalm 101:2; 1 John 1:6–7)? Do you walk with integrity or can this be a struggle for you?
  4. How did the psalmist keep his perspective despite being overwhelmed with his afflictions? What happens to our problems in light of having this perspective of the Lord? What do they say about the deity of Christ?
  5. The writer of Hebrews applied Psalm 102:25–27 to Jesus in Hebrews 1:10–12. How is Jesus superior to the angels according to these verses?
  6. What did the Holy Spirit highlight to you in Psalms 100—102 through the reading or the teaching?

Next: the Daily Word →

Daily Word

Laura Martin Psalm 101:6–7

“My eyes favor the faithful of the land so that they may sit down with me. The one who follows the way of integrity may serve me. No one who acts deceitfully will live will remain in my presence.”

Integrity is a big deal to the Lord. It includes being honest—allowing your actions to match your words and your heart.

It means no hidden secrets but instead being real, authentic, and pure. The Lord says, “Let your word ‘yes’ be ‘yes,’ and your ‘no’ be ‘no.’” The enemy gains ground when you live your life deceitfully. The enemy lures you into building upon your lies, making you believe it’d be easier to keep being dishonest. But in truth, you are quenching the Holy Spirit as you continue to sin.

The Holy Spirit came to give you a clean heart, to remove your heart of stone, and to replace it with a heart of flesh. Therefore, if you are stuck in a lie or a place of deceitfulness, surrender your heart to the Lord. Jesus told His disciples, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” Today, walk away from the lies through the power of the Holy Spirit. Be honest with the Lord, with yourself, and with others. Honesty brings freedom, allowing you to serve the Lord more fully.

“My eyes favor the faithful of the land so that they may sit down with me. The one who follows the way of integrity may serve me. No one who acts deceitfully will live will remain in my presence.”

— Psalm 101:6–7

FURTHER SCRIPTURE

  • Proverbs 6:16–19 — “The Lord hates six things; in fact, seven are detestable to Him: arrogant eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that plots wicked schemes, feet eager to run to evil, a lying witness who gives false testimony, and one who stirs up trouble among brothers.”
  • Ezekiel 36:26–27 — “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. I will place My Spirit within you and cause you to follow My statutes and carefully observe My ordinances.”
  • Matthew 5:37 — “But let your word ‘yes’ be ‘yes,’ and your ‘no’ be ‘no.’ Anything more than this is from the evil one.”