Sunday, July 7 – Psalm 102, 103
Commentary and Reflection:
The superscription of Psalm 102 reads, “A prayer of an afflicted person who has grown weak and pours out a lament before the Lord.” Psalm 102 is one of seven* heartbroken penitent passages that reveal the depth of one deeply sad, repentant, and contrite. The writer takes us on a journey back and forth between two realms: confidence in God’s eternal plan and God’s relationship in the affairs of man. The writer’s struggle is real. It is internal as well as physical. He recognizes the depth of his need and, at the same time, the brokenness of the community he lives in.
Yet, perhaps despite these painful revelations, he looks to the Lord with hope proclaiming, “But you, Lord, sit enthroned forever; your renown endures through all generations. You will arise and have compassion on Zion, for it is time to show favor to her; the appointed time has come” (102:12-13).
The Psalmist now looks to a future when a far-off generation will need such a special blessing from the Lord. It could be a time of intense distress, perhaps the time of the end. “Let this be written for a future generation, that a people not yet created may praise the Lord.” “The Lord looked down from his sanctuary on high, from heaven he viewed the earth, to hear the groans of the prisoners and release those condemned to death” (vs. 18-20).
In these last days, we are warmly reminded of Hebrews 4:14-16, “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are —yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”
Psalm 103 is the “go to” reading of pastors and chaplains when ministering and shepherding. This Psalm is full of praise and full of hope. It is positioned well after Psalm 102, for it speaks of healing, forgiveness, joy, and the desires of the heart. What an amazing promise, drink in the words for they describe the Lord “who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”
Our hearts swell as we read each line. As we absorb the words and their beauty, our understanding of God’s nature increases with hope. God’s love and grace remove shadows. His mercy and healing dissipate our spiritual fog. The more we look to Him, the more we become changed, becoming like Him.
“Praise the Lord, you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey his word. Praise the Lord, all his heavenly hosts, you his servants who do his will. Praise the Lord, all his works everywhere in his dominion. Praise the Lord, my soul.” (103:20-22)
Thoughtful reflections:
- Regardless of your circumstances and struggles, do you seek the Lord for mercy and strength?
- Are you willing to bring your brokenness to the Lord?
- Are you experiencing the healing nature written about in Psalm 103? If not, what prevents you from this hope?
- Are you discovering the joy of the Lord in your regular devotions?
* Psalm 6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 143