The Lord's eternal love for the discouraged
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* Introduction (verses 1, 2),* Complaint (3-11), * Consolation (12-22), * Conclusion (23-28). |
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| 1 ¶ <<A Prayer
of the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed, and poureth out his complaint
before the LORD.>> Hear my prayer, O LORD, and let my cry come unto thee.
.2 Hide not thy face from me in the day when I am in trouble; incline thine ear unto me: in the day when I call answer me speedily. |
The superscription is
an initial identifying note which we see between marks, << >>). These
are very ancient and appear as having been added when the psalter (book
of psalms) was established if not before. The one here describes the psalm
very well.
1 - Hear As ps01806, ps03912. 2 - Speedily A note of despiration. See ps06917. |
| .3
For my days are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burned as an hearth.
4 My heart is smitten, and withered like grass; so that I forget to eat my bread. 5 By reason of the voice of my groaning my bones cleave to my skin. 6 I am like a pelican of the wilderness: I am like an owl of the desert. 7 I watch, and am as a sparrow alone upon the house top. |
4 -
Forget
to eat As Job. jb3320,
ps10718.
5 - Bones cleave Or "bones cling" As in jb1920, la0408. 6 - Pelican The species is not known although the pelican pictures lonliness. The word is often translated "cormorant." 7 - Watch ... alone Am awake as a bird... The Hebrew word is for any winged animal. See it in ge0714, de0417. |
| 8 Mine enemies reproach
me all the day; and they that are mad against me are sworn against me.
9 For I have eaten ashes like bread, and mingled my drink with weeping, 10 Because of thine indignation and thy wrath: for thou hast lifted me up, and cast me down. .11 My days are like a shadow that declineth; and I am withered like grass. |
9 -
Eaten
ashes Seems to be a figure of speech. See jos0706,
jb0207,
la0316.
11 - Shadow Apparently the lengthening shadows represent the ending of life as the ending of a day. |
| .12
¶ 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. 14 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. 16 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. |
12 - Thou ... for ever The term does not always mean "without end" as it does here. See is6309, for example. Also v27 supports the endlessness idea although the word owlam which is "for ever" here does not appear there. |
| 18 This shall be written
for the generation to come: and the people which shall be created shall
praise the LORD.
.19 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. |
18
- Written Apparently the only such statement in the psalms.
19 - Down ... from heaven See de2615, ps01402. |
| .23
¶ 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. .25 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: .27 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. |
25
- Of old ... laid the foundations See ge0101.
See how this text is used beginning in he0110.
26 - Garment "The visible creation, which is like the garment of the invisible God, is waxing old and wearing out, and our great King is not so poor that he must always wear the same robes; he will ere long fold up the worlds and put them aside as worn out vestures, and he will array himself in new attire, making a new heaven and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness. How readily will all this be done. 'Thou shalt change them and they shall be changed;' as in the creation so in the restoration, omnipotence shall work its way without hindrance." (Treasury of David). |
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