Prayer Of Trouble And Sorrow

It is very rewarding when you read through the Book of Psalms. There are so many gems in the verses. and this is true with Psalm 102. Encased in these verses is the truth that in the time of national disaster and distress, faith drives the soul to communion with God. And in the time we are living, there is nothing any better than to be held in the strong arms of our Heavenly Father.

Psalm 102 is a messianic psalm that pictures the Lord Jesus in Gethsemane. The writer of this psalm is not mentioned, but if I were guessing, it would be David. This psalm pictures the affliction and humiliation of our Lord in the Garden of Gethsemane.

What a glorious and wonderful psalm this is! We see the deepest woe and agony that man can have: “Mine enemies reproach me all the day; and they that are mad against me are sworn against me” [Ps. 102:8].

As I was reading this verse, I was thinking of what was happening yesterday when Iran's President Ahmadinejad's addressed the United Nations. In his speech, Ahmadinejad accused the United States of committing "acts of terror" and once again targeted Israel -- the very country he has threatened to "wipe off the map" -- as the obstacle to peace.

Because of thine indignation and thy wrath: for thou hast lifted me up, and cast me down [Ps. 102:10]. The words indignation and wrath are the strongest terms you can use in the Hebrew language. The Lord endured this. Why? He did it ". . . for the joy that was set before him . . .'' (Heb. 12:2).

But thou, O LORD, shalt endure for ever; and thy remembrance unto all generations. Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come [Ps. 102:12-13].

He will have mercy upon Zion! And so it was ". . . for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame . . .'' (Heb. 12:2). He died, you see, for the nation Israel. John 11:50-51 mentions that it was necessary for one to die for the nation. And Christ did die for that nation. And He is going to build Zion again when He appears in His glory -- which will be at His second coming. When the LORD shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory [Ps. 02:16].

Our Lord knew that through His sacrificial death Zion would ultimately be redeemed. Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands. 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. But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end [Ps. 102:25-27].

The Holy Spirit quotes this passage in Hebrews 1:10-12, and we would not have known that Psalm 102 was a messianic psalm if it hadn't pleased the Author of the Bible, the Spirit of God, to reveal the meaning of this section in the first chapter of Hebrews. Psalm 102 applies to the Lord Jesus Christ. It is His prayer of trouble and sorrow. This is the King in Gethsemane.

We are living in difficult days. If we are not careful, our vision will be lead away by the circumstances around us. May we keep focused on Him who is able to make a way through the desert, and into the very presence of God.

Even with the clouds outside right now, this would be "a good day to fly."