Description
This psalm represents a desperate prayer of God's people at a time of great suffering, and anticipates God's deliverance of Israel, the establishment of his kingdom, and the new heaven and new earth.
Commentary
This psalm represents a prophetic and desperate prayer of God's people at a time of great suffering, when they are imprisoned and condemned to death (v20). This time could be that of the Jewish Holocaust during World War II, but it may also be that of the Great Tribulation, after the Antichrist invades Israel. The psalm looks forward to God's end-time deliverance of Israel.
Verse 13 says, "You will rise up and have compassion on Zion. For it is time to have mercy on her, for the appointed time has come". The time the psalmist speaks of is ultimately that of the second coming, when Jesus will deliver Israel from the Antichrist and his end-time empire.
Verse 14 says, "Indeed, your servants take delight in her stones, and feel compassion for the dust of her ruins". In recent years, volunteers in Jerusalem have been fulfilling this verse through The Temple Mount Sifting Project. This is one of many signs that the appointed time spoken of in verse 13 has almost come.
Verse 16 speaks of the time, "when the Lord rebuilds Zion, and reveals his splendour". It is as Jesus that Jehovah appears in his splendour.
Verse 17 expresses confidence that God will respond to the desperate prayers of Israel at that time.
Verse 18 indicates this prophecy is for a future generation, not yet born in the psalmist's time. Verse 15 looks forward to the millennial reign of Jesus, "The nations will respect the reputation of the Lord, and all the kings of the earth will respect his splendor".
Verse 26 looks forward to God creating a new heaven and a new earth, when the present earth and heavens will be discarded and changed like clothing. The New Heaven and New Earth are revealed in more detail in Revelation 21 to 22.
Verse 13 says, "You will rise up and have compassion on Zion. For it is time to have mercy on her, for the appointed time has come". The time the psalmist speaks of is ultimately that of the second coming, when Jesus will deliver Israel from the Antichrist and his end-time empire.
Verse 14 says, "Indeed, your servants take delight in her stones, and feel compassion for the dust of her ruins". In recent years, volunteers in Jerusalem have been fulfilling this verse through The Temple Mount Sifting Project. This is one of many signs that the appointed time spoken of in verse 13 has almost come.
Verse 16 speaks of the time, "when the Lord rebuilds Zion, and reveals his splendour". It is as Jesus that Jehovah appears in his splendour.
Verse 17 expresses confidence that God will respond to the desperate prayers of Israel at that time.
Verse 18 indicates this prophecy is for a future generation, not yet born in the psalmist's time. Verse 15 looks forward to the millennial reign of Jesus, "The nations will respect the reputation of the Lord, and all the kings of the earth will respect his splendor".
Verse 26 looks forward to God creating a new heaven and a new earth, when the present earth and heavens will be discarded and changed like clothing. The New Heaven and New Earth are revealed in more detail in Revelation 21 to 22.
Tags
Places: Zion, Jerusalem, Israel
Symbols:
Tags: End-time signs, Great Tribulation, Deliverance of Israel, Jesus appears in glory, Millennial reign of Jesus, Millennium, Earth and heavens destroyed, New heaven and new earth, Prayer for deliverance, Holocaust, Heaven and earth wear out like garments
Symbols:
Tags: End-time signs, Great Tribulation, Deliverance of Israel, Jesus appears in glory, Millennial reign of Jesus, Millennium, Earth and heavens destroyed, New heaven and new earth, Prayer for deliverance, Holocaust, Heaven and earth wear out like garments
1 The prayer of an oppressed man, as he grows faint and pours out his lament before the Lord. O Lord, hear my prayer! Pay attention to my cry for help!
2 Do not ignore me in my time of trouble! Listen to me! When I call out to you, quickly answer me!
3 For my days go up in smoke, and my bones are charred like a fireplace.
4 My heart is parched and withered like grass, for I am unable to eat food.
5 Because of the anxiety that makes me groan, my bones protrude from my skin.
6 I am like an owl in the wilderness; I am like a screech owl among the ruins.
7 I stay awake; I am like a solitary bird on a roof.
8 All day long my enemies taunt me; those who mock me use my name in their curses.
9 For I eat ashes as if they were bread, and mix my drink with my tears,
10 because of your anger and raging fury. Indeed, you pick me up and throw me away.
11 My days are coming to an end, and I am withered like grass.
12 But you, O Lord, rule forever, and your reputation endures.
13 You will rise up and have compassion on Zion. For it is time to have mercy on her, for the appointed time has come.
14 Indeed, your servants take delight in her stones, and feel compassion for the dust of her ruins.
15 The nations will respect the reputation of the Lord, and all the kings of the earth will respect his splendor,
16 when the Lord rebuilds Zion, and reveals his splendor,
17 when he responds to the prayer of the destitute, and does not reject their request.
18 The account of his intervention will be recorded for future generations; people yet to be born will praise the Lord.
19 For he will look down from his sanctuary above; from heaven the Lord will look toward earth,
20 in order to hear the painful cries of the prisoners, and to set free those condemned to die,
21 so they may proclaim the name of the Lord in Zion, and praise him in Jerusalem,
22 when the nations gather together, and the kingdoms pay tribute to the Lord.
23 He has taken away my strength in the middle of life; he has cut short my days.
24 I say, “O my God, please do not take me away in the middle of my life! You endure through all generations.
25 In earlier times you established the earth; the skies are your handiwork.
26 They will perish, but you will endure. They will wear out like a garment; like clothes you will remove them and they will disappear.
27 But you remain; your years do not come to an end.
28 The children of your servants will settle down here, and their descendants will live securely in your presence.”
2 Do not ignore me in my time of trouble! Listen to me! When I call out to you, quickly answer me!
3 For my days go up in smoke, and my bones are charred like a fireplace.
4 My heart is parched and withered like grass, for I am unable to eat food.
5 Because of the anxiety that makes me groan, my bones protrude from my skin.
6 I am like an owl in the wilderness; I am like a screech owl among the ruins.
7 I stay awake; I am like a solitary bird on a roof.
8 All day long my enemies taunt me; those who mock me use my name in their curses.
9 For I eat ashes as if they were bread, and mix my drink with my tears,
10 because of your anger and raging fury. Indeed, you pick me up and throw me away.
11 My days are coming to an end, and I am withered like grass.
12 But you, O Lord, rule forever, and your reputation endures.
13 You will rise up and have compassion on Zion. For it is time to have mercy on her, for the appointed time has come.
14 Indeed, your servants take delight in her stones, and feel compassion for the dust of her ruins.
15 The nations will respect the reputation of the Lord, and all the kings of the earth will respect his splendor,
16 when the Lord rebuilds Zion, and reveals his splendor,
17 when he responds to the prayer of the destitute, and does not reject their request.
18 The account of his intervention will be recorded for future generations; people yet to be born will praise the Lord.
19 For he will look down from his sanctuary above; from heaven the Lord will look toward earth,
20 in order to hear the painful cries of the prisoners, and to set free those condemned to die,
21 so they may proclaim the name of the Lord in Zion, and praise him in Jerusalem,
22 when the nations gather together, and the kingdoms pay tribute to the Lord.
23 He has taken away my strength in the middle of life; he has cut short my days.
24 I say, “O my God, please do not take me away in the middle of my life! You endure through all generations.
25 In earlier times you established the earth; the skies are your handiwork.
26 They will perish, but you will endure. They will wear out like a garment; like clothes you will remove them and they will disappear.
27 But you remain; your years do not come to an end.
28 The children of your servants will settle down here, and their descendants will live securely in your presence.”
(NET)
