Psalm 102:15-28 - God Unchanging

Psalm 102:15-28
¹⁵ So the nations will fear the name of the Lord and all the kings of the earth Your glory.
¹⁶ For the Lord has built up Zion; He has appeared in His glory.
¹⁷ He has regarded the prayer of the destitute and has not despised their prayer.

¹⁸ This will be written for the generation to come, That a people yet to be created may praise the Lord.
¹⁹ For He looked down from His holy height; from heaven the Lord gazed upon the earth,
²⁰ To hear the groaning of the prisoner, to set free those who were doomed to death,
²¹ That men may tell of the name of the Lord in Zion and His praise in Jerusalem,
²² When the peoples are gathered together, and the kingdoms, to serve the Lord.

²³ He has weakened my strength in the way; He has shortened my days.
²⁴ I say, “O my God, do not take me away in the midst of my days, your years are throughout all generations.
²⁵ “Of old You founded the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands.
²⁶ “Even they will perish, but You endure; and all of them will wear out like a garment; like clothing You will change them and they will be changed.
²⁷ “But You are the same, and Your years will not come to an end.
²⁸ “The children of Your servants will continue, and their descendants will be established before You.”

Message: God Unchanging

Time: The psalms were written by many different people across a period of a thousand years in Israel's history. They are thought to have been compiled and put together in their present form by some unknown editor shortly after the captivity ended about 537 B.C.

What the Lord is Saying: Yesterday I looked at this idea that is presented here where the Psalmist is asking God to intervene in his/her life. He doesn't understand what is going on his life. His enemies have reproached him all day long (v. 8). He is in distress (v. 2) and his bones are groaning (v. 5). He resembles now a lonely bird sitting on top of a housetop (v. 7). He is obviously experiencing pain. It could be an ailment, a sickness, a feeling of despair, losing a relationship, or a family member. I do not know the cause of the pain, only the pain. But even with all of that pain, there is the proclamation that God is there. You, Lord, abide forever (v. 12).

Now we shift to the nations will fear the name of the Lord to describe not only the writer praising God, but now the entire nation. And the language further shifts to shouts of praise remarking that the Lord has regarded the destitute, listening to their prayer. God is present. He hears us. The Lord will be praised over and over, not only in this generation, but for the generation to come. 

He hears us. He knows the pain that we are experiencing. And he is not simply in the hearing business, but he is in the business of saving those doomed to death. That is the condition of each of us. Apart from Christ, we are all doomed to death, to the grave, never to rise again. But God saves man and man in turn may tell of the name of the Lord throughout the land in which he lives. All of us are gathered together...to serve the Lord. We praise His name, we witness His redemption, and we spread His Name, serving the Lord as we go.  

He is the creator, the giver of life, the creator of this world. And even beyond what we can see it is the work of His hands. He is all we need. He endures. You are the same, and Your years will not come to an end. And then the promise of Abraham is continued as the children of Your servants will continue. 


Promise: Our stability is only in God. God is our rock, strong and stable. But God cannot be changed. He is fully dependable.

Prayer:O God, thank you for remaining the same and always being there. You are the creator and the sustainer of life. All centers on you. I praise Your name for all that you do. All the events of life surrender to You. Help me always to return to You and thank you for your grace. As hard times come, keep my eyes on You, trusting in You, bearing this present life. Thank you Lord for Your love.