For thy servants take pleasure in her stones (comp. Isaiah 64:10 , Isaiah 64:11 ; Lamentations 4:1 ; Nehemiah 2:13 ; Nehemiah 4:2 ). To this day the same affection is shown by Israelite pilgrims at the "Jews' Wailing Place." And favour (rather , pity ) the dust thereof. The rubbish in which the stones lay ( Nehemiah 4:2 ) seems to be intended. read more
So the heathen shall fear the Name of the Lord (comp. Isaiah 59:19 ). The restoration of Jerusalem could not but impress great numbers of the heathen, and tend to the enlargement of Jehovah's kingdom. And all the kings of the earth thy glory. Oriental hyperbole, if confined to the immediate effects of the rebuilding of the earthly Jerusalem; but simple truth, if extended to the establishment on earth of the new and heavenly Jerusalem ( Isaiah 65:17-25 ; Revelation 21:1-24 ). read more
When the Lord shall build up Zion; rather, because the Lord hath built up Zion. The psalmist, in prophetic ecstasy, sees the future as past. The verbs in this and the next verse are all preterite. He shall appear in his glory; rather, hath appeared in his glory (see Isaiah 40:5 ). read more
When the Lord shall build up Zion. I. WHAT IS THIS WORK HERE SPOKEN OF ? The building up of Zion. 1 . By the conversion of individual souls. The true Church can be built up in no other way. 2 . By the public confession of their faith on the part of these converted ones. If they refuse this, how can the Church be built up? 3 . By their union in the fellowship of the Church. They must openly range themselves on the Lord's side in this his appointed way. 4... read more
God glorified in fulfilling his promises. The psalmist has evidently in mind the anticipated return of the exiles, and the rebuilding of Jerusalem, and the re-establishment of the Jehovah worship. By his servants the prophets God had made distinct promises to his people of a return from the Captivity. He had even fixed a precise time, though the date from which the seventy years were to be reckoned was not clearly defined. But seventy years of humiliation is a long time in which to keep up... read more
He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer; rather, he hath regarded … and hath not despised (see the Revised Version). The word translated "destitute" is elsewhere ( Jeremiah 17:6 ) only used as the name of a shrub—probably the dwarf juniper, still so called by the Arabs. The dwarf juniper has "a gloomy stunted appearance" (Tristram), and well symbolizes the Israel of the Captivity period, dry and withered, like a wretched desert shrub. read more
The prayer of the destitute. I. A TRUE DESCRIPTION OF MAN 'S SPIRITUAL CONDITION . He is destitute, not merely badly off; and he is without expectation, and without power of his own to better his condition. II. A WISE COUNSEL THAT WE ALL SHOULD FOLLOW . That we should wait upon God in fervent prayer and earnest cry. There is nothing else that we can do. There is nothing better that we could do. There is nothing that has ever succeeded so well. There is no... read more
Thou shalt arise - Thou wilt come forth - as if God had been inattentive or inactive.And have mercy upon Zion - That is, Upon Jerusalem - represented as in a state of desolation. God would at length pity her, and interpose in her behalf.For the time to favor her - Implying that there was an appointed time to favor her, or to bring her troubles to an end.Yea, the set time is come - The word used here - מועד mô‛êd - means properly an appointed season - a designated moment. It refers to some... read more
For thy servants take pleasure in her stones - Those who profess to be thy servants; thy friends. This was the “evidence” to the mind of the psalmist that God was about to visit his people, and to rebuild Jerusalem. It was an “awakened interest” among the professed people of God, leading them to manifest their love for Zion, and for all that pertained to her - a love for the very stones that lay in undistinguished heaps where the city once stood - the piles of rubbish where the walls and... read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 102:13-22
God's care for his people (Christ's care for his Church). The psalm passes from the individual to the nation or the society, and we have an earnest, effectual appeal for Divine pity and restoration. Primarily applicable to the ancient people of God, it applies as well to the recurring necessities of the Christian Church. We have— I. THE COMMUNITY ( THE CHURCH ) IN SORE DISTRESS . It is in a position to receive the mercy— the pity and the redemption of the Lord ( Psalms... read more