Psalm 102:1-8 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 102:1-11

The title of this psalm is very observable; it is a prayer of the afflicted. It was composed by one that was himself afflicted, afflicted with the church and for it; and on those that are of a public spirit afflictions of that kind lie heavier than any other. It is calculated for an afflicted state, and is intended for the use of others that may be in the like distress; for whatsoever things were written aforetime were written designedly for our use. The whole word of God is of use to direct... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 102:1

Hear my prayer, O Lord ,.... The prayer of a poor, destitute, and afflicted one; his own, and not another's; not what was composed for him, but composed by him; which came out of his own heart, and out of unfeigned lips, and expressed under a feeling sense of his own wants and troubles; and though dictated and inwrought in his heart by the Spirit of God, yet, being put up by him in faith and fervency, it is called his own, and which he desires might be heard: and let my cry come unto thee... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 102:2

Hide not thy face from me in the day when I am in trouble ,.... Thy Shechinah, as the Targum: when God hides his face at any time from his people, it is a trouble to them, and very grievous; but especially when they are in any other trouble besides; it is very afflicting, indeed, when to their outward trouble this is added, which was Job's case, Job 23:1 , incline thine ear unto me; condescend, in great grace and goodness, to stoop and bow thine ear, and listen to the voice of my... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 102:3

For my days are consumed like smoke ,.... Which suddenly rises up, is easily dissipated, and quickly disappears; so sudden, short, and transient, are the days of man's life; see James 4:14 or "in smoke" F3 בעשן "in fumo", Montanus. , as the Syriac version; his days were spent in great obscurity, in the darkness of affliction, temptation, and desertion; and in so much vexation, trouble, and uneasiness, as if he had lived in smoke all his time: and my bones are burnt as an hearth ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 102:4

My heart is smitten, and withered like grass ,.... Like grass in the summer solstice F4 "Quasi solstitialis herba paulisper fui", Plauti Pseudolus, Acts 1 . Sc. 1. v. 36. , which being smitten with the heat of the sun, or by some blast of thunder and lightning, is dried up, and withers away; so his heart was smitten with a sense of sin, and of God's wrath and displeasure at him, and with the heat of affliction and trouble, that it failed him, and he could not look up with joy and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 102:5

By reason of the voice of my groaning ,.... Under the burden of sin, and pressure of afflictions: my bones cleave to my skin ; was quite emaciated, reduced to a skeleton, became nothing but skin and bone F5 "Ossa atque pellis sum", Plauti Capteivei, Act. 1. Sc. 2. v. 26. Asinaria 3. 6. v. 28. ; which sometimes is occasioned, as by outward afflictions, so by soul troubles: or "to my flesh" F6 לבשרי "carni meae", V. L. Pagninus, Montanus, &c.; ; flesh is put for skin; see... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 102:6

I am like a pelican of the wilderness ,.... It may be so called, to distinguish it from another of the same name that lives upon the waters; which has the name of "pelican" in the Greek tongue, as is said, from its smiting and piercing its breast, and letting out blood for the reviving of its young; and in the Hebrew language, from its vomiting shell fish it has swallowed down; See Gill on Leviticus 11:18 where the word is rendered a "pelican" as here, and in Deuteronomy 14:17 , the same... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 102:7

I watch ,.... Night after night, and take no sleep; cannot get any by reason of thoughtfulness, care, and trouble: and am as a sparrow alone upon the housetop ; or, "as a bird" F15 כצפור "sicut avis", Gejerus, Schmidt. ; for there is no necessity of limiting it to a sparrow, to which the account does not seem so well to agree; for sparrows will not only perch on housetops and solitary places, but will make their nests in dwelling houses, and in places of public resort, as... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 102:8

Mine enemies reproach me all the day ,.... For his principles and practices, being different from theirs; for his religion, and preciseness in it; for his faith and profession of it, and for his holy walk and conversation. Good men have their enemies, and always had; but then they are such who are also enemies to God and Christ, and true religion; and these, not content to reproach now and then, continually throw out their scoffs and jeers; which is not grateful, and is here mentioned as an... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 102:1

Hear my prayer - The chief parts of the Psalm answer well to the title: it is the language of the deepest distress, and well directed to Him from whom alone help can come. read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 102:1-11

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 102:1

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 102:2

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 102:3

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 102:4

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 102:5

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 102:6

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 102:7

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 102:8

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 102:1

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