Salmos 102
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
Salmos 102:1-7
102:1-7 This strophe describes the psalmist's situation (i.e., "the day of my distress," Ps. 102:2,23-26; see Psalm 6). feels YHWH has hidden His face (i.e., no sense of His presence) his days are consumed in smoke, Ps. 102:3 his bones have been scorched, Ps. 102:3 his heart has been smitten, Ps. 102:4 he has forgotten to eat because of his loud groaning, Ps. 102:4b-5a his bones cling to his flesh, Ps. 103:5b he looks like a bird of the wilderness, Ps. 102:6,7b he cannot sleep, Ps. 102:7a It is possible that what looks like physical illness is really a person grieving over exile and the loss of the temple (cf. Ps. 102:14,18-22,23-28). 102:1-2 The Psalm opens with a series of prayer requests. hear my prayer ‒ BDB 1033, KB 1570, Qal IMPERATIVE, cf. Ps. 17:6; 39:12; 54:2; 55:1; 61:1; 64:1; 143:1 let my cry for help come to You ‒ BDB 9, KB 112, Qal IMPERFECT used in a JUSSIVE sense do not hide Your face from me ‒ BDB 711, KB 771, Hiphil JUSSIVE, cf. Ps. 27:9; 69:17; 143:7 incline Your ear to me ‒ BDB 639, KB 692, Hiphil IMPERATIVE, cf. Ps. 17:6; 31:2; 71:2; 86:1; 88:2 quickly ‒ BDB 554, KB 553, Piel IMPERATIVE (lit. "be quick," see NJB, most English translations translate it as an ADVERB [BDB 555]) answer me ‒ BDB 772, KB 851, Qal IMPERATIVE 102:1 "Lord" This is the covenant name for Israel's God (cf. vv. 1, 12, 15, 18, 21, 22). It is first used (not in Genesis 1, which has Elohim) in Gen. 2:4 (i.e., the special creation of Adam and Eve). SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY, D. 102:2 "Your face" This is a Hebrew idiom for the personal presence of YHWH (cf. Num. 6:25; Ps. 10:11; 13:1; 27:9; 30:7; 44:24; 51:9; 69:17; 80:3,7,19; 88:14; 143:7). SPECIAL TOPIC: ANTHROPOMORPHIC LANGUAGE USED TO DESCRIBE GOD ▣ "day" This imagery (BDB 398) is repeated five times. in the day of my distress, Ps. 102:2a in the day when I call, Ps. 102:2c my days, Ps. 102:3a all day long, Ps. 102:8a my days, Ps. 102:11 The Hebrew word yom can be literal or figurative. SPECIAL TOPIC: DAY (yom) ▣ "Your ear" This is anthropomorphic imagery. See SPECIAL TOPIC: GOD DESCRIBED AS HUMAN (anthropomorphism). 102:3 This verse used fire imagery to describe the psalmist's current situation. SPECIAL TOPIC: FIRE 102:6 "pelican. . .owl" Often in the OT, birds and wild animals are used to denote not only abandoned places, but the presence of the demonic (i.e., Isa. 13:19-22; 34:11-15; Zeph. 2:14). Here the focus is on the element of abandonment or aloneness. Also note the birds mentioned are Levitically unclean (cf. Lev. 11:13-19), which is another way to assert the sense of rejection! See UBS, Fauna and Flora of the Bible.
Salmos 102:8-11
102:8-11 This strophe continues the description of the hurting psalmist. his enemies (possibly invaders) reproach him continuously, Ps. 102:8 his enemies deride him his enemies use his name as a curse (cf. Isa. 65:15; Jer. 29:22) he has eaten ashes and drunk tears (these were signs of mourning, see SPECIAL TOPIC: GRIEVING RITES, cf. Ps. 42:3; 80:5) same as #4 his days are like a lengthened shadow (i.e., his pain lasts a long time) he withers away like grass (cf. Gen. 6:3; Job 10:4; 14:1-2; Ps. 78:39; 90:5-6; 102:4; 103:15-18; Isa. 40:6; 1 Pet. 1:24-25) The theological issue is why was he suffering. Psalm 102:10 reveals that he was experiencing divine judgment (cf. Psalm 38). One wonders if he is a symbol or representative of the nation (cf. Ps. 102:12-17,18-22). 102:8b NASB, NKJV, NRSV "Those who deride me"" "mad with rage" NJB, Peshitta "those who once praised me" "those who mock me" "those who used to commend me" "my deriders" The MT has "those who deride me" (BDB 237 II, KB 248, Poal PARTICIPLE. The basic root הלל has two distinct and opposite meanings. praise, KB 248 II make a fool of, KB 249 III The UBS Text Project, p. 375, cannot decide which one is original. Number 1 implies the psalmist's enemies were close friends or covenant partners. Number 2 implies the enemies were foreign nations who exiled God's people.
Salmos 102:12-17
102:12-17 This strophe has a national emphasis. YHWH has an international purpose for Israel. SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN Notice the things the psalmist asserts about YHWH. He sits enthroned forever (cf. Ps. 9:7; 10:16; 29:10; Lam. 5:19) His name (lit. "remembrance," BDB 271, cf. Ps. 30:4; 97:12) abides to all generations (cf. Exod. 3:15; Ps. 135:13; also note Ps. 100:5; 119:90) He acts in grace toward His covenant people He has built up Zion He has appeared (i.e., to Zion) in His glory He regards the prayers of the destitute (BDB 792, occurs only here and Jer. 17:6, where it is used of a tree/scrub; the root comes from the VERB, "to strip bare") The psalmist asks YHWH to act on Israel's behalf for His greater purpose! 102:12 "abide" NKJV, Peshitta "shall endure" NRSV, REB, NJB, JPSOA "are enthroned" "(no VERB)" "remain" The MT has the VERB (BDB 442, KB 444, Qal IMPERFECT which basically means "be seated" or "dwell." This imagery denotes YHWH's presence on the throne of the universe. The common call for YHWH "to arise" is part of this same imagery. See note at v. 13. ▣ "forever" See SPECIAL TOPIC: FOREVER ('olam) 102:13 "You will arise" This VERB (BDB 877, KB 1086) has a wide semantic field. It could denote YHWH rising from His throne to act (cf. Ps. 119:126) YHWH awaking from sleep (imagery for His lack of action) YHWH becoming active after a period of purposeful inactivity ▣ "Zion" See SPECIAL TOPIC: ZION ▣ "the appointed time has come" The NOUN (BDB 417) has the connotation of "an appointed time" (cf. Ps. 75:2; Dan. 8:19). The concept that YHWH is in control of time, space, history is central to the character of the one true creator God (cf. Ecclesiastes 3). 102:14-17 These verses imply the destruction of the temple. the nations (i.e., who did this) will fear, Ps. 102:15 YHWH will build up Zion and show her His glory, Ps. 102:16 the prayers of the destitute (i.e., the exiled people of God) will be heard note Ps. 102:18-22 102:14 "Surely Your servants find pleasure in her stones" This phrase reminds me of the deep emotional attachment that modern Judaism has for the wailing wall in Jerusalem (i.e., the foundation stones of Solomon's temple). Judaism (i.e., the Mosaic Law) is linked to a special place of worship (i.e., the tabernacle, later the temple in Jerusalem). ▣ "her dust" This NOUN (BDB 779, KB 862) is often used of the debris of destroyed cities (cf. 1 Kgs. 20:10; Neh. 4:2,10; Ezek. 26:4,12). 102:15 "the nations will fear" Through the years of my Bible study, I have become convinced that YHWH has always desired the salvation and restoration of all humans made in His image. I have tried to document this basic presupposition in the following Special Topic. Of course, this brings up the question about God's OT promises to the nation of Israel. I have also tried to document the revelatory change from the OT to the NT in a Special Topic (see below). SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN SPECIAL TOPIC: WHY ARE OT COVENANT PROMISES SO DIFFERENT FROM NT COVENANT PROMISES? ▣ "fear" See SPECIAL TOPIC: FEAR ▣ "the name of the Lord" See SPECIAL TOPIC: "THE NAME" OF YHWH ▣ "glory" See SPECIAL TOPIC: GLORY (OT, kabod)
Salmos 102:18-22
102:18-22 This strophe is a promise about YHWH's restoration of His covenant people to Judah and her temple. Hebrews 1 quotes Ps. 102:25-27 as relating to Jesus. In this sense Ps. 102:28 relates to the new people of God (i.e., believing Jews and Gentiles, cf. Rom. 2:28-29; 9:6; Gal. 3:7-9,13-14,29; 6:15-16)! In my opinion, Jesus is the ultimate and final revelation of God, therefore, we must view the OT through the eyes of the NT and not the other way around. The NT is about Jesus, not Israel. 102:18a Revelation is recorded to document and explain YHWH's will and actions. They become the basic guidelines for His people in each successive generation. Faithful followers honor, respect, and obey Scripture (i.e., Ps. 119:105; Prov. 6:23). SPECIAL TOPIC: THE BIBLE (its uniqueness and inspiration) SPECIAL TOPIC: INSPIRATION SPECIAL TOPIC: ILLUMINATION 102:19 YHWH knows what is happening on earth (cf. Exod. 2:25; 3:7; Neh. 9:9; Job 28:24; Ps. 14:2; 33:13-14; 53:3; 80:14; Lam. 3:50; 5:1; Acts 7:34; see full note at Ps. 33:13-17). The term "earth" (BDB 75) can have several meanings, see SPECIAL TOPIC: LAND, COUNTRY, EARTH ▣ "from His holy height. . .from heaven" These are parallel. The first might refer to the temple on Mt. Moriah, but when both are taken into account, it refers to YHWH's dwelling place above the atmosphere of the earth. SPECIAL TOPIC: HEAVEN SPECIAL TOPIC: HEAVEN AND THE THIRD HEAVEN 102:20 These images refer to exiled Judeans (and possibly Israelites). 102:21 This is a prayer that the exiled may return to Judah. 102:22 This, like so many Psalms in Book IV, has a universal emphasis (see SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN). The phrase, "the kingdom will serve the Lord," reminds me of Rev. 5:9-14 and 11:15!
Salmos 102:23-28
102:23-28 This strophe, like the two previous ones, uses personal imagery in a national sense. It affirms YHWH's act of creation (Ps. 102:26); He is eternal (102:27)! His people have gone through a devastating time (defeat, destruction, exile), but He will restore them (102:28) because as "heaven and earth" are the work of His hands (cf. Ps. 8:6; 19:1; Isa. 45:12; 48:13), so too, the covenant people (cf. Ps. 138:8; 143:5; Isa. 45:11; 60:2; 64:8; even Assyria, Isa. 19:25). 102:23-24 The LXX translates these verses as YHWH speaking to the psalmist. The NT book of Hebrews 1:10-12 quotes Ps. 102:25-27 as referring to Jesus. The MT translates the same Hebrew consonants in a different way (cf. Tyndale OT Commentaries, vol. 16, Psalms 73-150, pp. 395-396). 102:23 "strength" The term (BDB 470) was used of national strength being affected by YHWH's judgment (cf. Lev. 26:20; Lam. 1:6,14; Amos 2:14). ▣ "the way" See SPECIAL TOPIC: THE PATH, THE WAY 102:24 "O my God" This VOCATIVE uses the general ANE name/title for deity, El. SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY, A. 102:25-27 These verses from the LXX are quoted in Heb. 1:10-11, where they are applied to Jesus (cf. Heb. 13:8). 102:27 "But You are the same" YHWH does not change nor do His purposes (cf. Ps. 33:11; Mal. 3:6; James 1:17). Psalm 102:27 is a dramatic contrast to 102:26. Even heaven and earth will pass away (cf. Isa. 34:4; 51:6; Matt. 5:18; 24:35; Mark 13:31; Luke 21:33; 2 Pet. 3:10; Rev. 20:11), but not YHWH! For a good brief discussion of God's unchangeableness see Millard Erickson, Christian Theology, 2 nd ed., pp. 304-308. 102:28 The VERBS of v. 28 are so encouraging. Faithful followers will dwell with YHWH forever (cf. Ps. 23:6). "will continue" ‒ BDB 1014, KB 1496, Qal IMPERFECT, basically meaning "to settle down," cf. 2 Sam. 7:10; 1 Chr. 17:9 "to abide in peace and security," cf. Deut. 33:12; Ps. 16:9; Jer. 23:6; 33:16 this is imagery of a secure homeland guarded by YHWH, cf. 1 Pet. 1:3-5 "will be established" ‒ BDb 465, KB 464, Niphal IMPERFECT, basically meaning "firmly established" the world, cf. 1 Chr. 16:30; Ps. 93:1; 96:10 the covenant people, cf. 2 Sam. 7:16; Ps. 89:4