1.
Hear my prayer, O LORD, and let my cry come unto thee.
Title. A Prayer, &c. This refers to Messiah ' s humiliation.
before. See note on "presence" (Psalms 95:2 ).
LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .
face. See note on "presence" (Psalms 95:2 ).
2.
Hide not thy face from me in the day when I am in trouble; incline thine ear unto me: in the day when I call answer me speedily.
3.
For my days are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burned as an hearth.
like smoke. So some codices, with Aramaean, Septuagint, and Vulgate; other codices read "in smoke".
an hearth = charred wood.
4.
My heart is smitten, and withered like grass; so that I forget to eat my bread.
bread. Put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Part), App-6 , for food in general.
5.
By reason of the voice of my groaning my bones cleave to my skin.
skin = flesh.
6.
I am like a pelican of the wilderness: I am like an owl of the desert.
a pelican . . . owl: both unclean birds.
alone. Some codices, with one early printed edition, read "flitting to and fro".
7.
I watch, and am as a sparrow alone upon the house top.
8.
Mine enemies reproach me all the day; and they that are mad against me are sworn against me.
are sworn against me = are sworn [together] against me; as in Acts 23:12-21 .
9.
For I have eaten ashes like bread, and mingled my drink with weeping,
10.
Because of thine indignation and thy wrath: for thou hast lifted me up, and cast me down.
Because of = from the face of. See note on Psalms 95:2 .
11.
My days are like a shadow that declineth; and I am withered like grass.
12.
But thou, O LORD, shalt endure for ever; and thy remembrance unto all generations.
But Thou. Emphasizing the great consolation.
shalt endure. Sittest, or wilt sit [enthroned].
Thy remembrance. Some codices read "Thy throne".
13.
Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come.
mercy = compassion.
Zion. See App-68 .
the set time. First, the end of the seventy years (Daniel 9:2 .Nehemiah 2:17-20 ; Nehemiah 3:1-32 ); and second, the still future set time in God's counsels. All this is prophecy. No need to think it was written after Jerusalem's desolation. David was a prophet (Acts 2:30 , Acts 2:31 ). Compare Isaiah 40:2 ; Isaiah 61:2 .
14.
For thy servants take pleasure in her stones, and favour the dust thereof.
stones. Put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Part), for the restored buildings.
15.
So the heathen shall fear the name of the LORD, and all the kings of the earth thy glory.
heathen = nations.
name. See note on Psalms 20:1 .
glory. Always mentioned in connection with Messiah's sufferings. Compare verses: Psalms 102:1-12 . See App-71 .
16.
When the LORD shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory.
appear in His glory. This shows that all is prophetic. Compare Isaiah 60:1-3 .
17.
He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer.
18.
This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people which shall be created shall praise the LORD.
the generation to come = a generation to come. Showing that all here is future.
the = a.
created: i.e. the new Israel (Psalms 22:31 .Isaiah 43:1-7 , Isaiah 43:18-21 ; Isaiah 66:8 ). This is the new nation referred to in Matthew 21:43 .
THE LORD. Hebrew Jah. App-4 .
19.
For he hath looked down from the height of his sanctuary; from heaven did the LORD behold the earth;
the height of His sanctuary = His holy height.
20.
To hear the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those that are appointed to death;
those . . . appointed to death = the sons of death. Genitive of Relation. The Hebrew word for "death" occurs only here and Psalms 79:11 . It is feminine, as though the mother. Compare Romans 8:36 , and see App-17 (5).
21.
To declare the name of the LORD in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem;
22.
When the people are gathered together, and the kingdoms, to serve the LORD.
When, &c. Compare Psalms 22:27 ; Psalms 68:32 .Isaiah 45:14 . Fulfilling Genesis 49:10 .
23.
He weakened my strength in the way; he shortened my days.
He weakened. A return to the subject corresponding with (verses: Psalms 102:3-11 ), above.
in the way: i.e. of His humiliation.
24.
I said, O my God, take me not away in the midst of my days: thy years are throughout all generations.
my GOD. Hebrew. Eli = my El. App-4 .
25.
Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands.
Of old, &c. Quoted in Hebrews 1:10-12 , which shows this Psalm is all prophetic of Messiah.
26.
They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed:
27.
But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end.
the same: or He. Compare Isaiah 41:4 ; Isaiah 43:10 .
28.
The children of thy servants shall continue, and their seed shall be established before thee.
children = sons.
shall continue = shall dwell [in the Land].