Psalm 102: Do not hide your face from me

• A prayer of one afflicted, when he is faint and pours out his complaint before the Lord
• complaint: a statement that a situation is unsatisfactory or unacceptable.

Stumbled upon this cross reference in discipleship (Hebrews 1:10-12)

Notes:

• Thoughts of one who is afflicted, expressing deep sorrow for being exiled from his native land perhaps.
• Troubles were not the result of God's judgement on personal sin.
• Only hope during this time was to refocus on God's sovereignty and God's eternal nature in fulfilling promises.
• 3 parts:
• v. 1-11: A plea for divine help
• Talks about his state of sorrow and pain, being deserted and left alone from man and God (God would not forsake his people, this may not be a statement of fact but he is driven to say this due to his emotional state).
• v. 12-22: A perspective of God's sovereignty and eternality
• Eternal nature of God is described (v.12), God's timing (v.13) which is connected to God's sovereignty, (v.15) Dominion over everything due to the state of God's position and glory, (v.18-22) God is worthy of praise and worship from his people, he has had mercy on the "doomed" this should cause us to praise him!!!!! He listens to their cries and cares. All this works for the glory of God!
• v. 23-28: A prayer for longer life
• (v.24) compares his mortality to God's eternality but asks for his days to be longer on earth, (v. 25-26) acknowledges God as the Creator but compares him to his creation, saying they will waste away like garment but he will remain. (v.27) God's unchanging character. (v.28) although the psalmist may die, God's will will be accomplished in future generations (secure hope).
• Encouragement: That in times of suffering. Feeling like everyone has left us and we are alone and in pain. We should refocus to God eternal purposes/God's sovereignty and in light of that our temporal groaning will waste away. Since we have a secure hope. Even if we were not able to fulfill God's will in our lifetime, our work will not go in vain and God is sure to fulfill his will in future generations.