Introduction
A Prayer of the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed, and poureth out his complaint before the LORD.
Although this psalm is written from the standpoint of individual experience, it also speaks from the heart of the nation. Its allusions are too highly national and historic to be mistaken, and the writer often personifies the condition and the longings of his people. It was evidently written by one of the Babylonian exiles an ancient, or “chief father,” of the people and a genuine Israelite. The sorrows of his people are his sorrows, and their hopes his hopes. He lives only in their life, and both hang upon the one only, immutable, everlasting, and faithful God. The psalm was written toward the close of the exile, according to the time set by the prophet Jeremiah, but before any political or government measures had been taken by the king of Persia to restore to the exiles their freedom. This accounts for the alternations of hope and despondency which appear. The reader is referred to the notes for particulars. The psalm properly synchronizes with Daniel 9:0.The divisions of the psalm may be made as follows: The prologue, Psalms 102:1-2; the complaint, Psalms 102:3-11; the hopeful consolation, Psalms 102:12-22; the retrospect of adversity, Psalms 102:23; the prayer, and ground of trust in the darkest hour, Psalms 102:24-27; the final triumph of faith, Psalms 102:28.TITLE:
A Prayer of the afflicted Or, as the Vulgate has it, “The prayer of the poor man.” Elsewhere, the titles are generally historic or musical notations; here, (as in Psalms 88:0,) it is a dedication to the afflicted the humble poor “when he is overwhelmed (languishes) and pours out his complaint before Jehovah.” See Psalms 61:3; Psalms 142:3
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