The psalm is a prayer of comfort and encouragement for the afflicted. The psalmist tells of their plight to God. In verses 1-2, he pleaded with God to answer his prayer quickly and not remain silent to his cries. This may be how many of us feel, as we often wonder why God is not answering our prayers or why He is not delivering us from our troubles.

In verses 3-11, he described how he felt in times of affliction. He described himself as in a depressive state, someone who has no desire to eat because of what he faced in his life. He felt so alone as he was being taunted and defamed, as he described eating ashes like bread and mingling tears with his drink. He felt as if God was angry with him and had thrown him into the situation and left him there to die like grass withering away day and night.

This may be how we feel when we go through hardship. We wonder if God cares or has heard our cries. We can fall into a depressive state and have no appetite for food. We would cry the whole day and the whole night because of what we are going through.

Do not cry or fret. Instead, be like the psalmist as seen in verses 12-17. He turned to God and refused to give up hope. He turned to focus on the greatness of God. The God who is enthroned and remembered throughout all the generations by His people. He declared that God would show them favor and rebuild Zion in His own timing. When He does so, all the nations will fear Him as they see Him answer their prayer.

The background seems to be related to the Babylonian exile. Jerusalem and the temple had been sacked and destroyed. He cries to God to vindicate them and the holy city of Zion. In verses 18-22, he desired to record it so that the people could praise God and remember that He had seen their plight and heard their cries and delivered them from their troubles. Thus, God’s people and all the nations would declare His name and worship Him in Zion.

The record would serve as a reminder to the new generation to serve and worship the Lord. This is what we are to do as a church: to encourage the new generation to serve and worship the Lord.

In verses 23-28, it is when they acknowledge that God is the One who disciplines and punishes them that they then would plead with God to show them mercy and spare them in this life. It seemed that the eschatological judgment of the earth in verses 25-26 was already in the minds of the Old Testament people. It is after the old heavens and earth have passed that He will establish the new heavens and earth.

The generations of His servants will have hope because God is the righteous Ruler and Creator of His kingdom. Our faith must be in God. His will and kingdom will last forever, even beyond the next generation so that the church can continue to be a lampstand for the Lord.

Prayer:

Our eternal God in heaven, hear the prayers of your saints and grant us our desires that we will pass on our faith in You to our children and grandchildren; and they may continue to serve and worship You faithfully.