Psalm 102

From: Messages of God's Love: 1931

Psalm 102

This has been called the most remarkable of the Psalms. It presents Christ as the chosen but rejected ruler of Israel, and the particular time of it is just before His crucifixion. He is looking to Jehovah who had called Him to the place of Messiah, and speaking of His full rejection by His people.

Knowing fully what lay before Him bore He entered upon that path of matchless grace and lowliness, yet our blessed Lord felt with perfect sensibility—our feelings are blunted by sin—all that rejection meant.

Let us trace Him in the Gospels a little. In Matthew 12:9-13,⁹And when he was departed thence, he went into their synagogue: ¹⁰And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him. ¹¹And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out? ¹²How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days. ¹³Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other. (Matthew 12:9‑13) He enters a synagogue and heals a man’s withered hand while the Pharisees watch, ready to accuse Him for doing good on the Sabbath; then we are told, “But the Pharisees, having gone out, took counsel against Him, how they might destroy Him.”

Mark 3:16¹⁶And Simon he surnamed Peter; (Mark 3:16) lets us know that the Herodians were partners with the Pharisees in this plotting against the Lord. Did He, this holy, harmless, undefiled stranger from heaven not feel this enmity? Surely He did, and deeply, though He knew what was in man (John 2:24-25²⁴But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men, ²⁵And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man. (John 2:24‑25)).

We turn to Luke’s Gospel, and hear Him say (chapter 9), when James and John would desire to command that fire should come down from heaven and consume the Samaritans who did not receive Him,

“Ye know not of what Spirit ye are.” And presently to one who unthinkingly said that he would follow Him wherever He went, He said,

“The foxes have holes, and the birds of the heaven roosting places, but the Son of Man has not where He may lay His head.” Luke 9:58⁵⁸And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. (Luke 9:58). (JND)

And what were the feelings of this blessed One when, as John records (chapter 19), the soldiers platted a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and put a purple robe on Him; and mockingly said, “Hail, king of the Jews,” and gave Him blows on the face. Before this He had felt the traitor’s kisses; afterward as He looks out upon the crowd outside of the judgment hall of Pilate, He hears as from the very depth of Satan-ruled hearts,

“Crucify Him; crucify Him!” Were these words and actions not felt intensely by Him?

Lastly, the shame and exposure, the riling He had to endure on the cross, both from the passersby, the chief priests, the rulers and the scribes, and from the thieves crucified with Him: how these must have wounded Him who presently was to take upon Himself the iniquity of us all who trust in Him!

Observe that this blessed Sufferer received all from Jehovah. He had lifted Him up and cast Him down (verse 10). There is no call for vengeance on His enemies, but He is fully the despised and rejected of men, rejected because of His faithfulness and entire devotion. Born a King (Matthew 2:2²Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. (Matthew 2:2); John 18:37³⁷Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. (John 18:37)) He must die with malefactors, the death of the cross.

Jehovah, He says, Thou wilt rise up: Thou wilt have mercy upon Zion, and a people that shall be created shall praise Jehovah.

Abruptly the language of the psalm changes in verses 24-28. The humbled, desolate One, sharing the rebuke of Israel, having taken the place of the godly remnant there, and become the pattern for all who should follow in His steps, is seen to be the Creator, Jehovah, the Eternal One. (See the application of these verses in Hebrews 1:10-12¹⁰And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands: ¹¹They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment; ¹²And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail. (Hebrews 1:10‑12)).

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