This Ps. belongs to the closing days of the exile, and utters the hope
of Israel's restoration (Psalms 102:13). The Psalmist has been
supposed by some to speak simply in the name of the nation, but it is
more probable that he describes his personal distress, though this was
caused by the captivity a... [ Continue Reading ]
LIKE SMOKE] RM 'in smoke.' AN HEARTH] RV 'a firebrand.'... [ Continue Reading ]
SKIN] RV 'flesh.'
6, 7. describe figuratively the Psalmist's mournful love of solitude.... [ Continue Reading ]
DESERT] RV 'waste places.'... [ Continue Reading ]
ARE SWORN AGAINST ME] RV 'do curse by me,' the literal meaning of
'execrate.'... [ Continue Reading ]
LIFTED.. UP.. CAST DOWN] RV 'taken.. up.. cast away.'... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT DECLINETH] that vanishes when the sun sets.... [ Continue Reading ]
REMEMBRANCE] RV 'memorial,' i.e. name: see Lamentations 5:19.... [ Continue Reading ]
FAVOUR] RV 'have pity upon.' So in Psalms 102:14. THE SET TIME] see
Isaiah 40:2; Isaiah 61:2.... [ Continue Reading ]
HEATHEN] RV 'nations.'
16, 17. SHALL BUILD.. APPEAR.. REGARD.. DESPISE] RV 'hath built..
appeared.. regarded.. despised.'... [ Continue Reading ]
THE PEOPLE] RV 'a people.' The restored Israel will be a new nation.... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS SANCTUARY] heaven, as the parallelism shows.... [ Continue Reading ]
TO DECLARE] RV 'that men may declare.'... [ Continue Reading ]
PEOPLE] RV 'peoples.'
25-27. Quoted in Hebrews 1:10.
27, 28. The changelessness of God is a guarantee that His kingdom will
endure among men. This is an argument for national rather than for
personal immortality. For the higher Christian truth see John 14:19.... [ Continue Reading ]