12 But you, O Lord, are eternal; and your name will never come to an end. 13 You will again get up and have mercy on Zion: for the time has come for her to be comforted. 14 For your servants take pleasure in her stones, looking with love on her dust. 15 So the nations will give honour to the name of the Lord, and all the kings of the earth will be in fear of his glory: 16 When the Lord has put up the walls of Zion, and has been been in his glory; 17 When he has given ear to the prayer of the poor, and has not put his request on one side. 18 This will be put in writing for the coming generation, and the people of the future will give praise to the Lord. 19 For from his holy place the Lord has seen, looking down on the earth from heaven; 20 Hearing the cry of the prisoner, making free those for whom death is ordered; 21 So that they may give out the name of the Lord in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem; 22 When the peoples are come together, and the kingdoms, to give worship to the Lord.
23 He has taken my strength from me in the way; he has made short my days. 24 I will say, O my God, take me not away before my time; your years go on through all generations: 25 In the past you put the earth on its base, and the heavens are the work of your hands. 26 They will come to an end, but you will still go on; they all will become old like a coat, and like a robe they will be changed: 27 But you are the unchanging One, and your years will have no end. 28 The children of your servants will have a safe resting-place, and their seed will be ever before you.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Psalm 102:12-28
Commentary on Psalm 102:12-22
(Read Psalm 102:12-22)
We are dying creatures, but God is an everlasting God, the protector of his church; we may be confident that it will not be neglected. When we consider our own vileness, our darkness and deadness, and the manifold defects in our prayers, we have cause to fear that they will not be received in heaven; but we are here assured of the contrary, for we have an Advocate with the Father, and are under grace, not under the law. Redemption is the subject of praise in the Christian church; and that great work is described by the temporal deliverance and restoration of Israel. Look down upon us, Lord Jesus; and bring us into the glorious liberty of thy children, that we may bless and praise thy name.
Commentary on Psalm 102:23-28
(Read Psalm 102:23-28)
Bodily distempers soon weaken our strength, then what can we expect but that our months should be cut off in the midst; and what should we do but provide accordingly? We must own God's hand in it; and must reconcile this to his love, for often those that have used their strength well, have it weakened; and those who, as we think, can very ill be spared, have their days shortened. It is very comfortable, in reference to all the changes and dangers of the church, to remember that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever. And in reference to the death of our bodies, and the removal of friends, to remember that God is an everlasting God. Do not let us overlook the assurance this psalm contains of a happy end to all the believer's trials. Though all things are changing, dying, perishing, like a vesture folding up and hastening to decay, yet Jesus lives, and thus all is secure, for he hath said, Because I live ye shall live also.