Bro. Bruce's commentaries for the books of Genesis through 2Kings are
now available in hard copy for $7.50. Just mail your request for COMMENTARY ON (BOOK NAME) to the address above.

PSALM

CHAPTER 101

A Psalm of David. I will sing of mercy and judgment: unto thee, O LORD, will I sing. 2 I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.

This is a song of commitment. "I WILL" is the statement David makes concerning his walk with God. A "perfect heart" is a heart that is committed!

3 I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me. 4 A froward heart shall depart from me: I will not know a wicked person. 5 Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off: him that hath an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer. 6 Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me: he that walketh in a perfect way, he shall serve me.

Here are four things of note to which the Christian should be committed.
1) No "wicked thing before my eyes." One might ask, "What is a wicked thing?" Well, just read a little further. It is anything that would cause the perfect heart to "turn aside."
2) Causing a "froward heart" to depart. And a froward heart is a person who desires to do wicked things.
3) Cutting off a slanderer from his presence. The look of pride speaks sladerously of others.
4) Watching and walking with the "faithful of the land." Devoted Christians should fellowship with devoted Christians.

7 He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house: he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight. 8 I will early destroy all the wicked of the land; that I may cut off all wicked doers from the city of the LORD.

Here are another couple of good things to which the Christian should be committed.
1) Do not let a deceiptful person live in his presence.
2) Do not keep company with liars.

David was a king, and he could rightfully make the statement in verse 8. Most Christians aren't kings today. However, we can be committed to not having fellowship with the wicked of the land; and, we can commit to working against them.

PSALM 102

1 A Prayer of the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed, and poureth out his complaint before the Lord. Hear my prayer, O LORD, and let my cry come unto thee. 2 Hide not thy face from me in the day when I am in trouble; incline thine ear unto me: in the day when I call answer me speedily.

This is a song of prayer. The prayer is for help from God because of affliction. Affliction is a condition that causes pain or suffering. All believers face affliction. Therefore, this prayer is a prayer we should learn.

The request is for God to answer speedily because affliction is a condition that might "overwhelm" the believer.

3 For my days are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burned as an hearth. 4 My heart is smitten, and withered like grass; so that I forget to eat my bread. 5 By reason of the voice of my groaning my bones cleave to my skin. 6 I am like a pelican of the wilderness: I am like an owl of the desert. 7 I watch, and am as a sparrow alone upon the house top. 8 Mine enemies reproach me all the day; and they that are mad against me are sworn against me. 9 For I have eaten ashes like bread, and mingled my drink with weeping, 10 Because of thine indignation and thy wrath: for thou hast lifted me up, and cast me down. 11 My days are like a shadow that declineth; and I am withered like grass.

Affliction causes feelings and emotions to run rampant. The believer feels as though time is running quick, but the days are full of HEAT (verse 3).
He is so heartsick that he forgets to eat (verse 4). He feels alone (verse 7). He feels persecuted (verse 8).

And notice that the psalmist acknowledges God to be in control of everything - even the affliction (verse 10). Sometimes God does allow affliction upon the believer in order to temper him and allow him to grow stronger. (See Romans 5:3-5, and 2Thessalonians 1:4-7)

12 But thou, O LORD, shalt endure for ever; and thy remembrance unto all generations. 13 Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come. 14 For thy servants take pleasure in her stones, and favour the dust thereof. 15 So the heathen shall fear the name of the LORD, and all the kings of the earth thy glory.

Though we, as physical human beings, waste away and eventually die, God endures forever. And He never forgets those who are committed to Him.

God will ARISE and have mercy upon His people. He will one day come and take complete control. And in that day, He will cause the "heathen" to "fear." And all His people will be lifted up.

16 When the LORD shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory. 17 He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer. 18 This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people which shall be created shall praise the LORD.

Verse 16 is Messianic and prophetical. It is one of the reasons that the Jewish people in Jesus' day refused to believe that He was the Messiah. It is the reason that Judas betrayed Him. They believed that when Messiah came, He would establish His power in Jerusalem and become the King of all the earth. But Jesus came to die for our sins first, and will fulfill this prophecy at His second coming.

The prophecy is "written for the generation to come," so that they will PRAISE the Lord. The Lord God Himself is the ONLY ONE Who can establish righteousness, die for sins, and live to bring His people to glory!

19 For he hath looked down from the height of his sanctuary; from heaven did the LORD behold the earth; 20 To hear the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those that are appointed to death; 21 To declare the name of the LORD in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem; 22 When the people are gathered together, and the kingdoms, to serve the LORD.

God looked down from Glory and saw His people as "prisoners" groaning under the bondage of SIN!! (verse 19) And He determined to come Himself in the Person of Jesus Christ and "loose" them! (verse 20)
It is Jesus Christ Who declared fully and completely the NAME OF THE LORD in Jerusalem. And all nations shall be gathered to Him there.

We are gathered to Him there today via the cross of Calvary. All believers come to Christ by way of repentance at the foot of the cross, denying self and giving themselves over to Christ.

And one day, when Jesus comes again, all nations will be gathered to Him at the THRONE He will establish in Jerusalem. He will reign physically on this earth for 1,000 years.

23 He weakened my strength in the way; he shortened my days. 24 I said, O my God, take me not away in the midst of my days: thy years are throughout all generations.

When God saw that man became a sinner, He "weakened" our strength and allowed us to die. He "shortened" our days so that we would not exist eternally in sin. The sentence of death upon mankind is a sentence of mercy!

The purpose of God shortening our time, is so that we will do as the psalmist did here and call upon God for mercy (verse 24). God is eternal, and He can save us eternally from our sin condition.

25 Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands. 26 They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed: 27 But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end. 28 The children of thy servants shall continue, and their seed shall be established before thee.

God is the Creator of all things. And one day He will fold up the heavens and earth as a man folds up a garment (see Hebrews 1:12).

But the "children" of God, the believers, shall be "established" forever!

PRAISE GOD!

Please continue in Bible Study with us.