Intro: In our psalter passage today, this patriot laments over his country’s sorrows and the people’s miseries as exiles; a people overwhelmed with trouble. The psalmist has faith in God and he looks for the resurrection and restoration of the nation even as he walks through the remaining ruins of Jerusalem/Zion. From the writings of this psalmist, we can gain a better perspective of the calamity that comes for the nations that dishonor God and rebels against His Word.
Even today, if the nations would just turn to God, call on the name of the Lord, and cry out for freedom and deliverance from evil, the divine deeds of grace would pardon national sin and help humanity to become the children of Light who magnify the Lord! May we pay attention to the history of Israel and realize the cost of rebellion against God. May we pray for Jesus to be exalted as the righteous Ruler of human hearts, because the problem is not politics, it is sin against God.
Psalm 102:12-20 NLT
12
But you, O Lord, will sit on your throne forever.
Your fame will endure to every generation.
13
You will arise and have mercy on Jerusalem [Zion]—
and now is the time to pity her,
now is the time you promised to help.
14
For your people love every stone in her walls
and cherish even the dust in her streets.
15
Then the nations will tremble before the Lord.
The kings of the earth will tremble before his glory.
16
For the Lord will rebuild Jerusalem.
He will appear in his glory.
17
He will listen to the prayers of the destitute.
He will not reject their pleas.
18
Let this be recorded for future generations,
so that a people not yet born will praise the Lord.
19
Tell them the Lord looked down
from his heavenly sanctuary.
He looked down to earth from heaven
20
to hear the groans of the prisoners,
to release those condemned to die.
Prayer: Lord, whether the nations of the world honor you or not, does not change your power or authority to govern your creation. However, we pray for humble hearts to turn toward you, because each individual and every generation is a new creation with the potential to honor you. Holy Spirit, we pray for nations and leaders to tremble before Almighty God in Jesus’ name. Amen.