1 A prayer of the afflicted when he is ouerwhelmed, and powreth out his complaint before the Lord. Heare my prayer, O Lord: and let my crie come vnto thee.
2 Hide not thy face from me in the day when I am in trouble, incline thine eare vnto me: in the day when I call, answere mee speedily.
3 For my dayes are consumed like smoke: and my bones are burnt as an hearth.
4 My heart is smitten, and withered like grasse: so that I forget to eate my bread.
5 By reason of the voice of my groning, my bones cleaue to my skinne.
6 I am like a Pelican of the wildernes: I am like an owle of the desert.
7 I watch, and am as a sparowe alone vpon the house top.
8 Mine enemies reproch me all the day: and they that are mad against me, are sworne against me.
9 For I haue eaten ashes like bread: and mingled my drinke with weeping.
10 Because of thine indignation and thy wrath: for thou hast lifted me vp, and cast me downe.
11 My dayes are like a shadow, that declineth: & I am withered like grasse.
12 But thou, O Lord, shalt endure for euer: and thy remembrance vnto all generations.
13 Thou shalt arise, and haue mercie vpon Zion: for the time to fauour her, yea the set time is come.
14 For thy seruants take pleasure in her stones: and fauour the dust therof.
15 So the heathen shall feare the Name of the Lord: and all the kings of the earth thy glory.
16 When the Lord shall build vp Zion: he shall appeare 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.
19 For hee hath looked downe from the height of his Sanctuarie: from heauen did the Lord beholde the earth:
20 To heare the groning 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 Ierusalem:
22 When the people are gathered together: and the kingdomes to serue the Lord.
23 He weakened my strength in the way: he shortened my dayes.
24 I said, O my God, take me not away in the midst of my dayes: thy yeres are throughout all generations.
25 Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heauens are the worke of thy hands.
26 They shall perish, but thou shalt indure, yea all of them shall waxe old like a garment: as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shalbe changed.
27 But thou art the same: and thy yeeres shall haue no end.
28 The children of thy seruants shal continue: and their seed shall be established before thee.
A sorrowful complaint of great afflictions. (1-11) Encouragement by expecting the performances of God's promises to his church. (12-22) The unchangeableness of God. (23-28)
1-11 The whole word of God is of use to direct us in prayer; but here, is often elsewhere, the Holy Ghost has put words into our mouths. Here is a prayer put into the hands of the afflicted; let them present it to God. Even good men may be almost overwhelmed with afflictions. It is our duty and interest to pray; and it is comfort to an afflicted spirit to unburden itself, by a humble representation of its griefs. We must say, Blessed be the name of the Lord, who both gives and takes away. The psalmist looked upon himself as a dying man; My days are like a shadow.
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.
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.
Commentary by Matthew Henry, 1710.