The prayer of an oppressed man, as he grows faint and pours out his lament before the Lord. 

 

The author of this song is unknown. Many theologians give credit to David, but this is only speculation. According to the author of Hebrews, the person of this song is the Lord Jesus Christ. Some theologians see this as the prophetic prayer of the Lord Jesus Christ at Gethsemane. Since the Holy Spirit through the author of Hebrews confirms this to be the Lord Jesus Christ, then this could possibly be the only time in the Lord Jesus Christ’s ministry when He could have made this prayer.

 

102:1 O Lord, hear my prayer! Pay attention to my cry for help! 

 

From the Garden of Gethsemane, the Suffering Servant prophetically cries out to Jehovah in prayer. This is the second example of Jehovah praying to Jehovah. The first example was in Genesis 19:24, when Jehovah on the ground prayed to Jehovah in the heavens. “Then Jehovah rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from Jehovah out of heaven” (Gen. 19:24). 

 

102:2 Do not ignore me in my time of trouble! Listen to me! When I call out to you, quickly answer me! 

 

The Suffering Servant asked Jehovah in heaven to not to ignore him in his time of trouble. The time of trouble is not the crucifixion, but the separation of the Lord Jesus Christ from the other two members of the Trinity. When Jesus took upon the sins of mankind, He was separated from the other two members of the Trinity for the first time in His eternal existence. The Suffering Servant asked for a quick answer. This prayer was answered, as the Lord Christ was left apart from the Trinity for three hours.

 

102:3 For my days go up in smoke, and my bones are charred like a fireplace. 

 

The death of the Suffering Servant was less than 24 hours away. During this three hours, the Lord Jesus Christ would suffer the wrath of God, including the fiery pain of hell and the separation from the Godhead.

 

102:4 My heart is parched and withered like grass, for I am unable to eat food. 

 

At the Garden of Gethsemane, the Suffering Servant’s heart was aching. His life was beginning to wither away like grass. He was unable to digest any food. The Suffering Servant knew what was coming to Him.

 

102:5 Because of the anxiety that makes me groan, my bones protrude from my skin. 

 

The pressure of being alone without the Trinity brought anxiety upon the Lord Jesus Christ. His body began to ache. He groaned. His bones were pressing hard against his skin.

 

102:6 I am like an owl in the wilderness; I am like a screech owl among the ruins. 

 

The Suffering Servant was screeching like an owl in the night.

 

102:7 I stay awake; I am like a solitary bird on a roof. 

 

The Suffering Servant could not sleep. He asked Peter to remain awake with Him.

 

102:8 All day long my enemies taunt me; those who mock me use my name in their curses. 

 

The Pharisees and Sadducees were taunting Jesus all day long. They mocked and cursed His name, because they did not acknowledge Him as King Messiah.

 

102:9 For I eat ashes as if they were bread, and mix my drink with my tears, 102:10 because of your anger and raging fury. Indeed, you pick me up and throw me away.

 

Food tasted like ashes. Water was mixed with his own tears. The anger and fury was the wrath of Jehovah which came from the sins of all of mankind. All of these sins were to be placed upon the Suffering Servant.

 

102:11 My days are coming to an end, and I am withered like grass. 

 

The Suffering Servant would meet physical death and separation from the Trinity within the next 24 hours.

 

102:12 But you, O Lord, rule forever, and your reputation endures. 

 

The Suffering Messiah praised the Triune Godhead, because the Trinity is sovereign over this coming situation. Jehovah’s reputation is holy, so the Suffering Servant will not fail in His task.

 

102:13 You will rise up and have compassion on Zion. For it is time to have mercy on her, for the appointed time has come. 

 

Jehovah will eventually have compassion on Jerusalem. He will send King Messiah to Israel at the appointed time. The appointed time is during her Roman occupation.

 

102:14 Indeed, your servants take delight in her stones, and feel compassion for the dust of her ruins. 

 

When the Messiah arrives at the appointed time, then the Jews will reject Him. The stones of the temple will be torn down by Titus and his Roman legions in 70 A.D. The servants of Jehovah are the Messianic believers. They will feel compassion when the Temple is destroyed.

 

102:15 The nations will respect the reputation of the Lord, and all the kings of the earth will respect his splendor, 16 when the Lord rebuilds Zion, and reveals his splendor, 17 when he responds to the prayer of the destitute, and does not reject their request. 

 

During the Millennial Kingdom, the Gentiles will also worship Jehovah. All of the Gentile kings will worship the Shechinah Glory, which will be the physical presence of the Lord Jesus Christ on earth. Jehovah will rebuild Jerusalem and reveal His Shechiah Glory to all of the inhabitants of the world. When the believing Jews at the end of the Great Tribulation cry out “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord,” then Jehovah will answer this prayer and send King Messiah to save the Jews from the genocidal attempts of the Antichrist and establish the Millennial Kingdom.

 

102:18 The account of his intervention will be recorded for future generations; people yet to be born will praise the Lord. 

 

The “future generations” who are “yet to be born” is the redeemed nation of Israel. During the Millennial Kingdom, “all Israel will be saved” (Romans 11:25-26). All Israel will praise the Lord. All Israel will praise King Messiah.

 

102:19 For he will look down from his sanctuary above; from heaven the Lord will look toward earth, 102:20 in order to hear the painful cries of the prisoners, and to set free those condemned to die, 102:21 so they may proclaim the name of the Lord in Zion, and praise him in Jerusalem, 102:22 when the nations gather together, and the kingdoms pay tribute to the Lord. 

 

At the end of the Great Tribulation, Jehovah will look down from heaven to earth. The Jews will be subjects of the Antichrist. He will order the genocide of the Jewish race. The believing Jews at the end of the Great Tribulation will cry out to God, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.” Jehovah will answer this prayer by sending King Messiah to rescue them from the Antichrist. After the Antichrist is defeated, then King Messiah will establish His Millennial Kingdom government from Jerusalem. All of Israel will praise Him. All of the Gentiles who survive the Great Tribulation will praise Him as well. 

 

102:23 He has taken away my strength in the middle of life; he has cut short my days. 

 

The Lord Jesus Christ was only 33 years old when He prayed from the Garden of Gethsemane.

 

102:24 I say, “O my God, please do not take me away in the middle of my life! You endure through all generations. 

 

The Hebrew word for God is אֵל (El), meaning the Strong One. This name represents the strength of God and the unity of God. During the three hours of darkness, Jesus was taking on the sins of the world. During this time, He addressed God the Father as אֵל (El), because Jesus was separated from the Trinity and bearing the sins of mankind. Jesus was taken away from life at 33 years old, the prime of His life. God is eternal, so His plan for Jesus is eternal as well.

 

102:25 In earlier times you established the earth; the skies are your handiwork. 102:26 They will perish, but you will endure. They will wear out like a garment; like clothes you will remove them and they will disappear. 102:27 But you remain; your years do not come to an end. 

 

The Holy Spirit quoted this passage in Hebrews 1:10–12, making this a messianic song. This means that the identity of the Suffering Servant in this passage is the Lord Jesus Christ. 

 

God established the earth. He created the skies. However, the earth and the sky will perish. When sin came into the world, then the Second Law of Thermodynamics came into effect. Everything in the universe (except for God) is decaying. Everything will eventually die out. The universe will eventually be dead and lifeless. Just as clothes wears out, the universe will also wear out. However, the Second Law of Thermodynamics has no effect upon God. He is eternal and will never wear out. The Word of God is also eternal. The Lord Jesus Christ said, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but by words will never pass away.”

 

102:28 The children of your servants will settle down here, and their descendants will live securely in your presence.”

 

During the Millennial Kingdom, Israel will live in peace underneath the Messianic King in the literal land of Israel.