Once again the author of this Psalm
is not known. Obviously it is a Psalm where the afflicted, seeking relief, must
turn and depend on God totally. The hope of changing the situation, the
Psalmist proposed, would not come through God’s direct intervention, but just
thinking about God’s consistent nature in dealing with the problems of men
brought relief to his mind.
Verse 1 starts with a petition to
God to hear his prayer and cry for help, before describing the dire situation
he was in from verses 3-11. He knew that only God could help before talking
about God’s unchangeable nature in verses 12-22. The last segment from verses
23-28, this Psalmist spent a moment to contrast frail man and the immutable God.
This Psalm had been considered a prophecy
that foretold Christ’s suffering and outcome. It was thought that verses 3-11
was describing Christ’s affliction. He felt not only physical pain but mental
anguish. Then verses 12-22 described the outcome gained through Christ’s
affliction. It was the perspective of the positive impact that the affliction of
Christ would made on the nations and the people. Through the affliction He had borne,
a community of yet unborn people would arise to praise Him. The church is that new
community acquired through Christ. The last six verses then went on to describe
God’s encouragement to Christ in response to His plea.
What we can glean from this Psalm is
that like Christ, the crown we desire may be preceded by hardship and affliction.
We must emulate Christ in our affliction to look up to God and seek His relief.
Just as Christ had received promises of better things to come, we too can rest
in the hope of God fulfilling the promise of better things to come.
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