Pain, Suffering, and the Eternal God
Man’s days on this earth are few and are like a puff of smoke. All people will face some physical suffering and some anxiety over the world around them. What can man do in light of his frailty and the wickedness around him? The answer is trust and hope in the eternal Lord Jesus Christ.
The psalmist cries out to the Lord, asking Him to hear his prayer for help (102:1-2). His days are marked by great physical and emotional distress; and he urgently needs the Lord’s intervention. He recounts his physical ailments that have sapped his strength and left him weary (102:3). His will to live is fading as his days are consumed like smoke (102:3-4). He is out of sorts like a pelican in the desert; and lives a solitary life like an owl among ruins (102:5-6). He rises every morning with the hopes of relief from his situation and finds none (102:7) To make matters worse the ungodly reproach him and even use his name as a curse (102:8). His grief and suffering are destroying him, he has nothing but tears (102:9). He knows that it is because of the Lord that he is suffering. His days wither away like grass (102:10-11).
Brethren, the psalmist is in a desperate state. He is experiencing great physical and emotional pain that cannot be explained. He knows it is happening because God wills it so. In light of this fact he transitions to focus on God. He is eternal and will abide forever (102:12). The psalmist takes joy that God will restore the nation of Israel and future generations will praise His name (102:13-18). Even if God does not heal his weakened body, the psalmist will continue to hope in his eternal Lord (102:23-28).