Charles H. Spurgeon on Psalms 102:2

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1. Afflicted men may pray.

2. Afflicted men should pray even when overhelmed.

3. Afflicted men can pray —for what is wanted is a pouring out of their complaint, not an oratorical display.

4. Afflicted men are accepted in prayer —for this prayer is placed on record.

Verses 1-2. Five steps to the mercy-seat. The Psalmist prays for,

1. Audience: "Hear my prayer."

2. Access: "Let my cry come before thee."

3. Unveiling: "Hide not thy face."

4. An intent ear: "Incline thine ear."

5. Answer. C. Davis.

Verses 1, 17, 19-20. An interesting discourse may be founded upon these passages.

1. The Lord entreated to hear —Ps 102:1.

2. The Promise given that he will hear —Ps 102:17.

3. The Record that the Lord has heard —Ps 102:19-20.

1. Prayer in trouble is most needed.

2. Prayer in trouble is most heeded.

3. Prayer in trouble is most speeded: "Answer me speedily."

Or,

1. Prayer in trouble: "In the day, "etc.

2. The prayer of trouble: "Hide not thy face; "not remove the trial, but be with me in it. A fiery furnace is a paradise when God is with us there. G. R.

Verse 2 (first elause). He deprecates the loss of the divine countenance when under trouble.

1. That would intensify it a thousandfold.

2. That would deprive him of strength to bear the trouble.

3. That would prevent his acting so as to glorify God in the trouble.

4. That might injure the result of the trouble.

Verse 2 (last clause).

1. We often need to be answered speedily.

2. God can so answer.

3. God has so answered.

4. God has promised so to answer.

Verses 3-11.

1. The causes of grief. (a) The brevity of life. Ps 102:3. (b) Bodily pain. Ps 102:3. (c) Dejection of spirit. Ps 102:4- 5. (d) Solitariness. Ps 102:6-7. (e) Reproach. Ps 102:8. (f) Humiliation. Ps 102:9. (g) The hidings of God's countenance. Ps 102:10. (h) Wasting away. Ps 102:11.

2. The eloquence of grief. (a) The brevit of life is as vanishing "smoke." (b) Bodily pain is fire in the bones. (c) Dejection of spirit is "withered grass." Who can eat when the heart is sad? (d) Solitariness is like "The pelican in the wilderness, the owl in the desert, and the sparrow upon the housetop." (e) Reproach is being surrounded by madmen —"they that are mad." (f) Humiliation is "eating ashes like bread, "and "drinking tears." (g) The hidings of God's countenance is lifting up in order to be cast down. (h) Wasting away is a shadow declining and grass withering. G. R.