Daily Dose of the Word of God - Psalm 102: 1-2, 12-22

Erin Pacheco, Director of Worship

Transcript

Erin Pacheco  0:07 

Welcome to Elmhurst CRC’s Daily Dose of the Word of God. Today is Friday, May 30 and Sunday is coming! I’m Erin Pacheco, and I serve as the Director of Worship here at ECRC.   It’s the last week of the SEASON of Easter, and we have been responding in all kinds of ways to the reality of Jesus’ resurrection life – with heartfelt awe and exuberant thanks, by reaching up for help, by offering our love, by confessing our sin and saying sorry. 

Erin Pacheco 0:40  

Our Bible reading today is from Psalm 102. My Bible describes this psalm as “A prayer of one overwhelmed with trouble, pouring out problems before the Lord.”  Lord, hear my prayer! Listen to my plea! Don’t turn away from me     in my time of distress. Bend down to listen, and answer me quickly when I call to you. The psalmist goes on to describe his condition, and it’s brutal. This is someone who’s hit rock bottom. But then it’s like he suddenly remembers who God is, and the psalm takes this turn at verse 12: But you, O Lord, will sit on your throne forever. Your fame will endure to every generation. You will arise and have mercy on Jerusalem—and now is the time to pity her, now is the time you promised to help. For your people love every stone in her walls     and cherish even the dust in her streets. Then the nations will tremble before the Lord. The kings of the earth will tremble before his glory. For the Lord will rebuild Jerusalem. He will appear in his glory. He will listen to the prayers of the destitute. He will not reject their pleas. Let this be recorded for future generations, so that a people not yet born will praise the Lord. Tell them the Lord looked down from his heavenly sanctuary. He looked down to earth from heaven to hear the groans of the prisoners, to release those condemned to die. And so the Lord’s fame will be celebrated in Zion, his praises in Jerusalem, when multitudes gather together     and kingdoms come to worship the Lord.

Erin Pacheco 2:37  

Even in the worst circumstances, the psalmist remembers God’s promises and God’s character, which is to have compassion on all who are in trouble. Not just in Zion – not just in ancient Jerusalem and Israel – but throughout the world, in all kingdoms and all nations. Psalm 102 paints a picture of a day when lives are restored and all people will see God’s glory. How fitting for this week, as we recall Jesus’ last instructions to his disciples, who were also eagerly anticipating the kingdom of God – and as we remember Jesus’ ascension into heaven, where he sits at the right hand of God the Father, king and ruler over all. The kingdom of Jesus indeed is coming – and is here, wherever God’s people act with his compassion and mercy to those in trouble.

Erin Pacheco  3:35 

 
Let’s pray. God, thank you for your heart of compassion, and for the kingdom of justice and healing and peace that you are bringing through King Jesus. When times are hard, help us to take heart in the knowledge that you are alive and active in the world, and show us where we can join in your mission. In Jesus’ name, Amen.