Psalms 102

Psalms 102:1

THE title: [A prayer] it is apparent that this Psalme was penned towards the end of the Babylonian captivity, it being a forme of prayer, for the restauration of Gods people according to his promise: [his complaint] or his prayer.

Psalms 102:4

Like grasse] which is cut and dried, in the sun: [I forget] extreame affliction hath made mee forsake, and grow carelesse of my food: I have no taste, nor take no delight in it, whereby I am become drie, and lane.

Psalms 102:5

To my skin] the Italian, my flesh, that is to say, to my skin.

Psalms 102:6

A Pelican] a solitary bird, which gives out terrible cries, wherein hee hath a relation to the Churches grievous lamentations when it is exiled.

Psalms 102:8

Are sworne] the Italian, doe make curses of mee, that is to say, by reason of my strange afflictions, they doe make mee an example of curses, saying, be thou accursed like such a one, see Numbers 5:1-31. 7. Isaiah 65:15.

Psalms 102:9

I have eaten] a scripture phrase which signifieth lying with ones face upon the ground, amongst dust and ashes: a fashion which was used in great sorrowes and mournings, 2am. 12. 16. Iob. 2. 8.

Psalms 102:10

Listed mee up] this may be properly understood of the peoples former prosperity, which made their present calamity more grievous and sensible: or it is a similitude taken from those which lift up a thing, for to dash it so much the harder against the ground.

Psalms 102:12

But thou] though the Church seemes to faile, yet God endureth of ever, in essence, truth, and power; therefore hee can, and will restore it, see 1. Amos 5:19. [thy remembrance]namely all that which thou hast revealed to thy Church of thy selfe, and shee ought most faithfully to retaine and preach, see Isa. 26. 8. and 57. 8. Or plainly thy name, Hosea 12:5.

Psalms 102:13

The set time] namely of seventy yeares captivity, as it is most likely, 2 Chronicles 36:21 Ier. 25. 12. and 29. 10 Daniel 9:2.

Psalms 102:14

In her stones] that is to say, to it, though it be brought into a heap of ruines, Psal. 79. 1.

Psalms 102:15

The heathen] the meaning is, that by Ierusalems and the peoples restauration; and by the Messias being borne and made manifest there according to the prophecies, God would open the gate for the vocation of the Gentiles, by the Gospell, which was to come out of Ierusalem.

Psalms 102:16

In his glory] that is to say, in his glorious manifestation, and operation of his power and grace.

Psalms 102:18

Which shall bee] that is to say, which shall hence forward be borne. Or if thi be meant by the Gentiles, the people which thou shalt create anew. Or thy people Isael restored and set up gaine as it were by a miracle, and into a new life, Isaiah 43:21 Ezech. 3. 3.

Psalms 102:23

In thewy] in the time the Iowish nation was in prosperity before the time of its dissipion, which was the time prefixed by God himselfe for the Messias his comming Genesis 49:10. which hath a relation t〈◊〉〈◊〉 flower of ones age, Iob 15. 3. Psal 55. 23. Prov. 〈◊〉. 〈◊〉. Ecclesiastes 7:17.

Psalms 102:24

Thy yeares] the meaning is, thou hast joyned thy selfe to thy Church by an especiall covenant, which carrieth with it the comuncation of benefits, correspondent to thine own proper nature; for as thou art living, so must shee live, as thou art everlasting, so must she be also, Matth. 22. 32. I beseech thee then to fulfill these effects of thy covenant of Grace.

Psalms 102:26

Shall perish] that is to say, being melted and dissolved by the fire, they shall change forme and state, yet shall not be brought to nothing, see Isa. 65. 17. and 66. 22. 2 Pet. 3. 7. 10. 11. The intent is, to shew that although God as he is Creator hath not communicated the gift of eternity to all his other creatures, yet he hath done it as a father to his children, ver. 18. seeLam 5. 19. 20. Habakkuk 1:12. Matth. 22. 32.