A Cry From the Dust
A prayer of one afflicted, when he grows faint and pours out his lament before our Father.
A sick man's prayer: days like smoke, bones burning, ashes for bread, awake at night like a lone sparrow on a roof. Halfway through he stops describing himself and turns to Zion's rebuilding and a Father who outlasts the heavens wearing out like clothes.
102 1Hear my prayer, our Father; let my cry for help come to you. 2Do not hide your face from me in the day of my distress. Turn your ear to me; on the day I call, answer me quickly.
3For my days vanish like smoke, and my bones burn like a furnace. 4My heart is struck down and withered like grass; I even forget to eat my bread. 5Because of my groaning, I am wasted to skin and bones. 6I am like a desert owl of the wilderness, like an owl among the ruins. a a v6 The desert owl and the owl among the ruins were birds of forsaken, desolate places — vivid images of total loneliness and abandonment. 7I lie awake; I have become like a lone sparrow on a rooftop. 8All day long my enemies taunt me; those who rage against me use my name as a curse. 9For I eat ashes like bread and mix my drink with tears, 10because of your indignation and your wrath; for you lifted me up and cast me away. 11My days are like a lengthening shadow, and I wither away like grass.
12But you, our Father, are enthroned forever; your renown endures to all generations. 13You will arise and have compassion on Zion, for it is time to show her favor; the appointed time has come. 14For your servants take delight in her stones and show compassion for her dust. 15The nations will fear the name of our Father, and all the kings of the earth will fear your glory. 16For our Father will build up Zion; he will appear in his glory. 17He will listen to the prayer of the destitute and will not despise their pleading.
18Let this be written for a generation to come, so that a people yet to be created may praise our Father: 19that he looked down from his holy height; from heaven our Father gazed upon the earth, 20to hear the groaning of the prisoner, to set free those condemned to death, 21so that the name of our Father may be declared in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem, 22when peoples and kingdoms gather together to worship our Father.
23He has broken my strength along the way; he has cut short my days. 24So I said, "My Father, do not take me away in the middle of my life—you whose years endure through all generations. 25Long ago you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. b b v25 Hebrews 1:10-12 applies these words to Jesus — our Lord Jesus, the eternal Son through whom our Father made all things. 26They will perish, but you will remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will change them like clothing, and they will pass away. 27But you are the same, and your years will never end. 28The children of your servants will dwell secure, and their offspring will stand firm before you."
