But You, O Lord, shall endure forever, and the remembrance of Your name to all generations. You will arise and have mercy on Zion. For the time to favor her, yes, the set time, has come. (Psalm 102:12-13)
For several verses prior to these, David describes the intense suffering experienced by the afflicted. He says things like, “my days are consumed like smoke, my heart is stricken and withered like grass, my bones cling to my skin and my enemies reproach me all day long.” Perhaps he was describing his own experience, but rabbinical commentators interpret this as speaking prophetically of the people of Israel in exile. While scattered throughout the nations, they are an afflicted people because, as stated by David, “You have lifted me up and cast me away” (Psalm 102:10).
This interpretation is important if we are to truly appreciate the hope that is conveyed in the verses above. Through the generations, those in exile held on to the expectation that, in their day, redemption would come. When they realized it was not to be in their lifetime, they consoled themselves with the hope that their children or grandchildren would see redemption hence the statement, “You, O Lord, shall endure forever, and the remembrance of Your name to all generations.” In other words, every generation appealed to Heaven believing that, at any moment, God would restore the fortunes of His people and bring them into the land of their fathers. They believed because of this promise — “You will arise and have mercy on Zion!”
For those of us who follow Messiah, the hope of this promise is just as relevant. We also should be looking to Heaven with expectation for Zion’s redemption because Yeshua is Zion’s King. He is the One who will arise from His place and put down all of His enemies when the set time to redeem His people has come. Many generations before us have hoped that He would return in their day but, obviously, He did not. But that doesn’t mean He isn’t; He will come again and bring salvation with Him, and thus we pray that He will come speedily, in our day.
Knowing that He will return is exciting but, at the same time, should provoke us to assess our lives and make certain we are ready to meet the King. It is appointed for us to suffer afflictions and hardships, but we cannot afford to give into hopelessness and indifference as we wait for His return. Rather, as we look forward to the time of redemption, “be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless … and beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked” (2 Peter 3:14, 17). He is coming again so let us be alert, sober, ready and “looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Yeshua Messiah” (Titus 2:13).
Blessings and Shalom,
Bill
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