Psalms 102:13

Psalms 102:13 says, Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come.  Zion was in distress, but David said God would have mercy on Zion again, when His timing was right.  We can be certain that God always has mercy on His people, even in times of distress.  Verse fourteen adds, For thy servants take pleasure in her stones, and favour the dust thereof.  The people of Israel still took pleasure in the house of God, even if it was reduced to stones.  There was still hope in the things of God, just as there is today even if they seem to be trampled down by the world.  Verse fifteen continues, So the heathen shall fear the name of the LORD, and all the kings of the earth thy glory.  David said that the heathen would come to fear the name of God, and when God comes in judgment if not before they certainly will, and even the most powerful people in the world will do so.  Verse sixteen declares, When the LORD shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory.  God would be the One to rebuild Zion. The people of God are established by His actions and kept by His power.  Verse seventeen adds, He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer.  God will always hear the prayer of the destitute if they are His people.  Our earthly status does not determine our relationship with God, and even the poorest may come to Him.  Verse eighteen states, This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people which shall be created shall praise the LORD.  We today read of what David said and if we believe in God's word, beginning by believing in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, we will praise the Lord.  Verse nineteen adds, For he hath looked down from the height of his sanctuary; from heaven did the LORD behold the earth;  God has always looked down from above on the earth and always will.  Verse twenty continues, To hear the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those that are appointed to death;  Simply being a prisoner does not save one,but being a prisoner because of our faith in God, and maybe even being sentenced to death for the same, causes God to hear our mornings.  Of course, we are all prisoners of sin and under its death sentence until we accept the salvation of Christ.  Verse twenty-one says, To declare the name of the LORD in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem;  God will save His people so that His name will be praised.  Verse twenty-two adds, When the people are gathered together, and the kingdoms, to serve the LORD.  We may not be able to gather together all kingdoms to worship God, but we as Christians can certainly gather together to worship Him.  Verse twenty-three states, He weakened my strength in the way; he shortened my days.  The people of Israel were in a weakened state in the world, but God was still the source of their strength and victory.  We may find ourselves in a weakened physical state today, but if our faith in Christ remains strong, that is all that matters.  Verse twenty-four adds, I said, O my God, take me not away in the midst of my days: thy years are throughout all generations. David asked that God not allow him to die while he should still have a lot of years of life remaining.  Whatever age we physically die at, if we are saved by God's grace, our life is everlasting.  Verse twenty-five declares, Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands.  God created the universe a long time ago, and His power will never diminish.  Verse twenty-six adds, They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed:  Whether we are followers of Christ or His enemies, this is the fate of us all if Christ does not return first.  Verse twenty-seven continues, But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end.  God never changes.  Verse twenty-eight concludes, The children of thy servants shall continue, and their seed shall be established before thee.  God's servants, those who have put their faith in Jesus Christ, will live with God forever.