November 8
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GOD HEARS THE GROANING OF THE PRISONER
For the LORD has built up Zion;
He has appeared in His glory.
17 He has turned His attention to the prayer of the destitute
And has not despised their prayer.
18 This will be written for the generation to come,
That a people yet to be created may praise the LORD:
19 For He looked down from His holy height;
From heaven the LORD looked upon the earth,
20 To hear the groaning of the prisoner,
To set free those who were doomed to death,
21 So that people may tell of the name of the LORD in Zion,
And His praise in Jerusalem,
22 When the peoples are gathered together,
And the kingdoms, to serve the LORD. – Psalm 102:16-22
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Commentary on these verses on the psalm from enduringword.com states that God’s goodness will be written for the generations to come: God’s goodness to Zion and the whole earth is a testimony for the future, so that a people yet to be created may praise the LORD. Poole writes “This wonderful deliverance shall not be lost nor forgotten, but carefully recorded by thy people.” Spurgeon on the other hands says that “Registers of divine kindness ought to be made and preserved: we write down in history the calamities of nations – wars, famines, pestilences, and earthquakes are recorded; how much rather then should we set up memorials of the Lord’s lovingkindnesses!”
The psalmist pictured God bending down low from heaven. In verse 19, God sees the people he created and in verse 20, the psalmist recognizes that God hears the complains of those who are in bondage. Once, I was in so much bondage and strongholds, and deep inside me, I knew God was listening to my groanings during those times. In verse 20, the psalmist echoes Isaiah 61:1 which says: “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, Because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to captives and freedom to prisoners”. What wonderful promises God has given his people!
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REFLECTION
• Why is depression and hopelessness not an option for a true believer?