SUFFERINGS AND GLORY

According to Hebrews 1. 10-12, this psalm has to do with the Lord Jesus Christ, God’s Son, particularly as the Unchangeable One, vv. 25-27. Also “ought not Christ to have suffered … and to enter into his glory?”, Luke 24. 26, sufferings as in verses 1-11, and glory as in verses 12-16.

The psalmist’s own sufferings and despair at the state of Zion (broken down, v. 14, and in need of divine mercy) will end one day, “the time to favour her … is come”, v. 13.

However, his present state is such that he is about to faint; he uses his last breath to pour out his complaint before the Lord (see the psalm’s superscription). His distress is so great that he cannot eat, vv. 4, 5, nor sleep, v. 7. He feels like a pelican and an owl (unclean creatures) in a place where there is no sustenance. He feels himself as a national representative, the object of God’s indignation and wrath on sin—cast away.

His penitential prayer is heard, and the eternal God comes to his aid, who heard “the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those that are appointed to death”, v. 20. The restored Israel will see that “the heathen shall fear the name of the Lord, and all the kings of the earth thy glory. When the Lord shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory”, vv. 15, 16. In that day, “the people … shall praise the Lord”, v. 18.

God does all this that men may “declare the name of the Lord in Zion”, v. 21. The eternal nature of the Lord ensures the continuing of “the children of thy servants”, v. 28. This reminds us that our position as believers is ensured by the One who “continueth ever … Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them”, Heb. 7. 24, 25.

In the direct quotation from this psalm in Hebrews 1. 10-12, we see the superiority of the Son of God over angels, “being made so much better than the angels”, primarily because of His name, “a more excellent name than they”, Heb. 1. 4. His name is “my Son”, v. 5; “God”, v. 8; “Lord”, v. 10, the One who sits upon the divine throne, v. 13, and whom angels worship, v. 6; this is the One who suffered for sins once, 1 Pet. 3. 18, in order that we might share His glory for ever, 5. 1; Jude 24. “What a wonderful Saviour is Jesus my Lord”.