Three Humbling Truths
Introduction
It was in preparing to preach a sermon on Plagues 8-9 of Egypt, that I came across an unusual form of a Hebrew verb "afflict oneself." While I was able, from first principles, to work out the rare form, I was slightly taken aback by a missing letter that I did not expect (GKC 51L, p139, for any Hebrew-detail buffs). It was on a walk just afterwards that my mind was turned to the afflicted man of Psalm 102's superscription & verse 24 of the same Psalm. If only, I thought, Pharaoh, could have taken a prayer like this to soften his heart heart, and then he might have sanctioned Israelite slave release (though, of course, for His overarching, redemptive, loving, purpose for the Old Testament Church, God had decreed his complex, hardened, heart [perhaps another post!]). This, the second song in what is most likely a Davidic triad (101-103) in Book III of the Psalter (Psalm 90-106), contains at least "Three Humbling Truths", to make hearts jelly-soft.
First - Human Life is Short!
This isolated, insomniac, anorexic, patient is trying to cope with the stress and shock of being struck like grass, vaporized like smoke, taunted as a curse, with skin sagging off his limbs, as a reproach to God and men. This poor soul, in mid-life crisis, knows full-well that his days are numbered, and time-sands sinking fast in his biographical hour-glass:
9 For I eat ashes like bread and mingle tears with my drink, 10 because of your indignation and anger; for you have taken me up and thrown me down. 11 My days are like an evening shadow; I wither away like grass ...23 He has broken my strength in midcourse; he has shortened my days. 24 "O my God," I say, "take me not away in the midst of my days-- you whose years endure throughout all generations!" (Ps. 102:9-11, 23-24).
If you're tempted to be over-confident and proud, or if you struggle with the grace of self-humiliation, remember quick that you will not escape death, unless the Lord comes first: at any moment now a sudden clot or bleed, or a unwelcome tumor or truck, could take you out, even as you go about your daily work or final gasp. Don't forget, dear friends, life is exceedingly short.
Second - Divine Life is Long!
Without this companion truth, such self-humbling has not prospect but a grave. Yet, with the shining doctrine of the eternity of the LORD, before trusting eyes of faith, there is solid, heavenly, hope, of life than never ends, through Jesus Christ our Lord. That is the way the letter to the Hebrews takes this verse - it is a statement that the Psalmist makes about Messiah, the Exalted King Jesus, in glorious session following gory atonement. Not only is it used of God the Son praying in his affliction to the Father, but on the lips of this other afflicted author, looking to the Saviour, the Eternal and Immutable Son of David.
24 "O my God," I say, "take me not away in the midst of my days– you whose years endure throughout all generations!" 25 Of old you laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. 26 They will perish, but you will remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will change them like a robe, and they will pass away, 27 but you are the same, and your years have no end. (Ps. 102:24-27).
When starkly confronted by the brevity of earthly breath, we can look to the Triune God, Father, Son and Spirit: this Everlasting God, His People's Eternal Rock, can raise us from a sick bed, dark pit, or dire strait; or, far better, He can immunize us from the vicissitudes of life by being caught up to be with Christ, this day, night, or mid-life; and, at the Last Trump, to gaze on Him whom our sins pierced, and to hear well done for His work of Gospel grace in us. It is only because His life is without end, than none can perish who believe in Jesus - through union with our King, saints can have concrete hope of glory in the Heights. How humbling for our hearts to know that the Son of God took our flesh to death, and was punished for our guilt, that we might share His Crown of Life.
Third - God's Plan Will Be Fulfilled
What hurt this sufferer most was that Zion's walls were dust - the radiant promises of the Covenant of Grace, in its various administrations to Abraham, Moses, and David, seemed to have temporarily dimmed with exile in Babylon (or, perhaps, more likely, in some other, earlier, Kingdom reverse). It would certainly fit the lip of the son of Jesse, of one of his later offspring, who bore the taunts of fellow citizens, treacherous officials, rulers of neighboring nations, or rebels who had risen up, to cast the LORD's Christ out. When Jesus prayed this prayer, as Judah's representative Dynastic Seed, he felt the hurts, taunts, and loneliness of the national plight: in His Own Worthy Person, he sobbed over Zion's stony sheep, and the hypocritical harlot that the Holy City had become. Perhaps, then it was David, after all, David who, by the Spirit, foresaw the Messiah: it was by His death and resurrection, that He who would transform dusty types and limestone blocks of Temple Mount, into the Heavenly City, composed of living bricks, united by faith to Chief-Cornerstone-Christ, Himself. Jesus, therefore, also eyes fresh hope - God was faithful, but also eternal, and so in time, after His Mediatorial affliction-unto-death, the Father would hear his distressed prayer: compassions which cannot fail, would reassemble crumbled rocks, till all the kings of earth, feared (or reluctantly confessed) the Covenant Head and King of Yahweh's glorified, beautiful, bride.
12 But you, O LORD, are enthroned forever; you are remembered throughout all generations. 13 You will arise and have pity on Zion; it is the time to favor her; the appointed time has come. 14 For your servants hold her stones dear and have pity on her dust. 15 Nations will fear the name of the LORD, and all the kings of the earth will fear your glory. 16 For the LORD builds up Zion; he appears in his glory; 17 he regards the prayer of the destitute and does not despise their prayer. 18 Let this be recorded for a generation to come, so that a people yet to be created may praise the LORD: (Ps. 102:12-18).
It is for this very reason that:
The children of your servants shall dwell secure; their offspring shall be established before you. (Ps. 102:28)
We should be humbled that though we are so faint, and though our life is brief, that beyond our allotted span, Christ will fulfil with finality, God's for-the-ages plan. For this groaning saint, the Cross still lay a millennium ahead. For us, in our time, all that remains is for the Father to receive the Kingdom under the dominion of His Son, and give us the beatific vision of His unchangeable love in the countenance of Our Lord.
Finally, if broken-hearted contrition humbles us in the ashes of God's storm-tossed Church, then we can gratefully and gladly take up our Cross: what we find is that, by mortification of self through faith-union with Messiah's death, that we experience His risen life, and overflowing affliction of His Gospel humiliation, for Jesus' sake.
Conclusion
So don't forget these three humbling truths for all proud or afflicted minds - you days are numbered, Yahweh is the LORD who was, is, and is to come, both Eternal Father and Immortal Lamb, therefore in any or all trial or tear, our destiny is secure in those gates of pearl and streets of heavenly gold.
