Psalm 102 v12-20 of 28 "And to deliver from on high a multitude condemned to die." Tune: Darwall

Psalm 102 “But you, O LORD, are set for ever on your throne"
Tune: Darwall
Falkirk Free Church
The images are only intended to provide resonances with some aspects of the psalm; they are not intended as a one-to-one correspondence.
images: John sees the holy city (Revelation 21-22)
The preacher who chose this portion was Bob Akroyd who cares about many prisoners although God cares even more.

Revelation 21: 1-4
I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth have passed away, and the sea is no more. 2 I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband. 3 I heard a loud voice out of heaven saying, “Behold, God’s dwelling is with people, and he will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; neither will there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain, any more. The first things have passed away.”

PSALM 102 6 6 6 6 8 8

1 LORD, listen to my prayer,
And hear my cry for aid.
2 Hide not your face from me,
For I am so afraid.
Incline your ear to me in need;
And, when I call, be swift to heed.

3 Like smoke my days are gone;
My bones are burned away.
4 My appetite is lost;
My heart is parched like hay.
5 Because of my incessant groans
I am no more than skin and bones.

6 I’m like a desert owl,
An owl midst tumbled stone,
7 Or bird upon a roof—
I lie awake, alone.
8 My foes revile me all day long;
My haters mock my name in song.

9 For ashes are my food;
I weep incessantly
10 Because in your great wrath
You have abandoned me.
11 My days like evening shadows pass;
I wither like the sun-dried grass.

12 But you, O LORD, are set
For ever on your throne;
Through each succeeding age
Endures your great renown.
13 You will arise in mighty power;
On Zion mercy you will shower.

The set time now has come
To bless Jerusalem.
14 Her stones your saints hold dear;
Her dust is mourned by them.
15 Nations will fear your name, O LORD;
All kings on earth your praise record.

16 For God will yet appear
In glorious might to reign;
The LORD in grace will build
Jerusalem again.
17 The prayers of the poor he’ll heed;
He will not spurn their cry of need.

18 Let this be written down
To teach a future race,
So people yet unborn
May magnify his grace:
19 That from his holy place above
The LORD looked down in tender love.

From heav’n he viewed the earth
Observing all mankind,
20 To hear the groans of those
In prison cells confined,
And to deliver from on high
A multitude condemned to die.

21 In Zion will be praised
The LORD’s exalted name;
His praises will be sung
Within Jerusalem,
22 When peoples and their kingdoms throng
To serve the LORD with cheerful song.

23 He took my strength away
By his almighty power;
He shortened grievously
My life’s allotted hour.
24 I said, “O take me not away,
My God, at noontide of my day.

“Your days and years go on
Through every age of man.
25 The earth’s foundation strong
You laid when time began.
The heavens came at your command,
Created by your mighty hand.

26 “The earth and heavens will fail,
But you alone remain.
Like garments they will age,
While you on high will reign.
Like clothing you will change them all;
Like clothes discarded they will fall.

27 “But you endure always;
Your years will never cease.
28 Your servants’ children too
Will know your reign of peace.
Their offspring, their succeeding race,
Will ever stand before your face.”