Dr. Pothana's Teaching

1. A Prayer of the Afflicted

2. Psalm 102
• Written during a time when
Judah is facing oppression
(possibly Babylonian captivity)
• “A prayer of the Afflicted, when
he is overwhelmed and pours
out his complaint before the
Lord.”

3. Lamentations (1-11)
• Hear my prayer! (1)
• A time of despair. Author is
stressed and in misery
• It seems God is not
answering (2)

4. Lamentations (1-11)
• Days consumed (3)
• Body broken (3-5)
• Loneliness (6-7)
• Enemies reproach (8)

5. Lamentations (1-11)
• Food of ashes and tears (9)
• A product of God’s
indignation and wrath (10)
• Shortened days (11)

6. Lamentations (1-11)
• Do we ever find ourselves in
a similar condition?
• In despair, we pour out our
hearts to God but we don’t
seem to receive an answer?
We are guilty and
unworthy?

7. Lamentations (1-11)
• God is there!
• He knows what is best (Isa.
55:8-9)
• We cannot expect favoritism
• Adversity can produce good
(Heb. 12:5-11, Jas. 1:2-3,
Rom. 5:3-5)
• Sometimes we need to repent!
(Isa. 59:2)

8. Mercy on Zion (12-22)
• The psalmist acknowledges that
God’s will shall prevail
• NOTE: In this section we find the
hope of return and rebuilding.
• It is possible that we also find a
Messianic hope – as we shall
see

9. Mercy on Zion (12-22)
• The Lord will endure (12)
• Remembered throughout all
generations
• Mercy on Zion (13)

10. Mercy on Zion (12-22)
• “For the time to favor her, yes,
the set time, has come” (13-14)
• The captivity was 70 years
(2 Chron. 36:20-21, Jer.
25:11-12)
• So was the coming of the Lord
(Gal. 4:4)

11. Mercy on Zion (12-22)
• “So nations shall fear the
name of the Lord” (15-17)
• Cyrus decreed their return
(2 Chron. 36:22-23)
• He will regard the prayers of
the destitute (cf. Luke 4:40-
43)

12. Mercy on Zion (12-22)
• “This will be written for the
generation to come” (18)
• Events preserved by the Lord for
our learning
• Rom. 15:4, 4:23-24, 1 Cor.
9:9-10, 2 Pet. 1:20-21
• Do we preserve that which we
have learned – cf. Deut. 31:19

13. Mercy on Zion (12-22)
• “That a people yet created
may praise the Lord” (18)
• Generations in Jerusalem
• Spiritually, when we obey the
gospel 2 Cor. 5:17

14. Mercy on Zion (12-22)
• “God looked down from His
sanctuary” (19)
• HE heard the cries of
prisoners groaning
• Spiritually, the “prison” of sin
Isaiah 61:1-2 (Lk. 4:18)

15. Mercy on Zion (12-22)
• “Release those appointed to
death” (20)
• Released after captivity
• Released from curse of sin
Eph. 2:2-5

16. Mercy on Zion (12-22)
• “To declare His name of the
Lord in Zion” (21-22)
• Released after captivity did
declare His greatness
• Do we declare His goodness?
1 Pet. 2:9

17. Eternity of God (23-28)
• The psalmist’s end is near and
he pleads for more time
Like Jesus in Garden (Matt.
26:39)
• He declares the eternity of God,
while the earth will cease
• Spoken of Christ in Heb. 1:10-
12

18. Eternity of God (23-28)
• His servants will also continue
(28)
• So will we! Cf.1 Thess. 4:17

19. The psalmist writes with hope
of Judah…
…and for us!
Where is your hope?