^{26 “}They will perish, but you remain forever;
    they will wear out like old clothing.
You will change them like a garment
    and discard them.
²⁷ But you are always the same;
    you will live forever.
²⁸ The children of your people
    will live in security.
Their children’s children
    will thrive in your presence.”

Psalm 102:26-28

It is definitely a matter of perspective– but even more so. Perhaps the biggest step we will ever make, is to face the fact that we are not god. Quite a few still have never grasped this fact, and they continue in their folly. But the simple and discerning have embraced the truth that they are mere mortals. This is alone is a  bigger step than you realize.

Allowing the truth to seep in is one of the ways we start to build our faith. There is as well a messianic verse in v. 26. The writer of Hebrews uses it to signify Jesus’ work (Heb. 1:10-12). All of the Old Testament that gets used in the New Testament carries a double anointing– these verses are special, and perhaps we should look at them expecting a double blessing.

Commentary

V. 26, They will perish, but you remain forever;
    they will wear out like old clothing.
You will change them like a garment
    and discard them.”

The psalmist begins to show us the contrast between “perish” and “remaining forever.” It is also key to the writer’s art that he is speaking to God. Actually, these three verses all are directed to the Lord– a prayer, I guess.

A deep distinction is being made between the lost, and the saved, and of God Himself. Three very different states of being can be seen. (And they never will overlap). We must accept a certain a certain winnowing– God indeed makes a way of escape for us.

The writer introduces this idea of garments. Things that wear out. I have socks awaiting mending, and tee-shirts that are far gone. Some of my favorite denims are soon to be destined for “rags” or patches. I suppose what the Holy Spirit is teaching us is the fleeting and passing nature of our lives.

V. 27, “But you are always the same;
    you will live forever.”

We are mere transients, but He is permanent and perpetual. (And I for one am glad of it). We might wish for more, but what comes is what matters.

A key thought that the psalmist advances is “always the same” and “you will live forever”. Both phrases certainly build the case (especially in contrast with man) for a settledness or a stability from the Lord.

We will never wake up to find that God has somehow altered Himself. Or, somehow, He is in a bad mood this morning. His love for you is quite fixed, and we should rest in His solidness and rock-steady, “til the end of time” kind of love.

V. 28, “ The children of your people
    will live in security.
Their children’s children
    will thrive in your presence.”

It seems that God likes to use the family unit as a good way of touching hearts. For me it was my Aunt Gloria, and the Father did His work on me through her example and testimony. Looking back, she never preached, or slipped me Bible verses. She was just a simple believer who only trusted in you.

We should not feel disturbed by the lack of response towards us and our message. I’m willing to bet that practically every person has someone that stands for Christ in our family. It could be a nephew or cousin, an aunt or a grandchild. The connection to family has a profound effect.

*

ybic, Bryan

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• Dead Roses: Psalm 102:9-11 (psalmslife.com)