The Treasury of David
by C.H. Spurgeon

EXPOSITION OF THE PSALMS
(Psalms 102 Verse 2)

 

EXPOSITION

Verse 2. Hide not thy face from me in the day when I am in trouble. Do not seem as if thou didst not see me, or wouldst not own me. Smile now at any rate. Reserve thy frowns for other times when I can bear them better, if, indeed, I can ever bear them; but now in my heavy distress, favour me with looks of compassion.

Incline thine ear unto me. Bow thy greatness to my weakness. If because of sin thy face is turned away, at least let me have a side view of thee, lend me thine ear if I may not see thine eye. Turn thyself to me again if, my sin has turned thee away, give to thine ear an inclination to my prayers.

In the day when I call answer me speedily. Because the case is urgent, and my soul little able to wait. We may ask to have answers to prayer as soon as possible, but we may not complain of the Lord if he should think it more wise to delay. We have permission to request and to use importunity, but no right to dictate or to be petulant. If it be important that the deliverance should arrive at once, we are quite right in making an early time a point of our entreaty, for God is as willing to grant us a favour now as to-morrow, and he is not slack concerning his promise. It is a proverb concerning favours from human hands, that "he gives twice who gives quickly," because a gift is enhanced in value by arriving in a time of urgent necessity; and we may be sure that our heavenly Patron will grant us the best gifts in the best manner, granting us grace to help in time of need. When answers come upon the heels of our prayers they are all the more striking, more consoling, and more encouraging.

In these two verses the psalmist has gathered up a variety of expressions all to the same effect; in them all he entreats an audience and answer of the Lord, and the whole may be regarded as a sort of preface to the prayer which follows.

 

EXPLANATORY NOTES AND QUAINT SAYINGS

Verse 2. Incline thine ear unto me. The great exhaustion of the affiicted one is hinted at: so worn out is he, that he is hardly able to cry any more, but with a faint voice only feebly mutters, like a weak sick man, whose voice if we would catch, we must incline the ear. Martin Geier.

 

HINTS FOR PASTORS AND LAYPERSONS

Verse 2.

  1. Prayer in trouble is most needed.
  2. Prayer in trouble is most heeded.
  3. Prayer in trouble is most speeded: "Answer me speedily."

Or,

  1. Prayer in trouble: "In the day," etc.
  2. The prayer of trouble: "Hide not thy face;" not remove the trial, but be with me in it. A fiery furnace is a paradise when God is with us there. G. R.

Verse 2. (first elause). He deprecates the loss of the divine countenance when under trouble.

  1. That would intensify it a thousandfold.
  2. That would deprive him of strength to bear the trouble.
  3. That would prevent his acting so as to glorify God in the trouble.
  4. That might injure the result of the trouble.

Verse 2. (last clause).

  1. We often need to be answered speedily.
  2. God can so answer.
  3. God has so answered.
  4. God has promised so to answer.

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