Psalm 102:16

When the LORD shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Benson Commentary

Psalm 102:16-18. When the Lord shall build up Zion — They take it for granted it would be done, for God himself had undertaken it; he shall appear in his glory — His glorious power, wisdom, and goodness shall be manifested to all the world. He will regard the prayer of the destitute — That is, of his poor, forsaken, despised people in Babylon. And not despise their prayer — That is, he will accept and answer it. This shall be written for the generation to come — This wonderful deliverance shall not be lost nor forgotten, but carefully recorded for the instruction and encouragement of all succeeding generations. And the people which shall be created — Who shall hereafter be born; or, who shall be created anew in Christ Jesus; shall praise the Lord — For his answers to their prayers, when they were most destitute. This may be understood, either, 1st, Of the Jews, who should be restored to, their own land, for they had been, in a manner, dead and buried in the grave and mere dry bones, as they are represented Isaiah 26:19, and Ezekiel 37 : or, 2d, Of the Gentiles who should be converted, whose conversion is frequently, and might very justly be called, a second creation.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

102:12-22 We are dying creatures, but God is an everlasting God, the protector of his church; we may be confident that it will not be neglected. When we consider our own vileness, our darkness and deadness, and the manifold defects in our prayers, we have cause to fear that they will not be received in heaven; but we are here assured of the contrary, for we have an Advocate with the Father, and are under grace, not under the law. Redemption is the subject of praise in the Christian church; and that great work is described by the temporal deliverance and restoration of Israel. Look down upon us, Lord Jesus; and bring us into the glorious liberty of thy children, that we may bless and praise thy name.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

When the Lord shall build up Zion - The Septuagint, the Latin Vulgate, and Luther, vender this, "Because the Lord hath built up Zion." This also is the most natural and correct translation of the Hebrew. The reference, however, may be to the future. The psalmist may throw himself into the future, and - standing there - he may describe things as they will appear then - as already done.

He shall appear in his glory - The idea is that the building up of Zion would be an occasion in which God would manifest his glory. In reference to the restoration of his people from bondage; in rebuilding Zion, then in ruins; in restoring the splendor of the place where he had been so long worshipped, he would display his true character as a God of glory, truth, power, and goodness. As applied to the church in general, this would mean that when God comes to revive religion, to visit his people, to recover them from their backslidings, to convert and save sinners, he appears in his appropriate character as the God of his people - as a glorious God. Then the perfections of his nature are most illustriously displayed; then he appears in his true character, as a God of mercy, grace, and salvation. There is no scene on earth where the character of God is more gloriously exhibited than in a revival of true religion.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

16. When the Lord shall build—or better, "Because the Lord hath built," &c., as a reason for the effect on others; for in thus acting and hearing the humble, He is most glorious.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

His glorious power, and wisdom, and goodness shall be manifested to all the world.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

When the Lord shall build up Zion,.... The church of God, fallen down, and in a ruinous condition, as it may be said to be when the doctrines of the Gospel are departed from; the ordinances of it are corrupted and altered, or not attended to; the worship and discipline of the Lord's house are neglected; great declensions in faith, love, and zeal, among the professors of religion, and but few instances of conversion: and it may be said to be built up again, as it will be in the latter day, when the doctrines of grace will be revived; the ordinances will be administered in their primitive purity; great spirituality, holiness, and brotherly love, among the saints, and large numbers converted and brought into it: and this will be the work of Christ, the great master builder; the materials of this building are the saints, those lively stones which will now be laid with fair colours; the ministers of the word will be the instruments that Christ will make use of in rebuilding his church; it is his Spirit, power, and grace, which will make all effectual; and he will have the glory, as follows: the Targum is,

"for the city of Zion is built by the Word of the Lord:''

he shall appear in his glory; or "shall be seen in his glory" (b), which will be upon his church and people, and on which there will be a defence, so that it shall continue; and this will lie chiefly in the purity of Gospel truths, ordinances, and worship; in the number of converts; in the gifts and graces of the Spirit of God upon them; in their peace, prosperity, unity, and spirituality; and in the presence of Christ with them, who will be seen in all the glory and majesty of his kingly office; he will now reign before his ancients gloriously.

(b) "videbitur", V. L. Pagninus, Montanus.

Geneva Study Bible

When the LORD shall build up Zion, he shall appear {m} in his glory.

(m) That is, when he will have drawn his church out of the darkness of death.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

16, 17. When Jehovah hath built up Zion,

Hath appeared in his glory,

Hath turned to the prayer of the destitute,

And not despised their prayer.

These verses are in close connexion with Psalm 102:15. The nations will pay homage to Jehovah, when He has manifested His glory in the redemption of His people. The destitute or forlorn is Israel in exile. With Psalm 102:17 generally cp. Psalm 22:24; Psalm 69:33.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 16. - When the Lord shall build up Zion; rather, because the Lord hath built up Zion. The psalmist, in prophetic ecstasy, sees the future as past. The verbs in this and the next verse are all preterite. He shall appear in his glory; rather, hath appeared in his glory (see Isaiah 40:5). Psalm 102:16

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

With וייראוּ we are told what will take place when that which is expected in Psalm 102:14 comes to pass, and at the same time the fulfilment of that which is longed for is thereby urged home upon God: Jahve's own honour depends upon it, since the restoration of Jerusalem will become the means of the conversion of the world - a fundamental thought of Isaiah 40:1 (cf. more particularly Isaiah 59:19; Isaiah 60:2), which is also called to mind in the expression of this strophe. This prophetic prospect (Isaiah 40:1-5) that the restoration of Jerusalem will take place simultaneously with the glorious parusia of Jahve re-echoes here in a lyric form. כּי, Psalm 102:17, states the ground of the reverence, just as Psalm 102:20 the ground of the praise. The people of the Exile are called in Psalm 102:18 הערער, from ערר, to be naked: homeless, powerless, honourless, and in the eyes of men, prospectless. The lxx renders this word in Jeremiah 17:6 ἀγριομυρίκη, and its plural, formed by an internal change of vowel, ערוער, in Jeremiah 48:6 ὄνος ἄγριος, which are only particularizations of the primary notion of that which is stark naked, neglected, wild. Psalm 102:18 is an echo off Psalm 22:25. In the mirror of this and of other Psalms written in times of affliction the Israel of the Exile saw itself reflected.