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Preparing for the Sermon - Psalm 102

October 26, 2023 by Campbell Bortel Preparing for Sunday
Living in Light of God
PREPARE YOUR HEART FOR THE SERMON BY LOOKING THROUGH THESE SUGGESTIONS THAT WILL ASSIST YOU IN MAKING THE MOST OF OUR TIME TOGETHER HEARING GOD'S WORD.

You will find suggestions for thinking more critically through the passage, meditating more intently on the text, and prayerfully seeking wisdom to deepen your understanding of the passage to be preached this Sunday.

Carefully Think

  • What type of Psalm is Psalm 102? What aspects of this Psalm lead you to this conclusion?
  • What do you learn from the Superscription of this Psalm?
  • What are some of the common elements of Hebrew poetry that might be helpful to look for when reading the Psalms? How are these elements used?
  • Take note of the pronouns in this Psalm. Do you notice any patterns? What might these reveal?
  • How does the psalmist resemble a pelican or owl? What is being drawn out in this comparison?
  • Notice the appeals being made to the Lord in the first two verses. How many are there? Why might there be so much overlap in the language/ideas?
  • What is the immutability of God, and how can it be found in these verses?
  • What does the immutability of God have to do with the present trials and content of the Psalm in general? Why bring up this attribute of God here in these final verses?

Prayerfully Meditate

  • Break the Psalm into sections and give them titles based on the content in each. What titles did you come up with and why?
  • If God is spirit and therefore does not have a physical body, what does the psalmist mean when referring to God’s face and ear in verse 2?
  • What is verse 3 symbolizing? Why use this kind of language?
  • Why do the enemies of the psalmist disapprove and ridicule him?
  • What is the nature of the contrast in verse 12? What is being contrasted?
  • What is the function of this contrast? Why does the Psalmist choose to make this contrast at this point in the Psalm?
  • What is the significance of Zion as a place? What other passage of scripture might you point to support your answer?
  • How is the Psalm anticipating things yet to come? Why might this be helpful for the psalmist to include in a lament psalm?