Psalm 102:1
102:1 A Prayer {a} of the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed,
      and poureth out his complaint before the LORD. Hear my
      prayer, O LORD, and let my {b} cry come unto thee.

      (a) By which is signified, that even though we are in
          great misery, yet there is always room for prayer.
      (b) He declares that in our prayer we must lively feel
          that which we desire, and steadfastly believe to
          obtain.

Psalm 102:3
102:3 For my days are {c} consumed like smoke, and my bones are
      burned as an hearth.

      (c) These excessive kinds of speech show how much the
          affliction of the Church should wound the hearts of
          the godly.

Psalm 102:4
102:4 My heart is smitten, and withered like grass; so that I
      forget {d} to eat my bread.

      (d) My sorrows were so great that I did not eat.

Psalm 102:6
102:6 I am like a {e} pelican of the wilderness: I am like an
      owl of the desert.

      (e) Always mourning in solitude and casting out fearful
          cries.

Psalm 102:8
102:8 Mine enemies reproach me all the day; [and] they that are
      mad against me are {f} sworn against me.

      (f) Have conspired my death.

Psalm 102:9
102:9 For I have {g} eaten ashes like bread, and mingled my
      drink with weeping,

      (g) I have not risen out of my mourning to take my
          refreshment.

Psalm 102:10
102:10 Because of thine {h} indignation and thy wrath: for thou
       hast lifted me up, and cast me down.

       (h) He shows that not only the afflictions moved him, but
           chiefly the feeling of God's displeasure.

Psalm 102:12
102:12 But thou, O LORD, shalt {i} endure for ever; and thy
       remembrance unto all generations.

       (i) Though we are frail, yet your promise is sure, and
           the remembrance of it will confirm us forever.

Psalm 102:13
102:13 Thou shalt arise, [and] have mercy upon Zion: for the
       time to favour her, yea, the {k} set time, is come.

       (k) That is, the seventy years which by the prophet
           Jeremiah you appointed, Jeremiah 29:12.

Psalm 102:14
102:14 For thy servants take pleasure in her {l} stones, and
       favour the dust thereof.

       (l) The more the Church is in misery and desolation, the
           more the faithful should love and pity it.

Psalm 102:16
102:16 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.

Psalm 102:18
102:18 This shall be written for the generation to come: and the
       people which shall be {n} created shall praise the LORD.

       (n) The deliverance of the Church is an excellent
           benefit, and therefore he compares it to a new
           creation for in their banishment the body of the
           Church seemed to have been dead, which by deliverance
           was as it were created anew.

Psalm 102:20
102:20 To hear the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those that
       are {o} appointed to death;

       (o) Who now in their banishment could look for nothing
           but death.

Psalm 102:22
102:22 When the people are gathered {p} together, and the
       kingdoms, to serve the LORD.

       (p) He shows that Gad's name is never more praised, than
           when religion flourishes and the church increases:
           which is chiefly accomplished under the kingdom of
           Christ.

Psalm 102:23
102:23 He {q} weakened my strength in the way; he shortened my
       days.

       (q) The church lament that they see not the time of
           Christ, which was promised, but have but few years
           and short days.

Psalm 102:26
102:26 {r} They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of
       them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt
       thou change them, and they shall be changed:

       (r) If heaven and earth perish, much more man will
           perish: but the Church by reason of God's promise
           endures forever.

Psalm 102:28
102:28 The children of thy servants shall continue, and their
       seed shall {s} be established before thee.

       (s) Seeing you have chosen your Church out of the world,
           and joined it to you, it cannot but continue forever:
           for you are everlasting.