Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 102:16
When the LORD shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory.
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 Psa 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 Psa 102:17 generally cp. Psa 22:24; Psa 69:33.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
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.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Psa 102:16
When the Lord shall build up Zion, He shall appear in His glory.
The building up of Zion
I. When may Zion, or the Christian Church, be said to be built up?
1. When sinners are converted to God.
2. When Christian converts grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour.
3. When pure and undefiled religion spreads to the ends of the earth.
II. The building of Zion is Gods own work.
1. He is the Author, Cause, and Fountain of all blessedness.
2. He has promised prosperity, success, and extension to the Christian Church.
III. In the building up of the Christian Church, there is an extraordinary display of the glory of God. Conclusion:–
1. Christians may see how much reason they have to be confident and joyful under the most discouraging circumstance which occur, both with respect to themselves and the Church.
2. The duty of Christians to observe, with habitual attention, the course of Providence, and diligently to compare it with the designs announced in prophecy.
3. Reproof to those who are saying that the time is not yet come for the friends of Zion to exert themselves with diligence and zeal for her building up, extension, and glory.
4. The extreme folly, impiety, and danger of those who ridicule our hopes, and attempt to oppose the progress of the gospel
5. This subject is eminently fitted to illuminate our path, and direct our steps, in the present situation of the world.
6. Our subject affords great encouragement to missionary plans and exerstions. (W. B. Browne.)
The glory of God displayed in the building up of Zion
I. The building up of Zion is wholly the work of God. In affecting this work, indeed, it pleaseth God to employ and to honour mortal men, and other creatures, visible and invisible. He calls pastors and teachers for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, by publishing and enforcing the doctrine of salvation. He raises up kings and queens, and princes and nobles, to be nursing fathers and nursing mothers to His Church. He gives a Paul to plant, and an Apollos to water. This He does, however, not because He stands in absolute need of them, nor because of any fitness they possess in themselves to accomplish the end. All their motions and operations and success depend entirely upon God.
II. When it pleaseth God to build up zion, He appears in His glory.
1. Consider the materials of which the Church is built. When a building of strength, of beauty, and of magnificence, is to be erected, men collect the most excellent materials that can be procured. But here, materials are chosen and employed which are in themselves the most worthless, and the most unlikely to answer the purpose.
2. Consider the instruments which God employs for accomplishing this great object (1Co 1:27-28; Mat 21:16; 2Co 12:9).
3. Consider the circumstances of the times in which Zion is most remarkably built up; times the most unlikely for her revival. Such was her condition at the close of the seventy years captivity, when she was like a valley of dry bones. Such was her condition when the Word was made flesh, and tabernacled on earth; and when the apostles of Jesus were sent forth to propagate the Gospel among the nations, blinded by the god of this world, sitting in darkness, and in the region and shadow of death.
III. What the particular glories are which He then displays.
1. His unsearchable wisdom. The plots and combinations of avowed enemies, their strength, their artful policy, their cruelty, their persecutions, nay, the very imperfections, faults, and corruptions of sincere friends (like the contention between Paul and Barnabas), all contribute to the building of the Church, though all of them seem to have a quite contrary tendency.
2. His almighty power. So eminently is this Divine excellence manifested in this work, that it is not unusually represented in prophecy, as a new creation (Isa 65:17-18).
3. His holiness.
4. His benignity.
5. His faithfulness.
6. His justice. (T. Davidson, D.D.)
Gods glory in the building up of Zion
I remember to have seen, close by the side of the Alps, a house which had upon its front words to this effect: This house was built entirely by the skill, wealth, and industry of its inhabitants. It struck me as not being a very modest thing to put in front of ones house, for after all the structure was not very marvellous; but when we look at the glorious architecture of the Church of God, it would be no mean part of its lustre that it may fittingly bear such an inscription as this–This house was built entirely by the wisdom, the munificence, and the power of the infinite Jehovah.
I. Zion built up.
1. One essential to the building up of Zion is practical conversion. As we see our sons converted, and the great miracle of regeneration still being performed, we take heart and are of good courage to go on in the work of the Lord.
2. A public confession of faith must follow conversion. It is the duty of every Christian–nay, it is the instinct of his spiritual life–to avow the faith which he has received, and avowing it, he finds himself associated with others who have made the same profession, and he assists them in holy labour. When he is strong he ministers of his strength to the weak, and when he is himself weak, he borrows strength from those who just then may happen to be strong in the faith.
3. We cannot build without union. A house must have its doors, and its windows, its foundation, its rafters, and its ceiling. So, a church must be organized; it must have its distinct offices and officers; it must have its departments of labour, and proper men must be found, according to Christs own appointment, to preside over those departments.
4. There must also be edification and instruction in the faith. No neglect of an appeal to the passions, certainly; no forgetfulness as to what is popular and exciting; but with this we must have the solid bread-corn of the kingdom, without which Gods children will faint in the weary way of this wilderness.
5. It does not strike me, however, that I have yet given a full picture of the building up of a church, for a church such as I have described would not yet answer the end for which Christ ordained it. Christ ordained His Church to be His great aggressive agency in combating with six, and with the world that lieth in the wicked one.
6. After a church has become all that I have been describing, the next thing it ought to do should be to think of the formation of other churches. The building up of an empire must often be by colonization; and it is the same with the Church.
II. The building up of Zion is, according to the text, connected with Jehovahs being glorified.
1. God often appears in glory to me as one of His builders, and I will tell you in what respect. When I have been sitting to see inquirers, I have sometimes found that God has blessed to the conversion of souls some of my worst sermons–those which I thought I could weep over, which seemed more than ordinarily weak, and lacking in all the elements likely to make them blessed, except that they were sincerely spoken.
2. Persons have been brought up and educated under sermons that are as hostile to spiritual life as the plague is to natural life. The case of Luther is one instance of this, and in all such cases God appears in His glory.
3. Think, too, of the agencies which are abroad hostile to the Church of God. What a splendid thing was that–may we see it repeated in our own day!–when the twelve fishermen first attacked Roman idolatry. The prestige of ages made the idolatry of Rome venerable; it had an imperial Caesar and all his legions at its back, and every favourable auspice to defend it. Those twelve men, with no patronage but the patronage of the King of kings, with no learning except that which they had learned at the feet of Jesus, with weapons as simple as Davids sling and stone, went forth to the fight; and you know how the grisly head of the monstrous idolatry was by and by in the hands of the Christian champion as he returned rejoicing from the fray. So shall it be yet again, and then, amidst the acclamation of myriad witnesses, shall God appear in His glory.
III. The hope excited. If God be glorified by the building up of Zion, then most certainly Zion will be built. If He is glorified by the conversion, and by the banding together of converted men and women, then it seems but natural to hope, yea, with certainty we may conclude that the zeal of the Lord of Hosts will perform it. I like the spirit in which Luther used to say, that when he could get God into his quarrels he felt safe. When it was Luther alone, he did not know which way it would go; but when he felt that his God would be compromised and dishonoured if such a thing were not done, and would be glorified if it were done, then he felt safe enough. So in the great crusade of truth is not God with us beyond a doubt? The honour of the Church is intertwisted with the honour and glory of Christ; if she shall pass away, if she be deserted, then where is her Captain, her Head, her Husband?
IV. Our whole subject suggests an inquiry. Have I any part or lot in this work which is to bring glory to God? I may have to do with it in two ways, as a builded one, or as a builder. I can have nothing to do with it in the latter capacity, unless I have had to do with it in the former. God will be glorified in the building up of Zion: shall I minister to His glory by being part of the Zion that is to be built up? If thou wouldst glorify God, humble thyself, and receive salvation from the Lord Jesus Christ: and then, being built upon this foundation, thou shall glorify God. The inquiry shapes itself afresh. Hast thou anything to do with glorifying God in respect of being thyself a builder up of Zion? Did you ever win a soul to Christ? (C. H. Spurgeon.)
Zion built–the glory of the Lord
I. Zion may lie for a time in a somewhat ruinous condition.
1. When but few are converted–when a preached Gospel does not reach the heart–and when pardon, grace, and salvation are not seen, and acknowledged, to be the most important objects that can be attended to or pursued.
2. When many of the professors of religion draw back, and the enemy of souls hath so far prevailed as to lessen their number. When a worldly and carnal, proud or contentious spirit, or any other proceeding from the same corrupt source, makes inroads among Christians, carries them off from those societies to which they belonged, and from that allegiance they owed and professed to Christ; her walls are broken.
3. When the religious character of those who compose the Church of God is low. When those who belong to Christ are weak in faith, and inconstant in their affections; when they are so immersed in the cares and concerns of this world as that they move but slowly on the road to that for which they were born, and to which they ought ever to aspire; when they do not attend the house of God with that constancy, pleasure, and profit they once did; when they read not the Word of God with that relish and self-appreciation which they formerly experienced–and when the warmth of their holy zeal and devotion is abated, the Church is in an unhappy state.
II. To build up zion is the work and province of God.
1. This will appear from His own Word, which is the highest authority (Psa 147:2-4; Eze 36:26-28; Eze 36:36; Mat 16:16-17; Eph 2:10; 1Co 6:2; 1Co 3:9).
2. When I consider what the Christian is, the principles by which he is actuated, the spirit he possesses, the attainments he makes, the calm fortitude and dignity with which he meets affliction and death, and that unparalleled heroism which multitudes have displayed in persecuting times; I can be at no loss to know, independent of the Word of God, whose work and province it must be to build up Zion at large, the Church in Britain, or those Christian societies to which we belong.
3. When we consider the blindness of men, the hardness of the human heart, the very affecting contrariety there is in us to the holy nature and righteous law of God, the state of things in the world, in a religious view, when the Saviour appeared, and what is the real state of the unconverted in these times; does it not appear that the grace and power of God are requisite to raise a Church out of such materials?
III. It is a wok in which He will certainly engage. From the perfections of Jehovah–from the personal dignity and glory of the Redeemer, the scenes he passed through, and the characters he now sustains–from the preparation that was made for His appearing among men–from Christianitys having nothing of a local nature, but being equally suited to the state and condition of all men–and also from the circumstance of the Gospels having stood the test of the strictest inquiry for so many years; and the strongest objections that have been made to it only serving to clear and illustrate its evidence; it appears exceedingly probable, that the kingdom of Christ will more fully come, and His religion have a more splendid and glorious triumph. But the main pillar of our hope, with respect to this delightful subject, are the promises and declarations of Him, to whom nothing is impossible (Psa 2:8; Isa 11:9; Psa 36:9; Dan 7:18; Mal 1:2).
IV. Then the Lord will appear in His glory.
1. When faith and holiness prevail among men, the Lord will appear in the glory of His wisdom. This perfection shines whenever a single soul is converted: how much more when the glorious fruits and effects of the Redeemers undertaking, death, and intercession shall be abundantly visible!
2. When Zion is built in the world at large, or in any particular place, the Lord will appear in the glory of His power. What display can there be of this Divine attribute, at once so honourable to God, and happy to man, as quickening the dead in trespasses and sins; causing the blind to see, the deaf to hear, the insensible to feel, and changing the corrupt and sinful bias of the human heart?
3. When Zion is built, God will appear in the glory of His grace and love.
4. When the Lord shall build up Zion, He will appear in the glory of His truth and faithfulness. God will appear to be faithful to every engagement into which he entered with His Son, and to every promise which His Word contains.
On a review of what hath been advanced–
1. Let us rejoice in, and be grateful to God for what He hath done, and is still doing, towards building up Zion.
2. Let us rejoice in that great prosperity which awaits the Christian cause; and let the Church encourage herself under all her troubles.
3. Let us all cherish an ardent desire of seeing the Church of God in a more prosperous state, and manifest that desire by our utmost exertions in its favour. (N. Hill.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 16. When the Lord shall build up Zion] It is such a difficult thing, so wholly improbable, so far out of the reach of human power, that when God does it, he must manifest his power and glory in a most extraordinary manner.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
His glorious power, and wisdom, and goodness shall be manifested to all the world.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
16. When the Lord shall buildorbetter, “Because the Lord hath built,” c., as areason for the effect on others for in thus acting and hearing thehumble, He is most glorious.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole 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.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
The concluding part of the 16 verse, He hath appeared in his glory, refers to the manifestation which God made of himself when he brought forth his Church from the darkness of death; even as it is said in another place concerning her first deliverance, “Judah was his sanctuary, and Israel his dominions” (Psa 114:2) In like manner in the present passage, by again gathering to himself his people who were dispersed, and by raising his Church, as it were, from death to life, he appeared in his glory. It is surely no ordinary consolation to know that the love of God towards us is so great, that he will have his glory to shine forth in our salvation. It is true, that when the pious Jews were in the midst of their afflictions, the working of divine power was hidden from them; but they nevertheless always beheld it by the eye of faith, and in the mirror of the divine promises.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
16. When the Lord shall build A repetition of the thought of Psa 102:15. The building up Zion, and the Lord’s appearing in his glory, are simultaneous. See Isa 40:1-5
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Psa 102:16 When the LORD shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory.
Ver. 16. When the Lord shall build up Zion ] Isaiah had foretold that the second temple should be more glorious than the first, Isa 54:11 ; Isa 60:17 , the stones whereof were types of those living stones whereof that spiritual temple was to be built, 1Pe 2:5 , and wherein God would manifest more of his glory than ever he had done in all the world besides.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
appear in His glory. This shows that all is prophetic. Compare Isa 60:1-3.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
When: Psa 51:18, Psa 69:35, Psa 147:2, Isa 2:2, Isa 2:3, Isa 14:26, Isa 66:18, Jer 31:4, Jer 33:7
he shall: Psa 97:6, Isa 60:1, Isa 60:2, Isa 60:7, Isa 61:3, Mic 2:9, Zec 2:6-13
Reciprocal: Psa 104:31 – The glory Son 8:1 – yea Isa 14:32 – the Lord Isa 35:2 – they shall Isa 40:5 – the glory Isa 41:17 – the poor Isa 45:6 – General Isa 59:19 – shall they Isa 64:2 – to make Jer 29:12 – General Jer 31:28 – so Jer 33:2 – the maker Jer 42:10 – then Dan 9:19 – thine 2Co 1:20 – unto
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
GODS HOME IN ZION
When the Lord shall build up Zion, He shall appear in His glory.
Psa 102:16
Zion is the symbol of the Universal Church. In this text it is selected as the home of the glory of Christs Cross, and His main purpose in the upbuilding of Zion is His own glory. Zion does not make God glorious. It only reveals His hidden glory.
If you want to know that God is light, look not to the starry heaven, nor to the mighty ocean, nor to the green-clad earth, but look to Zion; look to the Church, and there you find God at His noblest and best.
I. First, with regard to the building.Zion has the most costly foundations in the universe of God. There was no such stone in the quarry of our human nature. The foundation of Zion is the Son of God. There is not one flaw or crack in it. Our Lord is a tried stone, and He came out of all trials triumphant. Further, Zions foundation is a sure stone. We rejoice this morning that the Church is built not on shifting sands, but on a rock, the Rock of Ages. Abraham, Moses, David, Paul, were all magnificent front stones in this building. Jesus is the centre, and the whole weight of the Temple rests on Him.
II. Secondly, what are the walls of the temple composed of?In brief, the walls are composed of Christian souls. Ignatius, when about to be put to death in the Coliseum, was asked, What is a Christian? And he grandly answered: One who carries God in his bosoma magnificent answer. This glorious temple is not built of wood and stones from the wilds of Lebanon, but of living souls. The spiritual fabric must be built on the same principle as an edifice of stone. Christ is the grand foundation, but every stone built to Him shares His qualities and becomes permeated with His life and energy.
III. Again, the whole Trinity is engaged in this mighty work, and it is not too much to add that the apostles, martyrs, reformers, preachers, teachers, and missionaries are all helpers in the work.
IV. Finally, with regard to the glory of the undertaking, notice that Zion is the very best revelation of the Divine law.Christ is to be glorified by His Cross and exalted by His humility: It is finished; Now is the Son of Man glorified. God as a Creator is glorious, but God as the Redeemer of Zion is more glorious. Nature may reveal His arm, but Zion reveals His heart. Gods glory will not be consummated until Zion is completed. The Divine glory is not yet revealed, because the temple is not yet finished. Nothing can prevent the completion of the great temple. Zion is the most costly edifice the All-Rich has ever erected, but He is not going to break it down.
Illustration
In the opening verses of Psalms 102, David had been singing in a minor key, discontented with himself and those around him. Suddenly all this is changed: he has lifted his eyes from the wreck of earth, and sees the glory of the completed building. It is as if the musician had been dragging out a mournful melody full of discord, but suddenly breaks into a full burst of triumphant harmony. Is there not a stately rhythm in the very words? Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time is come. For Thy servants take pleasure in her stones, and favour the dust thereof. When the Lord shall build up Zion, He shall appear in His glory.
Now the long and toilsome duty,
Stone by stone to carve and bring;
Afterward, the perfect beauty
Of the palace of the King.
Fuente: Church Pulpit Commentary
Psa 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 Isa 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.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
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.