What does Psalms 102:18 mean?

This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people which shall be created shall praise the LORD. Psalms 102:18

Explanation

Psalm 102:18 is a part of a prayer of an afflicted person who pours out their troubles before the Lord, as seen in the entire Psalm 102. The verse serves as an expression of hope and prophecy, indicating that the writing down of this Psalm will benefit a future generation. It suggests that the experiences and prayers of the current generation are not only for their time but are meant to be preserved so that future generations, “the people which shall be created,” will read them and also find reason to praise the Lord. It underscores the enduring nature of God’s word and its continual relevance to all generations. This verse also emphasizes the importance of the written word as a method to transmit faith and the acts of God through history.

Historical Context

Psalm 102 is one of the Psalms categorized as an individual lament, where the psalmist is in a state of distress and is seeking God’s help. It is often considered to be born out of a time of personal or national calamity. The exact historical setting is not explicitly mentioned in the Psalm, but some scholars speculate that it could have been written during the Babylonian exile when the Israelites were in captivity, longing for their homeland and for the restoration of Jerusalem. It reflects the deep sorrow of someone who is suffering yet also their profound hope in God’s ultimate deliverance and sovereignty.

Theological Insights

From a theological standpoint, Psalm 102:18 resonates with different themes:

• Permanence of Scripture: It implies that the teachings and comforts found in God’s word are lasting and intended for people at all points in time.
• God’s Sovereignty: The verse acknowledges that future generations are “created” by God, which means that God’s sovereignty extends beyond the present and into the future.
• Corporate Worship: The verse also anticipates corporate praise, suggesting a community of believers who, in reading the psalm, will collectively praise God.

Different denominations and theologies will place varied emphasis on these themes, but the central idea of divine involvement with successive generations remains a core insight.

Practical Applications

In practical terms, Psalm 102:18 can be applied to our lives in several ways:

• Encouragement to Document Faith Experiences: It suggests that our testimonies and experiences with God should be recorded for the benefit of others who will come after us.
• Foundation of Hope: It helps believers to look beyond their current struggles and remember that future generations will continue to encounter and praise God.
• Teaching and Discipleship: It underscores the importance of sharing the spiritual heritage and biblical teachings to nurture the faith of upcoming generations.

Cross-References

• Deuteronomy 31:19: “Now therefore write ye this song for you, and teach it the children of Israel: put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for me against the children of Israel.”
• Isaiah 40:8: “The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.”
• Psalm 22:30-31: “A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation. They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this.”

Language Study

The key term in the original Hebrew text to consider is “דּוֹר אַחֲרוֹן” (dor aharon), which can be translated to “a future generation” or “a later generation.” The phrase “the people which shall be created” is a translation of “עַם נִבְרָא,” which conveys the idea of a people that is yet to be brought forth or fashioned by God. This encompasses not just physical creation but also spiritual birth or renewal. Studying these Hebrew terms can deepen our understanding of the verse as it relates to continuity, future communities, and God’s creative power.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In comparison to other ancient cultures, many civilizations had a strong tradition of recording stories, laws, genealogies, and prayers for posterity. Ancient Egyptian funerary texts, for instance, were intended to secure a favorable afterlife for the deceased and were also meant for future generations to remember and use. In a religious context, many faith systems emphasize the value of passing down religious texts and teachings, akin to the sentiment in Psalm 102:18 of preserving sacred writings for “a generation to come.”

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific viewpoint, the concept of passing down information to future generations can be related to cultural evolution, where ideas, norms, and knowledge are transmitted through language and teaching—much like genetic information is passed through biological reproduction. More recently, biology has explored “epigenetics,” the study of heritable changes in gene expression not involving changes to the underlying DNA sequence, which also connects with the idea of influencing future generations by means other than creation or birth.

Commentaries

Scholars and theologians have offered various interpretations of Psalm 102:18:

• John Calvin: Commented on the use of this scripture to comfort believers beyond the psalmist’s time, reinforcing that the promises of God are intended for all eras.
• Matthew Henry: Emphasized the importance of leaving spiritual inheritances and saw this Psalm as instruction to do so.
• Charles Spurgeon: In “The Treasury of David,” he reflects on this verse as an encouragement to the saints, highlighting the merciful nature of recording God’s works for the benefit of others who will follow.

These commentaries reflect a general consensus on Psalm 102:18’s purpose to edify not only the contemporary reader but also future audiences through the perpetuation of God’s word and works.