Psalm 102:18-22

18.This will be written for the generation to come, That a people yet to be created may praise the LORD.
19.For He looked down from His holy height ; From heaven the LORD gazed upon the earth,
20.To hear the groaning of the prisoner, To set free those who were doomed to death,
21.That men may tell of the name of the LORD in Zion And His praise in Jerusalem,
22.When the peoples are gathered together, And the kingdoms, to serve the LORD.

I like the picture created by this passage, as well as the future hope it offers. Verse 18 introduces this vision of what God does and how men respond. I like to think that “the generation to come” and “a people yet to be created” means me! At least it includes me and my generation. This message is for us, today. We were designed to praise the Lord.

This is the picture I see in the passage. God, who is precious, awesome, and perfect in goodness is in His perfect and glorious Heaven. Everything is good and wonderful there. Though He is not in need, God decides to look down upon the earth. He looks and sees the terrible conditions men are living in- the conditions of the Fall. He hears the prisoner groaning. He sees that all men are doomed to death. And though man created this mess and cannot do anything to reconcile himself to God, God steps in. He acts in love to set us free from death.

Our response should be praise. We should tell the name of the Lord and what He has done for us!

Verse 22 tells of our future hope- the kingdom of God. We will praise Him when all the peoples and nations are gathered together to serve God. We will praise Him because He made it possible for us to be a part of His kingdom. Then we will see, know, and experience for ourselves the life He intended for us.