Psalms 102:23 AV
He weakened my strength in the way;
He shortened my days.
Other translations
New International Version
In the course of my life he broke my strength; he cut short my days.
New Living Translation
He broke my strength in midlife, cutting short my days.
English Standard Version
He has broken my strength in midcourse; he has shortened my days.
Berean Study Bible
He has broken my strength on the way; He has cut short my days.
Amplified Bible
He has exhausted my strength [humbling me with sorrow] in the way; He has shortened my days.
Contemporary English Version
I should still be strong, but you, LORD, have made an old person of me.
Douay-Rheims Bible
He answered him in the way of his strength: Declare unto me the fewness of my days.
Young’s Literal Translation
He hath humbled in the way my power, He hath shortened my days.
Study
Cross References
Job 21:21
For what pleasure hath he in his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off in the midst?
Psalm 39:5
You, indeed, have made my days as handbreadths, and my lifetime as nothing before You. Truly each man at his best exists as but a breath.
Psalm 89:45
You have cut short the days of his youth; You have covered him with shame.
2 Thessalonians 2:1-12
1 Timothy 4:1-5
Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; …
He weakened my strength in the way
The psalmist here returns to his complaint of his afflictions, weakness, and frailty, which ended in Psalms 102:11, after which some hints are given of the latter day glory, which though he despaired of seeing, by reason of his frailty and mortality, yet comforts himself with the eternity and immutability of Christ, and that there would be a succession of the church, a seed of true believers, who would see and enjoy it.
As for himself, he says that God (for he is that “He”, and not the enemy, as some) had “weakened” his “strength in the way”, by afflictions, as the word signifies; which weakens the strength and vigour of the mind, and discourages and dispirits it, and enfeebles the body.
Many are the afflictions which the people of God meet with in the course of their life, in their way to heaven, which have such an effect upon them; through many tribulations they pass to enter the kingdom, as the Israelites in their way to Canaan, and Christ to glory: some think the psalmist represents the Jews in their return from the Babylonish captivity, meeting with difficulties and discouragements in the way.
Rather the church of God, in the expectation of the Messiah, who, because His coming was delayed, grew feeble in their faith and hope, had weak hands and feeble knees, which needed strengthening by fresh promises.
Though it may be, best of all, the people of God, waiting for latter day glory, enfeebled by the persecutions of antichrist, or grown weak in the exercises of their grace, faith, hope, and love; which will be their case before these glorious times, and now is (see Revelation 3:2, 8).
He shortened my days
Which he thought he should live, and expected he would; and which, according to the course of nature, and the common term of man’s life, he might, in all human appearance, have lived; otherwise, with respect to the decree of God, which has fixed the bounds of man’s days, they cannot be shorter or longer than they are, (Job 14:5).
x O x
He weakened my strength in the way; he shortened my days.
The church lament that they see not the time of Christ, which was promised, but have but few years and short days.
x O x
Exposition
He weakened my strength in the way.
Here the Psalmist comes down again to the mournful string, and pours forth his personal complaint. His sorrow had cast down his spirit, and even caused weakness in his bodily frame, so that he was like a pilgrim who limped along the road, and was ready to lie down and die.
He shortened my days.
Though he had bright hopes for Jerusalem, he feared that he should have departed this life long before those visions had become realities.
He felt that he was pining away and would be a shortlived man.
Perhaps this also may be our lot, and it will materially help us to be content with it, if we are persuaded that the grandest of all interests is safe, and the good old cause secure in the hands of the Lord.
x O x
Hints for pastors and laypersons
For the sick.
▪︎ Submission — The Lord sent the trial — “He weakeneth,” etc.
▪︎ Service — exonerated from some work, he now requires of me patience, earnestness, etc.
▪︎ Preparation — for going home.
▪︎ Prayer — for others to occupy my place.
▪︎ Expectation — I shall soon be in heaven, now that my days are shortened.
Twitter: @SchoemakerHarry
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