Psalms 102:18

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

This shall be written {H3789} for the generation {H1755} to come {H314}: and the people {H5971} which shall be created {H1254} shall praise {H1984} the LORD {H3050}.

May this be put on record for a future generation; may a people yet to be created praise ADONAI.

Let this be written for the generation to come, so that a people not yet created may praise the LORD.

This shall be written for the generation to come; And a people which shall be created shall praise Jehovah.

Commentary on Psalms 102:18 (KJV)

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

Context

Psalm 102 is a profound lament, a prayer of an afflicted individual pouring out their distress before God. The psalmist describes deep suffering, feeling like a withered plant and a lonely bird, longing for God's intervention. However, the psalm makes a significant turn from personal anguish to a confident declaration of God's eternal nature and His unwavering commitment to His people and the city of Zion. Verses 13-17 express a strong conviction that God will rebuild Zion and appear in His glory, hearing the cry of the destitute. Verse 18 then looks beyond the immediate suffering, projecting God's enduring work and its purpose into the future, emphasizing the legacy of divine faithfulness.

Key Themes

  • Legacy and Remembrance: The psalmist's prayer and God's anticipated response are deemed worthy of being "written" – preserved as a permanent record. This highlights the importance of remembering God's works and faithfulness for all time. It ensures that future generations can draw encouragement and understanding from the past.
  • Generational Faith: The verse explicitly looks to "the generation to come." It underscores the intergenerational nature of God's covenant and His desire for faith to be passed down. The experiences of one generation serve as a testimony and foundation for the next, fostering a continuous chain of worship and devotion.
  • Divine Sovereignty and Creation: The phrase "the people which shall be created" is significant. It speaks not merely of those naturally born, but of God's active hand in bringing forth or renewing a people for Himself. This can refer to a physical restoration of Israel or, more broadly, to a spiritual creation – God forming a new people through His redemptive acts, much like the concept of a new creation in Christ.
  • Future Praise: The ultimate purpose of God's historical and redemptive work is revealed: "shall praise the LORD." This vision of future praise provides hope amidst present affliction, assuring the psalmist that God's glory will ultimately be acknowledged and celebrated by a people brought into being specifically for that purpose.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "written" is katav (כָּתַב), which implies a formal, lasting record, emphasizing the permanence and authority of what is being inscribed. The phrase "generation to come" is dor acharon (דּוֹר אַחֲרוֹן), literally "last generation" or "future generation," signifying posterity and the enduring impact of God's deeds. Most notably, "people which shall be created" comes from am nivra (עַם נִבְרָא). The verb nivra is in the passive voice, indicating that God is the active agent in bringing this people into existence or renewing them. This term is often used in the Old Testament to describe God's unique work of creation, whether of the world or of His covenant people. It suggests a divine act of formation or transformation.

Practical Application

This verse offers powerful encouragement and a call to action for believers today. It reminds us of the importance of documenting and sharing testimonies of God's faithfulness, both personally and corporately. Just as the psalmist desired his experience to be recorded, we are called to pass on the stories of God's work to the next generation, fostering a legacy of faith. It reassures us that God is actively at work, continually drawing people to Himself and creating a people who will worship Him, regardless of current challenges. Our present struggles are not the end; God's overarching plan ensures that His name will be praised by those He calls into being for His glory.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Psalms 22:30

    A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation.

  • Psalms 22:31

    They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done [this].

  • Romans 15:4

    For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

  • Isaiah 43:21

    This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise.

  • Psalms 78:4

    We will not hide [them] from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done.

  • Psalms 78:6

    That the generation to come might know [them, even] the children [which] should be born; [who] should arise and declare [them] to their children:

  • 1 Peter 2:9

    But ye [are] a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

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