Psalms 102:2
Hide not thy face from me in the day when I am in trouble; incline thine ear unto me: in the day when I call answer me speedily. Hide not thy face from me in the day when I am in trouble; incline thine ear unto me: in the day when I call answer me speedily.
The verse is bound to the sorrows and afflictions of the Hebrew captives in the Babylonian captivity, especially its latter part under Belshazzar when persecution and distress were severe. It is a plea for divine help amid trouble and stands among psalms that also give encouragement and assurance of eventual deliverance from persecutors. It belongs to a psalm expressly for the afflicted, a psalm of prayer for those in distress. It is a cry to God for help in trouble, asking Him not to turn away or hide His face, but to incline His ear, to listen, and to answer quickly when called upon.
It is a distressed outcry that spreads woe and want before God while pleading for Him to listen and answer speedily. It expresses the heart's need for God's attention, though the answer may come in God's own way and time. It shows that a person in need may ask God to answer quickly, and urgent prayer in this spirit can be followed by aid regarded as an immediate answer. It belongs to psalms that also offer encouragement and assurance of eventual deliverance from persecutors. It is part of teaching about the Lord's dealings with His children, His mercy when they backslide, and His assurances if they return to Him.
It shows Zion seeking the Lord with her whole heart in order to bring His set time to favor her. It belongs to a psalm suitable as a morning prayer, recognizing human weakness and short life and asking God for strength and guidance. It is a plea for mercy that every true believer may adopt as his own.