1. Hear my prayer, O Lord (1-11)

This is the prayer of a man who is suffering. He is in distress of soul--perhaps because of physical sickness, but more likely, he has a broken shepherd's heart for his people who are suffering in exile under the rod of an oppressor. In his pain and loneliness he recognizes how temporary our physical lives are.

2. The Lord will rebuild Zion (12-22)

The Psalmist is confident that God will answer his prayer. So he wants his words written down. He wants to teach a sense of history to his own times and to future generations.

3. They will perish, but you will remain (23-28)

The Lord God is eternal; all of his created world will perish, but he will remain. His children share his glory and eternity.

Application: Lord, put your eternal word of promise in my heart.
One Word: Hope in the eternal God