Psalms 102:26
They will perish, but you will remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will change them like a robe, and they will pass away,
English Standard Version (ESV)
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While we often focus on God's eternal nature versus our fleeting existence, this verse highlights a crucial distinction: creation itself, even the solid heavens and earth, is not inherently permanent. God doesn't just endure while creation fades; He actively changes it, like a discarded robe, implying a transformation beyond mere decay into something new.
The psalmist is contrasting the fleeting nature of creation with God's eternal unchanging presence. He's meditating on how even the seemingly permanent heavens and earth will eventually wear out and be replaced, just like an old garment. This sets the stage for an affirmation of God's everlasting existence, highlighting that He alone is truly eternal and will endure through all changes.
When we look at the vastness of the cosmos, it's easy to feel like it's always been here and always will be. But this verse reminds us of a profound truth about God and His creation.
The Unshakeable One
This passage fiercely contrasts the temporary nature of everything we see with the eternal reality of God.
We often think of 'wearing out' as a final end. But this verse speaks of God actively changing what wears out. What does this mean for us?
More Than Just Ending
The imagery here is not just about decay, but about divine intervention and transformation.
Understand the original words
’āḇaḏ · Hebrew Verb
The state of being destroyed, ending, or ceasing to exist; often used in Scripture to contrast the temporary nature of creation with the eternal nature of God.
‘āmaḏ · Hebrew Verb
A state of permanent existence, having no beginning and no end; a unique attribute of God who exists outside of time.
ḥālap̄ · Hebrew Verb
The act of being physically transformed or replaced, emphasizing God’s sovereign control over the created order and His ability to renew it.
This passage directly echoes the imagery of Psalm 102:26, stating that the heavens will vanish 'like smoke' and the earth 'wear out like a garment,' emphasizing their impermanence compared to God's enduring word.
Hebrews 1:10-12The New Testament author directly quotes and applies Psalm 102:26 to Jesus Christ, highlighting His unchanging, eternal nature in contrast to the created heavens and earth which will 'grow old and pass away.'
2 Peter 3:7This verse links the temporary nature of the current heavens and earth to judgment, stating they are reserved for fire, reinforcing the idea presented in Psalm 102:26 that the created order is not eternal and will be transformed.
Revelation 21:1While Psalm 102:26 focuses on the perishing of the old, Revelation 21:1 presents the fulfillment of God's promise with the vision of a 'new heaven and a new earth,' showing the ultimate outcome of God's plan beyond the decay described in the Psalm.
pulpitPsalms 102:26: "They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed:"
Verse 26. - They shall perish. The coming destruction of the world that now is, is very frequently declared in Holy Scripture (see Isaiah 51:6; Isaiah 65:17; Matthew 24:35; Mark 13:31; Luke 21:33; 2 Peter 3:7, 10, 12). But thou shalt endure. With the perishable nature of the whole material creation, the psalmist contrasts the a…
clarkePsalms 102:26: "They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed:"
They shall perish - Nothing can be eternal a parte ante, or a parte post, but thyself. Even that which thou hast created, because not necessarily eternal, must be perishable; necessary duration belongs to God only; and it is by his will and energy alone that universal nature is preserved in existence, and preserved from running…
While we often focus on God's eternal nature versus our fleeting existence, this verse highlights a crucial distinction: creation itself, even the solid heavens and earth, is not inherently permanent. God doesn't just endure while creation fades; He actively changes it, like a discarded robe, implying a transformation beyond mere decay into something new.
The psalmist is contrasting the fleeting nature of creation with God's eternal unchanging presence. He's meditating on how even the seemingly permanent heavens and earth will eventually wear out and be replaced, just like an old garment. This sets the stage for an affirmation of God's everlasting existence, highlighting that He alone is truly eternal and will endure through all changes.
The psalmist is contrasting the fleeting nature of creation with God's eternal unchanging presence. He's meditating on how even the seemingly permanent heavens and earth will eventually wear out and be replaced, just like an old garment. This sets the stage for an affirmation of God's everlasting existence, highlighting that He alone is truly eternal and will endure through all changes.
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"They will perish, but you will remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will change them like a robe, and they will pass away," — While we often focus on God's eternal nature versus our fleeting existence, this verse highlights a crucial distinction: creation itself, even the solid heavens and earth, is not inherently permanent…
