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Psalm 102:22
when the peoples are gathered together, the kingdoms, to serve the LORD.
20to hear the groans of the prisoner, to free those who are condemned to death,
21that men may declare the LORD’s name in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem,
22when the peoples are gathered together, the kingdoms, to serve the LORD.
23He weakened my strength along the course. He shortened my days.
24I said, “My God, don’t take me away in the middle of my days. Your years are throughout all generations.
Notice
Peoples and kingdoms gather for one purpose, serving YHWH, a vision that stretches worship beyond the bounds of any one nation.
Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.
How does the picture of kingdoms serving YHWH shape your view of earthly power?
Write on thisWhat changes in your outlook when you picture your congregation among these gathered peoples?
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Where else Scripture says this
12 passages readers most often link with this verse, and the thread each one shares with it.
This verse's connections, by chapterThe Bible's strongest chapter linksHover or tap a book to trace it
Zechariah 8:20–23The LORD of Armies says: “Many peoples and the inhabitants of many cities will yet come.Both passages look ahead to many peoples coming together, with Zechariah naming inhabitants of many cities and the psalm naming kingdoms.
Daniel 7:14Dominion was given him, and glory, and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations, and languages should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which …Both describe service reaching across peoples, with Daniel naming nations and languages and the psalm gathering kingdoms to serve the LORD.
Psalm 22:27All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD. All the relatives of the nations shall worship before you.Both portray worship extending across nations, as peoples gather to serve the LORD and the nations turn to worship before him.
Isaiah 49:22–23The Lord GOD says, “Behold, I will lift up my hand to the nations, and lift up my banner to the peoples. They shall bring your sons in their bosom, and your …Both include nations and peoples in their outlook, though Isaiah describes children being brought home and the psalm describes service to the LORD.
Isaiah 60:3–22Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.Both picture a gathering that reaches beyond one nation, naming peoples and kingdoms in the psalm, nations and kings in Isaiah.
Matthew 24:14This Good News of the Kingdom will be preached in the whole world for a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.Both have a worldwide scope: the psalm anticipates peoples serving the LORD, while Matthew describes the Good News reaching all nations.
Romans 15:19in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of God’s Spirit; so that from Jerusalem and around as far as to Illyricum, I have fully preached the Good News …The psalm's surrounding lines locate praise in Jerusalem; Paul describes preaching from Jerusalem outward, sharing a geographic starting point and a wider horizon.
Psalm 72:8–11He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, from the River to the ends of the earth.The psalm pictures kingdoms serving the LORD; Psalm 72 describes dominion extending to the ends of the earth.
Psalm 138:4All the kings of the earth will give you thanks, LORD, for they have heard the words of your mouth.Both portray public honor given to the LORD across earthly powers, through kingdoms serving him and kings giving him thanks.
Psalm 68:32Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth! Sing praises to the Lord— Selah—Both name kingdoms in relation to God, with one describing their gathered service and the other commanding their songs of praise.
Genesis 49:10The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he comes to whom it belongs. The obedience of the peoples will be to …Both speak of peoples offering allegiance: service to the LORD in the psalm and obedience to the ruler described in Genesis.
Hosea 1:9–11He said, “Call his name Lo-Ammi, for you are not my people, and I will not be yours.The shared thread is limited to people's relationship with God: Hosea announces rejection, while the psalm anticipates gathered service.
Where this verse fits
Praise and worship. fear for the future.
One step
Something small to carry out of this verse
Encouragement
The gathering of kingdoms appears within a prayer marked by weakness and shortened days. The sufferer's distress remains, and YHWH is worthy of the peoples' service.
Now put it in your words.
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Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).