“He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer.”
The affirmation 'he will regard the prayer of the destitute, and will not despise their prayer' returns from the cosmic vision to the particular concern for the afflicted, the 'destitute' (aredum). The verb 'regard' (panah) suggests turning to face, attending to with recognition and care—a reversal of the divine hiding of face lamented earlier. The doubled reference to 'prayer' emphasizes that God's regard is precisely for the prayer itself, not merely its content or the petitioner's worthiness. This verse affirms a profound theological truth: that the prayer of the powerless has standing before God, that destitution does not disqualify one from divine attention but rather makes one's prayer particularly significant. The structure of the verse—promise and negation ('will regard...will not despise')—reinforces the assurance being offered to those who have experienced only rejection.
Church Fathers on Psalms 102:17
1. Behold, one poor man prays, and prays not in silence. We may therefore hear him, and see who he is: whether it be not perchance He, of whom the Apostle says, “Though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might be rich.” 2 Corinthians 8:9 If it is He, then, how is He poor? For in what sense He is rich, who sees not? What then is richer than He, by whom riches were made, even those which are not true riches? For through Him we have even…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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