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Psalms 69 The Cry of the Suffering Servant

1 Psalm 69
For the director of music. To the tune of “Lilies.” Of David.
Save me, O God,
for the waters have come up to my neck.

2 I sink in the miry depths,
where there is no foothold.
I have come into the deep waters;
the floods engulf me.

3 I am worn out calling for help;
my throat is parched.
My eyes fail,
looking for my God.

4 Those who hate me without reason
outnumber the hairs of my head;
many are my enemies without cause,
those who seek to destroy me.
I am forced to restore
what I did not steal.

5 You know my folly, O God;
my guilt is not hidden from you.

6 May those who hope in you
not be disgraced because of me,
O Lord, the Lord Almighty;
may those who seek you
not be put to shame because of me,
O God of Israel.

7 For I endure scorn for your sake,
and shame covers my face.

8 I am a stranger to my brothers,
an alien to my own mother’s sons;

9 for zeal for your house consumes me,
and the insults of those who insult you fall on me.

10 When I weep and fast,
I must endure scorn;

11 when I put on sackcloth,
people make sport of me.

12 Those who sit at the gate mock me,
and I am the song of the drunkards.

13 But I pray to you, O Lord,
in the time of your favor;
in your great love, O God,
answer me with your sure salvation.

14 Rescue me from the mire,
do not let me sink;
deliver me from those who hate me,
from the deep waters.

15 Do not let the floodwaters engulf me
or the depths swallow me up
or the pit close its mouth over me.

16 Answer me, O Lord, out of the goodness of your love;
in your great mercy turn to me.

17 Do not hide your face from your servant;
answer me quickly, for I am in trouble.

18 Come near and rescue me;
redeem me because of my foes.

19 You know how I am scorned, disgraced and shamed;
all my enemies are before you.

20 Scorn has broken my heart
and has left me helpless;
I looked for sympathy, but there was none,
for comforters, but I found none.

21 They put gall in my food
and gave me vinegar for my thirst.

22 May the table set before them become a snare;
may it become retribution and a trap.

23 May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see,
and their backs be bent forever.

24 Pour out your wrath on them;
let your fierce anger overtake them.

25 May their place be deserted;
let there be no one to dwell in their tents.

26 For they persecute those you wound
and talk about the pain of those you hurt.

27 Charge them with crime upon crime;
do not let them share in your salvation.

28 May they be blotted out of the book of life
and not be listed with the righteous.

29 I am in pain and distress;
may your salvation, O God, protect me.

30 I will praise God’s name in song
and glorify him with thanksgiving.

31 This will please the Lord more than an ox,
more than a bull with its horns and hoofs.

32 The poor will see and be glad—
you who seek God, may your hearts live!

33 The Lord hears the needy
and does not despise his captive people.

34 Let heaven and earth praise him,
the seas and all that move in them,

35 for God will save Zion
and rebuild the cities of Judah.
Then people will settle there and possess it;

36 the children of his servants will inherit it,
and those who love his name will dwell there.

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Analysis of Psalms Chapter 69

Psalms Chapter 69 is one of the most profound and emotionally charged psalms in the Bible. It is attributed to David and expresses the depths of his suffering, his plea for divine intervention, and his unwavering faith in God’s deliverance. This chapter is both personal and prophetic, and it has been interpreted by many as pointing towards the suffering of Jesus Christ. Through this analysis, we will delve into the verses, uncovering the rich layers of meaning, theological significance, and the historical context that enriches our understanding of this poignant text.

Verses 1-3: A Cry for Help

1 Save me, O God! For the waters have come up to my neck.

2 I sink in deep mire, where there is no foothold; I have come into deep waters, and the flood sweeps over me.

3 I am weary with my crying out; my throat is parched. My eyes grow dim with waiting for my God.

In the opening verses, David paints a vivid picture of his desperate situation. The metaphor of rising waters and deep mire suggests a state of being overwhelmed by troubles, offering a sense of drowning not just physically but spiritually and emotionally. The imagery David employs here reflects an intense emotional turmoil and a feeling of helplessness. Despite his feeling of despair, he directs his plea to God, showcasing a faith that persists even in the darkest moments.

Verses 4-5: Facing False Accusations

4 More in number than the hairs of my head are those who hate me without cause; mighty are those who would destroy me, those who attack me with lies. What I did not steal must I now restore?

5 O God, you know my folly; the wrongs I have done are not hidden from you.

David highlights the unjust persecution he faces from his enemies. The exaggeration “more in number than the hairs on my head” underscores the overwhelming number of his adversaries. The reference to false accusations and being asked to repay what he did not steal shows the unfairness and baselessness of the charges against him. In verse 5, David acknowledges his own imperfections, confessing his sins to God, emphasizing that despite his innocence in this specific matter, he is still a flawed individual. This confession signifies humility and transparency before the all-knowing God.

Verses 6-9: Concern for the Righteous

6 Let not those who hope in you be put to shame through me, O Lord God of hosts; let not those who seek you be brought to dishonor through me, O God of Israel.

7 For it is for your sake that I have borne reproach, that dishonor has covered my face.

8 I have become a stranger to my brothers, an alien to my mother’s sons.

9 For zeal for your house has consumed me, and the reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me.

David’s concern extends beyond his own suffering to the potential impact on other believers. He prays that his suffering does not cause them to lose faith or be dishonored. David views his suffering as a consequence of his devotion to God, suggesting that his faithfulness has led to his persecution. This identity as a suffering servant parallels the experiences of many righteous people who face ridicule and alienation because of their commitment to God. Verse 9, which speaks of zeal for God’s house consuming him, is later quoted in the New Testament in reference to Jesus, providing a Messianic connection to this psalm.

Verses 10-12: The Aftermath of Devotion

10 When I wept and humbled[f] my soul with fasting, it became my reproach.

11 When I made sackcloth my clothing, I became a byword to them.

12 I am the talk of those who sit in the gate, and the drunkards make songs about me.

David describes how his acts of humility and repentance, such as fasting and wearing sackcloth, have not elicited sympathy but rather have become a cause for mockery. His commitment to spiritual practices makes him a target of ridicule, even becoming a subject of derision among societal outcasts like drunkards. This shows how true devotion can often be misunderstood and scorned by the world, emphasizing the isolation and injustice the devout may face.

Verses 13-18: Plea for Divine Intervention

13 But as for me, my prayer is to you, O Lord. At an acceptable time, O God, in the abundance of your steadfast love answer me in your saving faithfulness.

14 Deliver me from sinking in the mire; let me be delivered from my enemies and from the deep waters.

15 Let not the flood sweep over me, or the deep swallow me up, or the pit close its mouth over me.

16 Answer me, O Lord, for your steadfast love is good; according to your abundant mercy, turn to me.

17 Hide not your face from your servant; for I am in distress; make haste to answer me.

18 Draw near to my soul, redeem me; ransom me because of my enemies!

Despite the scorn and adversity, David’s faith remains steadfast. He turns to God in persistent prayer, appealing to God’s character, His steadfast love, and abundant mercy. David’s repeated pleas for deliverance from “deep waters” and “the pit” reinforce his desperate need for divine intervention. Each verse builds on the urgency and intensity of his request, reflecting a heartfelt cry for God’s redeeming power.

Verses 19-21: The Bitter Reality of Betrayal

19 You know my reproach, and my shame and my dishonor; my foes are all known to you.

20 Reproaches have broken my heart, so that I am in despair. I looked for pity, but there was none, and for comforters, but I found none.

21 They gave me poison for food, and for my thirst they gave me sour wine to drink.

David here expresses the emotional impact of his suffering. The heart-wrenching sense of betrayal and lack of compassion from those around him adds to his reproach. The imagery of being given “poison for food” and “sour wine” heightens the cruelty of this betrayal. Notably, verse 21 is seen as a prophetic prefiguration of Christ’s crucifixion, where Jesus was offered sour wine, further linking David’s suffering with the future Messiah’s.

Verses 22-28: Imprecatory Prayer

22 Let their own table before them become a snare; and when they are at peace, let it become a trap.

23 Let their eyes be darkened, so that they cannot see, and make their loins tremble continually.

24 Pour out your indignation upon them, and let your burning anger overtake them.

25 May their camp be a desolation; let no one dwell in their tents.

26 For they persecute him whom you have struck down, and they recount the pain of those you have wounded.

27 Add to them punishment upon punishment; may they have no acquittal from you.

28 Let them be blotted out of the book of the living; let them not be enrolled among the righteous.

This section contains some of the most intense imprecatory prayers in the Psalms, where David calls for divine justice against his enemies. The severity of these requests can be challenging to understand, especially within a modern context. However, they reflect a strong desire for God’s righteousness and justice to prevail. David’s imprecations are not personal vendettas but appeals for God’s judgment against persistent wickedness that opposes divine purposes. The imagery of their table becoming a snare and their being blotted out of the book of the living signifies the complete reversal of their fortunes due to their unjust actions.

Verses 29-33: Assurance of Deliverance

29 But I am afflicted and in pain; let your salvation, O God, set me on high!

30 I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving.

31 This will please the Lord more than an ox or a bull with horns and hoofs.

32 When the humble see it, they will be glad; you who seek God, let your hearts revive.

33 For the Lord hears the needy and does not despise his own people who are prisoners.

David moves from a plea for justice to a confident expectation of God’s deliverance. His trust in God leads him to preemptively offer praise and thanksgiving, indicating his faith that God will act on his behalf. This transition from lament to praise exemplifies the transformational power of faith and worship. David asserts that genuine thanksgiving and worship are more pleasing to God than ritual sacrifices, emphasizing the value of a sincere heart. The reassurance that God hears the needy and does not despise the afflicted highlights God’s loving and attentive nature towards His people.

Verses 34-36: Universal Call to Praise

34 Let heaven and earth praise him, the seas and everything that moves in them.

35 For God will save Zion and build up the cities of Judah, and people shall dwell there and possess it;

36 the offspring of his servants shall inherit it, and those who love his name shall dwell in it.

The concluding verses expand the call to praise to the entire creation. David envisions a future where God’s salvation and restoration extend to Zion and the cities of Judah. The prophetic tone shifts from personal deliverance to the collective redemption and restoration of God’s people. This vision foresees a time of peace, prosperity, and divine presence where God’s faithful servants will inherit and dwell securely in the land. This eschatological hope resonates with the broader biblical theme of God’s ultimate plan for His people and His creation.

Conclusion

Psalm 69 provides a deeply personal yet universally relevant exploration of suffering, faith, and divine justice. David’s honest expressions of distress, his appeals for God’s intervention, and his unwavering trust in God’s deliverance offer a powerful model of faith amidst adversity. The prophetic elements within the psalm draw connections to the life and suffering of Jesus Christ, enriching its significance within the Christian tradition. Ultimately, Psalm 69 reinforces the themes of God’s steadfast love, the worth of sincere worship, and the hope of divine redemption and restoration, offering profound insights for believers facing trials in any age.