Plea for Delivery from a Pitiful Plight Psalm 69:1-36 · Psalm 69:1-36, 1. Save me, O God, for the waters have come up to my neck. 2. I sink in the miry depths, where there is no

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Commentary by Clyde M. Miller Questions by John C. Sewell

Plea for Delivery from a Pitiful Plight

Psalm 69:1-36

Landmark Publications, Inc., 1045 Maynor Street, Nashville, TN 37216, U.S.A., John C. Sewell, Ph.D., Editor.

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Plea for Delivery from a Pitiful Plight

Commentary

by

Clyde M. Miller Text: Psalm 69:1-36, 1. 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 de-stroy 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 thanks-giving. 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. (NIV) Introduction: I. Verses 1-33 are in the form of a personal lament, but verses 34-36 are in the form of a communal praise hymn.

A. The theme in 1-33 is lament over personal problems, but that in verses 34-36 is trust in national deliverance.

1. These disparities may indicate that an editor added verses 34-36, but not necessarily so.

2. The psalmist’s own meditations may have led him to express confidence in the protection of the nation.

B. Scriptures:

1. Psalm 69:1-33, Save me, O God, for the waters have come up to my neck. I sink in the miry depths, where there is no foothold. I have come into the deep waters; the floods engulf me. I am worn out calling for help; my throat is parched. My eyes fail, looking for my God. Those who hate me without reason out-number 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. You know my folly, O God; my guilt is not hidden from you. 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. For I endure scorn for your sake, and shame covers my face. I am a stranger to my brothers, an alien to my own mother's sons; for zeal for your house consumes me, and the insults of those who in-sult you fall on me. When I weep and fast, I must en-dure scorn; when I put on sackcloth, people make sport of me. Those who sit at the gate mock me, and I am the song of the drunkards. 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. Rescue me from the mire, do not let me sink; deliver me from those who hate me, from the deep waters. Do not let the floodwaters engulf me or the depths swallow me up or the pit close its mouth over me. Answer me, O LORD, out of the goodness of your love; in your great mercy turn to me. Do not hide your face from your servant; answer me quickly, for I am in trouble. Come near and rescue me; redeem me because of my foes. You know how I am scorned, disgraced and shamed; all my enemies are before you. Scorn has broken my heart and has left me helpless; I looked for sympathy, but there was none, for comforters, but I found none. They put gall in my food and gave me vinegar for my thirst. May the table set before them become a snare; may it become retribution and a trap. May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see, and their backs be bent forever. Pour out your wrath on them; let your fierce anger overtake them. May their place be deserted; let there be no one to dwell in their tents. For they persecute those you wound and




talk about the pain of those you hurt. Charge them with crime upon crime; do not let them share in your salvation. May they be blotted out of the book of life and not be listed with the righteous. I am in pain and distress; may your salvation, O God, protect me. I will praise God's name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving. This will please the LORD more than an ox, more than a bull with its horns and hoofs. The poor will see and be glad— you who seek God, may your hearts live! The LORD hears the needy and does not despise his captive people. (NIV)

2. Psalm 69:34-36, Let heaven and earth praise him, the seas and all that move in them, for God will save Zion and rebuild the cities of Judah. Then people will settle there and possess it; the children of his servants will inherit it, and those who love his name will dwell there. (NIV)

Outline:

A. The psalm begins by expressing the psalmist’s vulnerability to inner turmoil (1-5).

1. Psalm 69:1-5, Save me, O God, for the waters have come up to my neck. I sink in the miry depths, where there is no foothold. I have come into the deep wa-ters; the floods engulf me. I am worn out calling for help; my throat is parched. My eyes fail, looking for my God. Those who hate me without reason outnum-ber the hairs of my head; many are my enemies with-out cause, those who seek to destroy me. I am forced to restore what I did not steal. You know my folly, O God; my guilt is not hidden from you. (NIV)




B. It then moves on to an expression of the social implications of his distress (6-12).

1. Psalm 69:6-12, May those who hope in you not be disgraced because of me, O Lord, the LORD Al-mighty; may those who seek you not be put to shame because of me, O God of Israel. For I endure scorn for your sake, and shame covers my face. I am a stranger to my brothers, an alien to my own mother's sons; for zeal for your house consumes me, and the insults of those who insult you fall on me. When I weep and fast, I must endure scorn; when I put on sackcloth, people make sport of me. Those who sit at the gate mock me, and I am the song of the drunk-ards. (NIV)

C. He next expresses the direction of his hope (13-18).

1. Psalm 69:13-18, 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. Rescue me from the mire, do not let me sink; deliver me from those who hate me, from the deep waters. Do not let the flood-waters engulf me or the depths swallow me up or the pit close its mouth over me. Answer me, O LORD, out of the goodness of your love; in your great mercy turn to me. Do not hide your face from your servant; answer me quickly, for I am in trouble. Come near and rescue me; redeem me because of my foes. (NIV)

D. He makes a strong appeal to God to subdue his enemies (19-28).

1. Psalm 69:19-28, You know how I am scorned, dis-graced and shamed; all my enemies are before you.




Scorn has broken my heart and has left me helpless; I looked for sympathy, but there was none, for com-forters, but I found none. They put gall in my food and gave me vinegar for my thirst. May the table set before them become a snare; may it become retribu-tion and a trap. May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see, and their backs be bent forever. Pour out your wrath on them; let your fierce anger overtake them. May their place be deserted; let there be no one to dwell in their tents. For they persecute those you wound and talk about the pain of those you hurt. Charge them with crime upon crime; do not let them share in your salvation. May they be blotted out of the book of life and not be listed with the righteous. (NIV)

E. This is followed by an urgent plea for deliverance (29-33).

1. Psalm 69:29-33, I am in pain and distress; may your salvation, O God, protect me. I will praise God's name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving. This will please the LORD more than an ox, more than a bull with its horns and hoofs. The poor will see and be glad— you who seek God, may your hearts live! The LORD hears the needy and does not despise his captive people. (NIV)

F. Finally, he expresses his trust in Zion’s deliverance (34-36).





G. Doubtless, he believes that he would be a participant in that deliverance.

Commentary:

Vulnerability to Inner Turmoil Psalm 69:1-5, Save me, O God, for the waters have come up to my neck. I sink in the miry depths, where there is no foothold. I have come into the deep waters; the floods engulf me. I am worn out calling for help; my throat is parched. My eyes fail, looking for my God. 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. You know my folly, O God; my guilt is not hidden from you. (NIV) Psalm 69:1, Save me, O God, for the waters have come up to my neck. (NIV) I. He describes his need for the plea for God to save him. II. He uses the metaphor of drowning in which he is almost com-pletely exhausted. Psalm 69:2, I sink in the miry depths, where there is no foothold. I have come into the deep waters; the floods engulf me. (NIV) I. Verse 2 employs two metaphors.

A. He is sinking in the miry soil where there is no foothold.

B. He is placed in danger by a flood that threatens his survival.

1. The latter repeats the metaphor of verse 1.




Psalm 69:3, I am worn out calling for help; my throat is parched. My eyes fail, looking for my God. (NIV) I. Verse 3 also uses two metaphors.

A. His constant calling for help has caused his throat to be parched like a weary desert traveler.

B. His continual looking for God’s help has caused his eyes to fail to see clearly.

Psalm 69:4, 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. (NIV) I. Enemies more numerous than the hairs of his head falsely accuse him to his consternation. II. Falsely accused of stealing by those who seek to destroy him, he is forced to restore what he did not steal. Psalm 69:5, You know my folly, O God; my guilt is not hidden from you. (NIV) I. He confesses that he is a sinner, but he protests that he is not guilty of the specific charge brought against him.

Social Implications of his Complaint Psalm 69:6-12, May those who hope in you not be disgraced be-cause of me, O Lord, the LORD Almighty; may those who seek you not be put to shame because of me, O God of Israel. For I en-dure scorn for your sake, and shame covers my face. I am a




stranger to my brothers, an alien to my own mother's sons; for zeal for your house consumes me, and the insults of those who in-sult you fall on me. When I weep and fast, I must endure scorn; when I put on sackcloth, people make sport of me. Those who sit at the gate mock me, and I am the song of the drunkards. (NIV) Psalm 69:6, 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. (NIV) I. He prays that other sincere worshipers will not be discouraged by his turmoil, and that they will not be put to shame by their imitating him. Psalm 69:7, For I endure scorn for your sake, and shame covers my face. (NIV) I. He himself endures scorn and shame for God’s sake.

A. The implication is that he wants others to understand his in-nocence.

Psalm 69:8, I am a stranger to my brothers, an alien to my own mother's sons; (NIV) I. He expresses the same feeling of alienation as that found in Psalm 38:11 and Job 19:13-19.

A. Psalm 38;11, My friends and companions avoid me be-cause of my wounds; my neighbors stay far away. (NIV)

B. Job 19:13-19, "He has alienated my brothers from me; my acquaintances are completely estranged from me. My kinsmen have gone away; my friends have forgotten me. My guests and my maidservants count me a stranger; they




look upon me as an alien. I summon my servant, but he does not answer, though I beg him with my own mouth. My breath is offensive to my wife; I am loathsome to my own brothers. Even the little boys scorn me; when I appear, they ridicule me. All my intimate friends detest me; those I love have turned against me. (NIV)

II. He is aware that some may fear the bearing of guilt by association. Psalm 69:9, for zeal for your house consumes me, and the insults of those who insult you fall on me. (NIV) I. His zeal for God’s house is an expression of his zeal for worship.

A. He was willing to share insult with God.

B. Insults heaped upon a righteous person like himself were also shared by God (Ps. 22:7-8).

1. Psalm 22:7, 8, All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads: "He trusts in the LORD; let the LORD rescue him. Let him deliver him, since he delights in him." (NIV)

Psalm 69:10, When I weep and fast, I must endure scorn; (NIV) I. His weeping and fasting were treated as insincere, an effort to cover his sin.

A. For this he was scorned. Psalm 69:11, when I put on sackcloth, people make sport of me. (NIV)




I. His putting on sackcloth was another form of expressing deep sor-row. II. His enemies made sport of what they interpreted to be false devo-tion. Psalm 69:12, Those who sit at the gate mock me, and I am the song of the drunkards. (NIV) I. Judges who sat at the gate were expected to judge righteously.

A. Even they mocked him because of his supposed mock wor-ship.

B. Drunkards used mocking epithets about him in their drunken stupor.

Strong Appeal to God

Psalm 69:13-18, But I pray to you, O LORD, in the time of your favor; in your great love, O God, answer me with your sure salva-tion. Rescue me from the mire, do not let me sink; deliver me from those who hate me, from the deep waters. Do not let the floodwaters engulf me or the depths swallow me up or the pit close its mouth over me. Answer me, O LORD, out of the goodness of your love; in your great mercy turn to me. Do not hide your face from your servant; answer me quickly, for I am in trouble. Come near and rescue me; redeem me because of my foes. (NIV) Psalm 69:13, But I pray to you, O LORD, in the time of your fa-vor; in your great love, O God, answer me with your sure salva-tion. (NIV) I. The psalmist prays for God to act on his behalf in his own time.




A. This is an acknowledgement that God knows what is best.

1. It is designated as “the time of your favor”.

B. The word for “favor” is rats)n, which can mean “good will”, “pleasure”, “delight”.

C. The basic thought here is that the psalmist is willing to trust God’s will on his behalf.

1. This attitude is in harmony with God’s will for our prayers (1 John 5:14).

a. 1 John 5:14, This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. (NIV)

b. This kind of submission assures the petitioner that God will answer in his own good time and way.

II. An appeal is also made for God to answer in his “great love”.

A. The word for “love” is chesedh, steadfast covenant love.

B. He also prays that God will answer with his “sure salvation”.

C. The word for “sure” is emeth, which basically means “faith-fulness”.

D. The psalmist trusts God’s good pleasure or favor and his faithful love to cause him to act appropriately.

Psalm 69:14, Rescue me from the mire, do not let me sink; deliver me from those who hate me, from the deep waters. (NIV)




I. Verse 14 recalls the statements of his condition in verses 1-2.

A. Psalm 69:1, 2, Save me, O God, for the waters have come up to my neck. I sink in the miry depths, where there is no foothold. I have come into the deep waters; the floods engulf me. (NIV)

II. He now prays for deliverance from his helpless circumstances.

A. He again recalls those who hate him (4).

1. Psalm 69:4, Those who hate me without reason outnumber the hairs of my head; many are my ene-mies without cause, those who seek to destroy me. I am forced to restore what I did not steal. (NIV)

Psalm 69:15, Do not let the floodwaters engulf me or the depths swallow me up or the pit close its mouth over me. (NIV) I. Verse 15 also recalls the conditions stated in verses 1-2, with the addition of the word “pit”.

A. Psalm 69:1, 2, Save me, O God, for the waters have come up to my neck. I sink in the miry depths, where there is no foothold. I have come into the deep waters; the floods engulf me. (NIV)

B. The word “pit” is a common expression of the grave.

C. He feels that his life is in danger.

Psalm 69:16, Answer me, O LORD, out of the goodness of your love; in your great mercy turn to me. (NIV)




I. To the terms for God’s character given in verses 13-14, the psalmist now adds the phrases, “the goodness of your love” and “in your great mercy”.

A. Psalm 69:13, 14, 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. Rescue me from the mire, do not let me sink; deliver me from those who hate me, from the deep wa-ters. (NIV)

B. The first phrase is literally the statement, “your stead-fast/enduring love is good”.

C. The array of expressions describing God’s nature shows that the psalmist relies on God’s character to receive the help needed.

Psalm 69:17, Do not hide your face from your servant; answer me quickly, for I am in trouble. (NIV) I. His trouble caused by the intent of his enemies is now added as a reason for God to act.

A. “Do not hide your face” means “do not ignore my plea”.

B. Because of the intensity of his enemies, he needs for God to “answer …quickly”.

II. Coming at the end of the descriptions of God’s character above, this present plea should not be interpreted as impatience with God.

A. It is rather an announcement of his trouble that will cause God to be more diligent in answering him according to His own infinite wisdom.




B. Imminent danger of death has brought forth an intensive plea for help.

Psalm 69:18, Come near and rescue me; redeem me because of my foes. (NIV) I. “Come near” suggests intimate fellowship and personal action. II. “Rescue” and “redeem” form a word pair with similar meanings.

Strong Appeal to God Psalm 69:19-28, You know how I am scorned, disgraced and shamed; all my enemies are before you. Scorn has broken my heart and has left me helpless; I looked for sympathy, but there was none, for comforters, but I found none. They put gall in my food and gave me vinegar for my thirst. May the table set before them become a snare; may it become retribution and a trap. May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see, and their backs be bent forever. Pour out your wrath on them; let your fierce anger over-take them. May their place be deserted; let there be no one to dwell in their tents. For they persecute those you wound and talk about the pain of those you hurt. Charge them with crime upon crime; do not let them share in your salvation. May they be blot-ted out of the book of life and not be listed with the righteous. (NIV) Psalm 69:19, You know how I am scorned, disgraced and shamed; all my enemies are before you. (NIV) I. “Scorned”, “disgraced” and “shamed” recall his declarations of suf-fering scorn, being made sport of, and being insulted and mocked in verses 10-12 in connection with his devotions.




A. Psalm 69:10-12, When I weep and fast, I must endure scorn; when I put on sackcloth, people make sport of me. Those who sit at the gate mock me, and I am the song of the drunkards. (NIV)

II. “All my enemies are before you” indicates that God knows all about his troubles.

A. They have been brought before God in prayer. Psalm 69:20, Scorn has broken my heart and has left me helpless; I looked for sympathy, but there was none, for comforters, but I found none. (NIV) I. Verse 20 reveals the inner turmoil caused by his mistreatment by his enemies.

A. Broken hearted and helpless, he looked for sympathy but found none; he looked for comforters but none was available.

Psalm 69:21, They put gall in my food and gave me vinegar for my thirst. (NIV) I. “Gall”, r)sh, is probably a poisonous plant.

A. The word for “food” is b>ruf, which was a meal given to mourners supposedly by sympathizers.

B. In this case, it was a hypocritical action.

C. “Vinegar” was a sour wine, rather than the ordinary sweet wine.

D. “Thirst” recalls his reference to his parched throat (3).




1. Psalm 69:3, I am worn out calling for help; my throat is parched. My eyes fail, looking for my God. (NIV)

Psalm 69:22, May the table set before them become a snare; may it become retribution and a trap. (NIV) I. The psalmist prays that his enemies receive the kind of treatment they have heaped upon him.

A. Since he knows that they have hated him without reason (4), he feels justified in asking for justice to be rendered.

1. Psalm 69:4, Those who hate me without reason outnumber the hairs of my head; many are my ene-mies without cause, those who seek to destroy me. I am forced to restore what I did not steal. (NIV)

B. “Table” recalls the poisonous “food” they offered him (21).

1. Psalm 69:21, They put gall in my food and gave me vinegar for my thirst. (NIV)

2. As we say, he wanted the tables to be turned.

C. “Snare”, “retribution” and “trap” all indicate their receiving the things by which they thought to ensnare him.

1. He prays that they be blinded and bent, unable to function properly.

Psalm 69:24, Pour out your wrath on them; let your fierce anger overtake them. (NIV) I. “Wrath” and “fierce anger” form a word pair with similar meanings.




A. He knows that God’s wrath and anger are capable of com-plete destruction.

Psalm 69:25, May their place be deserted; let there be no one to dwell in their tents. (NIV) I. Their place would be deserted following their death, and no one would want to dwell where it was evident that criminals had once lived. Psalm 69:26, For they persecute those you wound and talk about the pain of those you hurt. (NIV) I. God had afflicted the psalmist by delaying his call for help, which fact caused his enemies to interpret the delay as judgment from God. Psalm 69:27, Charge them with crime upon crime; do not let them share in your salvation. (NIV) I. The psalmist wants God to make sure that his enemies are cut off from His salvation because they are unworthy of it.

A. “Charge them with crime upon crime” does not imply false charges; rather it means to be sure that all their crimes are brought before God for judgment.

B. This will be a basis for the final judgment, the full nature of which the psalmist in Old Testament days had little or no knowledge (cf. Rom. 2:6; 2 Tim. 4:14, NASB).

1. Romans 2:6, God "will give to each person accord-ing to what he has done." (NIV)




2. 2 Timothy 4:14, Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done. (NIV)

Psalm 69:28, May they be blotted out of the book of life and not be listed with the righteous. (NIV) I. In the Bible the opening of “the book of life” meant a call for judg-ment (Dan. 7:10; Rev. 20:12).

A. Daniel 7:10, A river of fire was flowing, coming out from before him. Thousands upon thousands attended him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The court was seated, and the books were opened. (NIV)

B. Revelation 20:12, And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. An-other book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. (NIV)

II. “Blotted out” refers to erasing the record.

A. In this context, it refers to canceling the names of the right-eous .

1. Thus, condemnation rather than salvation would be the result.

III. Lack of understanding about the final judgment and the after-life caused Old Testament worshipers to think that vindication and retribu-tion had to come in some demonstrable way in this life.

A. We need to follow Christ in these matters (Lk. 23:34).




1. Luke 23:34, Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." And they di-vided up his clothes by casting lots. (NIV)

Urgent Plea for Deliverance

Psalm 69:29-33, I am in pain and distress; may your salvation, O God, protect me. I will praise God's name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving. This will please the LORD more than an ox, more than a bull with its horns and hoofs. The poor will see and be glad— you who seek God, may your hearts live! The LORD hears the needy and does not despise his captive people. (NIV) Psalm 69:29, I am in pain and distress; may your salvation, O God, protect me. (NIV) I. Lament (29a) is followed by petition (29b). “Salvation” in this con-text means “deliverance”. Psalm 69:30, I will praise God's name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving. (NIV) I. Verse 30 is a vow to praise God when deliverance comes.

A. “Praise” and “glorify” form a word pair, as do “song” and “thanksgiving”.

B. The word “glorify” is defined by the word “praise”, and the word “song” is defined by the word “thanksgiving”.

Psalm 69:31, This will please the LORD more than an ox, more than a bull with its horns and hoofs. (NIV) I. Praise and thanksgiving are more pleasing to God than animal sacri-fices mechanically offered.




A. This is not an effort to bypass the commands under the Law of Moses to offer sacrifices at the proper time and with the ap-propriate attitude.

B. Verse 31 focuses on the inner condition of heart that makes outward performance of rituals meaningful (cf. Ps. 51:6-7,16-17,19).

1. Psalm 51:6, 7, Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place. Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. (NIV)

2. Psalm 51:16, 17, 19, You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not de-spise. In your good pleasure make Zion prosper; build up the walls of Jerusalem. Then there will be righteous sacrifices, whole burnt offerings to delight you; then bulls will be offered on your altar. (NIV)

Psalm 69:32, The poor will see and be glad— you who seek God, may your hearts live! (NIV) I. Verse 32 expresses the effects of sincere devotion on others.

A. “The poor” are the humble of spirit who recognize their need of God.

1. This is evidenced in the expression, “you who seek God”.




2. These can “be glad” and their hearts will live, that is, be satisfied.

Psalm 69:33, The LORD hears the needy and does not despise his captive people. (NIV) I. “The needy” has the same connotation as “the poor” (32).

A. Psalm 69:32, The poor will see and be glad— you who seek God, may your hearts live! (NIV)

B. “The LORD hears” those who sense their need of Him and who call upon Him for deliverance.

C. God “does not despise his captive people” when they repent and humble their hearts before Him (Jer. 36:2).

1. Jeremiah 36:2, "Take a scroll and write on it all the words I have spoken to you concerning Israel, Judah and all the other nations from the time I began speaking to you in the reign of Josiah till now. (NIV)

II. The expression, “captive people”, does not necessarily place the psalm in the exilic period.

A. The expression can refer to any kind and time of restriction when national freedom is suspended.

Trust in God’s Deliverance

Psalm 69:34-36, Let heaven and earth praise him, the seas and all that move in them, for God will save Zion and rebuild the cities of Judah. Then people will settle there and possess it; the children of his servants will inherit it, and those who love his name will dwell there. (NIV)




Psalm 69:34, Let heaven and earth praise him, the seas and all that move in them, (NIV) I. “Heaven and earth” and “the seas” are personified, indicating the people of every nation.

A. The hope is that all people everywhere will praise God when they see what He does for Zion (35-36).

Psalm 69:35-36, for God will save Zion and rebuild the cities of Judah. Then people will settle there and possess it; the children of his servants will inherit it, and those who love his name will dwell there. (NIV) I. Verse 35 seems to reflect the exilic period, but it could reflect any one of the times that Jerusalem and Judah were partially damaged (2 Kgs. 12:4-18; 14:13-14).

A. 2 Kings 12:4-18, Joash said to the priests, "Collect all the money that is brought as sacred offerings to the temple of the LORD -the money collected in the census, the money received from personal vows and the money brought volun-tarily to the temple. Let every priest receive the money from one of the treasurers, and let it be used to repair whatever damage is found in the temple." But by the twenty-third year of King Joash the priests still had not repaired the temple. Therefore King Joash summoned Jehoiada the priest and the other priests and asked them, "Why aren't you repairing the damage done to the temple? Take no more money from your treasurers, but hand it over for re-pairing the temple." The priests agreed that they would not collect any more money from the people and that they would not repair the temple themselves. Jehoiada the priest took a chest and bored a hole in its lid. He placed it beside




the altar, on the right side as one enters the temple of the LORD. The priests who guarded the entrance put into the chest all the money that was brought to the temple of the LORD. Whenever they saw that there was a large amount of money in the chest, the royal secretary and the high priest came, counted the money that had been brought into the temple of the LORD and put it into bags. When the amount had been determined, they gave the money to the men appointed to supervise the work on the temple. With it they paid those who worked on the temple of the LORD -the carpenters and builders, the masons and stonecutters. They purchased timber and dressed stone for the repair of the temple of the LORD, and met all the other expenses of restoring the temple. The money brought into the temple was not spent for making silver basins, wick trimmers, sprinkling bowls, trumpets or any other articles of gold or silver for the temple of the LORD; it was paid to the work-men, who used it to repair the temple. They did not require an accounting from those to whom they gave the money to pay the workers, because they acted with complete honesty. The money from the guilt offerings and sin offerings was not brought into the temple of the LORD; it belonged to the priests. About this time Hazael king of Aram went up and attacked Gath and captured it. Then he turned to attack Je-rusalem. But Joash king of Judah took all the sacred objects dedicated by his fathers—Jehoshaphat, Jehoram and Ahaziah, the kings of Judah—and the gifts he himself had dedicated and all the gold found in the treasuries of the temple of the LORD and of the royal palace, and he sent them to Hazael king of Aram, who then withdrew from Je-rusalem. (NIV)

B. 2 Kings 14:13, 14, Jehoash king of Israel captured Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash, the son of Ahaziah, at Beth Shemesh. Then Jehoash went to Jerusalem




and broke down the wall of Jerusalem from the Ephraim Gate to the Corner Gate—a section about six hundred feet long. He took all the gold and silver and all the articles found in the temple of the LORD and in the treasuries of the royal palace. He also took hostages and returned to Samaria. (NIV)

II. Some scholars think that verses 34-36 are a later addition to the psalm, but this is far from certain.

A. Psalm 69:34-36, Let heaven and earth praise him, the seas and all that move in them, for God will save Zion and rebuild the cities of Judah. Then people will settle there and possess it; the children of his servants will inherit it, and those who love his name will dwell there. (NIV)

B. The last line of verse 35 goes better with verse 36.

III. “The children of his servants” refers to later generations of people who settle in Jerusalem.

A. It is “those who love his name” that will dwell securely in the holy city.

New Testament Use of the Psalm

Note: It is obvious that Psalm 69 is in part analogous to Christ and the church. Since there are so many references to this effect, it seems better to deal with this aspect of the psalm in a separate category. I. John 2:17 quotes verse 9 and applies it to Christ’s act of cleansing the temple.

A. Scriptures:




1. John 2:17, His disciples remembered that it is writ-ten: "Zeal for your house will consume me." (NIV)

2. Psalm 69:9, for zeal for your house consumes me, and the insults of those who insult you fall on me. (NIV)

B. Christ’s zeal for the temple caused the disciples to recall the zeal of the psalmist for religious devotion.

C. Actions common to zealous persons are characteristic of the psalmist and of Christ.

II. The sentiment of verse 21 is reflected in Matthew 27:34; Mark 15:36; Luke 23:36, and John 19:28-29, where it is applied to the treatment of Jesus at His crucifixion.

A. Scriptures:

1. Psalm 69:21, They put gall in my food and gave me vinegar for my thirst. (NIV)

2. Matthew 27:34, There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, he refused to drink it. (NIV)

3. Mark 15:36, One man ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on a stick, and offered it to Jesus to drink. "Now leave him alone. Let's see if Elijah comes to take him down," he said. (NIV)

4. Luke 23:36, The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar. (NIV)




5. John 19:28, 29, Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be ful-filled, Jesus said, "I am thirsty." A jar of wine vine-gar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus' lips. (NIV)

B. “To fulfill the scripture” (John 19:28) here refers to fulfilling a type rather than a prophecy.

1. The similar circumstances of enemies mockingly of-fering the tranquilizing drink to one facing death ac-counts for the usage.

2. It could be considered a mark of courageous strength to refuse the tranquilizer.

III. Paul quotes verses 22-23 in Romans 11:9-10 and applies them to unbelieving Israel who rejected her Christ or Messiah.

A. Scriptures:

1. Psalm 69:22, 23, May the table set before them be-come a snare; may it become retribution and a trap. May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see, and their backs be bent forever. (NIV)

2. Romans 11:9, 10, And David says: "May their ta-ble become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a retribution for them. May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see, and their backs be bent forever." (NIV)

B. Paul takes the similar circumstances and enlarges the per-sonal injustice of the psalmist’s enemies to apply the thought to




the greater sin of those who hardened their hearts against Christ.

1. Significantly, Paul’s use of these verses demonstrates that they approve of nothing inherently evil in thought.

IV. Acts 1:20 quotes verse 25 and applies it to the burial plot bought with the money returned by Judas who had taken the money with which to betray Christ.

A. Scriptures:

1. Acts 1:20, "For," said Peter, "it is written in the book of Psalms, "'May his place be deserted; let there be no one to dwell in it,' and, "'May another take his place of leadership.'(NIV)

2. Psalm 69:25, May their place be deserted; let there be no one to dwell in their tents. (NIV)

B. The similar circumstances of shame and ignominy resulting from wicked crimes connect these two passages.

Note: In none of these New Testament references is it claimed that prophecy is being fulfilled. Rather, these are analogies based on com-mon experiences of persons under similar circumstances. Application: I. An understanding of the New Testament use of Psalm 69 is a good model of the proper use of the psalm for all generations of God’s peo-ple.

A. The lessons learned by the psalmist, as indicated in verses 13-18 and 34-36, are applicable for all.




1. Psalm 69:13-18, 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. Rescue me from the mire, do not let me sink; deliver me from those who hate me, from the deep waters. Do not let the flood-waters engulf me or the depths swallow me up or the pit close its mouth over me. Answer me, O LORD, out of the goodness of your love; in your great mercy turn to me. Do not hide your face from your servant; answer me quickly, for I am in trouble. Come near and rescue me; redeem me because of my foes. (NIV)


B. Trust in God, patience and endurance are admirable qualities to imitate.

C. Since what the psalmist suffered is in many ways analogous to what our Savior suffered, we should realize that His servants will also be subject to suffering.

1. Since Christ triumphed, so can we.




Questions

Psalm 69:1-36

(Questions based on NIV text.) 1. The psalmist prayed, “____________________ me, O God, for the ___________________ have come up to my ___________________.” 2. He further described his condition, “I ___________________ in the ___________________ ________________, where there is no ___________________. I have come into the __________________ ___________________; the ________________ _________________ me.” 3. The psalmist further declared,” I am _________________________ _________________ ________________ for ________________; my _________________ is ________________. My ________________ ________________ ________________ for my ________________.” 4. “Those who ___________________ me _____________________ ________________ ________________ the __________________ of my ______________; ________________ are my ________________ without _____________, those who ____________ to ____________ ________________. I am ________________ to ________________ what ________________ did not ________________.” 5. “You know my _______________, O God; my ________________ is ________________ ________________ from you. May those who ________________ in you not be ________________ because of ______________, O Lord, the ______________ ________________; may those who _____________________ you not be put to ___________________ because of me, O God of Israel.”




6. I ___________________ __________________ for your (God’s) ______________, and ______________ covers my ______________. I am a _____________ to my own _____________’s _____________; for _______________ for your _______________ _______________ me, and the ________________ of those who ________________ you _________________ on ___________________.” 7. Was the psalmist truly devoted to God or a fanatic? What would people think of such a person today? Give reasons for your answers._ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 8. The psalmist was the object of decision. “When I ___________________ and ________________, I must endure ___________________; when I put on ________________, people made ___________________ of me. Those who ________________ at the ___________________ ________________ me, and I am the ___________________ of the ___________________. 9. What type people scorned the psalmist? Why did they ridicule him? ___________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 10. The psalmist prayed to God in the time of the Lord’s _______________; in God’s ________________ ________________ and asked that God answer his prayer with his ________________ ________________.




11. The psalmist further prayed, “________________ me from the _____________________, do not let me ___________________; ___________________ me from those who _________________ me, from the ________________ ________________.” 12. The psalmist pled, “Do not let the _____________ ____________ me or the ________________ ________________ me up or the ________________ ________________ its ________________ over me.” 13. “________________ me, O Lord, out of the ________________ of your ______________; in your ______________ ______________ turn to me. Do not _______________ your _____________ from your _______________; ________________ me ________________, for I am in ________________. Come near and ________________ me; ________________ me because of my ________________.” 14.”You know how I am ________________ ________________ and _______________; all my _______________ are ________________ you. ______________ has _______________ my _______________ and has ________________ me ________________; I looked for ___________________, but there was ___________________ for ___________________, but I found ________________.” 15. “They put ____________________ in my ________________ and gave me ________________ for my ________________.” 16. The psalmist asked God to bring devastation on his enemies, those who had mistreated him. Exactly what did the psalmist ask God to do to his enemies? See verses 22-28. ____________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________




________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 17. “I am in ________________ and __________________; may your __________________, O God, ________________ me,” the psalmist prayed. 18. The psalmist said, in response to God’s blessings, that he would __________________ _________________’s ________________ in ______________ and _______________ him with ______________.” 19. Praise and thanksgiving please God more than an _____________ and more than a ________________ with its _________________ and ________________.” 20. What will the poor see? What will be their response to what they see? ____________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 21. The ___________________ of those who ___________________ _________________ will ________________. What does this mean? 22. “The _______________ ______________ the ________________ and does not _____________ his _____________ ______________.” Who were/are these people? _________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________




________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 23. Let ______________ and ________________ ________________ him, the ________________ and all that ________________ in them, for ________________ will ________________ ________________ and the ______________ of ______________. Then _____________ will ____________ there and ____________ it; the _______________ of his ________________ will ________________ it, and those who ________________ his ________________ will ________________ there.” 24. List and discuss four New Testament references to Psalm 69. ___ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 25. Note: In none of these __________________ ________________ ________________ is it ________________ that ________________ is being ________________. Rather, these are ________________ based on ______________ _______________ of ________________ under ________________ ________________. 26. What lessons/ applications can be made to our lives and circum-stances? _________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________




________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 27. Compare/contrast Psalm 69:1-33 with Psalm 69:34-36. ________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 28. Outline Psalm 69. ______________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 29. List and give the applied meaning of each metaphor used in Psalm 69. _____________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 30. Describe/discuss the psalmist’s feelings and concerns as revealed in Psalm 69. ______________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________




________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 31. Extra credit question: How do you feel and react when people do you wrong? ______________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________



Documents

Plea for Delivery from a Pitiful Plight Psalm 69:1-36 · Psalm 69:1-36, 1. Save me, O God, for the waters have come up to my neck. 2. I sink in the miry depths, where there is no