Psalm 69: The persecuted Messiah

This is a psalm of David’s troubles but, more importantly, it is a prophetic picture of the

sufferings of Christ. Parts of this song have been recognized as being Messianic since the

beginning of the Church. Indeed, it is quoted more frequently in the New Testament

than any other portion of the Old Testament except for Psalm 22, which also speaks of

Jesus' sufferings. It is a memorable portrait of a man under severe persecution who

entrusts his soul to God and asks God for judgment. He ends with a declaration of faith

in the future of Zion.

(1) (To the chief Musician upon Shoshannim, A Psalm of David.) Save me, O

God; for the waters have come in to my soul. (2) I sink in deep mire, where

there is no standing; I have come into deep waters, where the floods

overflow me. (3) I am weary of my crying; my throat is dried; my eyes fail

while I wait for my God. (4) Those who hate me without a cause are more

than the hairs of my head; those who would destroy me, being my enemies

wrongfully, are mighty; then I restored that which I did not take away.

• The word shoshannim means "lilies." It has been said that this refers to a certain

instrument, probably a trumpet because of the shape.

• The waters of affliction are not only coming into the circumstances of David's life

but into his soul.

• He is sinking in deep mud. Being under water is one thing; a strong swimmer can

escape. But being underwater and being stuck in mud is far more serious.
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• Like Christ, he is being hated without a cause, and wrongfully. Jesus quoted verse

4 and said it referred to Him: “If I had not done among them the works which no

other man did, they would not have had sin; but now they have both seen and

hated both me and my Father, but that the word might be fulfilled that is

written in their law, ‘They hated me without a cause.’ ” (John 15:24-25)

• Under the Law, people had to restore several times over for things they stole;

David seems to be saying here that he is being asked to restore what he did not

steal. This could also be a reference to Christ, who came to pay for sin though he

had committed no sin!

(5) O God, you know my foolishness; and my sins are not hid from you. (6)

Let not those who wait on you, O Lord GOD of hosts, be ashamed for my

sake; let not those who seek you be confounded for my sake, O God of

Israel. (7) Because for your sake I have borne reproach; shame has covered

my face. (8) I have become a stranger to my brothers, and an alien to my

mother's children.

• David had committed errors and he asks that the people of God not be punished

for his sake.

• For the sake of God, he bore reproach and was covered with shame. This was

clearly the case with Christ, who was exposed to great shame during his

sufferings.

• Verse 8 is poignant. In polygamous cultures someone would logically be closer to

his full-blood brothers than his half-brothers. There is a particular type of

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loneliness here which David suffered, and so did Jesus. We know that Jesus was

not only misunderstood by his family but actually considered to be mad.

(9) For the zeal of your house has consumed me; and the reproaches of

those who reproached you have fallen upon me. (10) And I wept away my

soul with fasting; that was to my reproach. (11) I made sackcloth also my

garment; and I became a proverb to them. (12) Those who sit in the gate

speak against me; and I was the song of the drunkards.

• Verse 9 is especially true of Christ, and his disciples remembered this after he

cleansed the Temple. (John 2:16-17)

• Even when he wept and fasted, he was criticized. Sackcloth was the harsh

clothing of mourners - like wearing burlap.

• He became a proverb - people would use his name as an example. He was spoken

against by those who sat in the gate - meaning the elders and those of

importance.

(13) But as for me, my prayer is to you, O LORD, in an acceptable time; O

God, in the multitude of your mercy hear me, in the truth of your salvation.

(14) Deliver me out of the mire, and let me not sink; let me be delivered

from those who hate me, and out of the deep waters. (15) Let not the stream

overflow me, neither let the deep swallow me up, and let not the pit shut her

mouth upon me.

• A picture of various dangers which David had undoubtedly seen in his lifetime. A

dangerous, fast-flowing stream could be created during times of run-off.

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(16) Hear me, O LORD, for your lovingkindness is good; turn to me

according to the multitude of your tender mercies. (17) And hide not your

face from your servant; for I am in trouble; hear me speedily. (18) Draw

near to my soul, and redeem it; deliver me because of my enemies. (19) You

have known my reproach, and my shame, and my dishonor; my adversaries

are all before you. (20) Reproach has broken my heart; and I am full of

heaviness; and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for

comforters, but I found none. (21) They gave me also gall for my food; and

in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.

• This is a picture of the shame of being on the cross. The word for reproach here

could imply shame at being naked. The word heaviness in verse 20 means

sickness or weakness.

• The image of gall and vinegar was of course literally fulfilled at Christ’s

crucifixion. Matthew 27:24 says, “They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with

gall: and when he had tasted, he would not drink.” It was commonly believed

that this would deaden the senses, but Jesus would not refuse the pains of His

passion. Gall referred to wormwood or anything bitter.

• The shame and mockery which He endured was of course part of the prophetic

portrait of Messiah’s sufferings by which men should have recognized Him.

o …his appearance was so marred more than any man, and his form more

than the sons of men (Isa. 52:14)

o He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted

with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised,

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and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried

our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and

afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for

our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his

stripes we are healed. (Isa. 53:3-5)

(22) Let their table become a snare before them; and that which should

have been for their welfare, let it become a trap. (23) Let their eyes be

darkened, that they see not; and make their loins continually to shake. (24)

Pour out your indignation on them, and let your wrathful anger take hold of

them. (25) Let their habitation be desolate; and let none dwell in their

tents. (26) For they persecute him whom you have smitten, and they talk to

the grief of those whom you have wounded. (27) Add iniquity to their

iniquity; and let them not come into thy righteousness. (28) Let them be

blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous.

• This is strong imprecatory praying from David. We should note how different

Christ’s prayers were than David’s, as noble as David was. Christ showed His

divinity and His sinless humanity when he prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they

know not what they do!”

• In verse 26 David indicates that it should be enough that God has troubled him!

• For Jews verse 28 would be a prayer that they die, not that they be eternally lost.

Even today the belief among some Jews is that during the “Ten Terrible Days” or

“Days of Awe” which begin at Rosh HaShanah (considered the New Year) God

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decides who shall live and who shall die during the coming year. The ten days

conclude on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.

• The principal feasts are:

o Spring Feasts: Passover, Unleavened Bread, Firstfruits, and Pentecost.

o Fall Feasts: Rosh HaShanah (Feast of Trumpets), Yom Kippur (Day of

Atonement), Feast of Tabernacles (of Booths)

(29) But I am poor and sorrowful; let your salvation, O God, set me up on

high. (30) I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him

with thanksgiving. (31) This also shall please the LORD better than an ox or

bullock that has horns and hooves. (32) The humble shall see this, and be

glad; and your heart shall live, you who seek God. (33) For the LORD hears

the poor, and despises not his prisoners.

• This shows the Messiah’s faith in His ultimate exaltation by God. Indeed, He

would go from being high on a cross to the highest position of all at God’s right

hand.

(34) Let the heaven and earth praise him, the seas, and everything that

moves in it. (35) For God will save Zion, and will build the cities of Judah;

that they may dwell there, and have it in possession. (36) The seed also of

his servants shall inherit it, and those who love his name shall dwell in it.

• The personal victory of the Messiah means victory for all His people. The entire

nation is assured of a future because of what He has done!