Psalm 69: The persecuted Messiah

This is a psalm of David’s troubles but, more importantly, it is a prophetic picture of thesufferings 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 Testamentthan 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 whoentrusts his soul to God and asks God for judgment. He ends with a declaration of faithin the future of Zion.

(1) (To the chief Musician upon Shoshannim, A Psalm of David.) Save me, OGod; for the waters have come in to my soul. (2) I sink in deep mire, wherethere is no standing; I have come into deep waters, where the floodsoverflow 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 morethan 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.

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The word

shoshannim

means "lilies." It has been said that this refers to a certaininstrument, probably a trumpet because of the shape.

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The waters of affliction are not only coming into the circumstances of David's life but into his soul.

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He is sinking in deep mud. Being under water is one thing; a strong swimmer canescape. But being underwater and being stuck in mud is far more serious.

Psalms Bible Study Psalm 66

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Like Christ, he is being hated without a cause, and wrongfully. Jesus quoted verse4 and said it referred to Him:

“If I had not done among them the works which noother 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 iswritten in their law, ‘They hated me without a cause.’ ”

(John 15:24-25)

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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 notsteal. This could also be a reference to Christ, who came to pay for sin though hehad 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 coveredmy face. (8) I have become a stranger to my brothers, and an alien to my mother's children.

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David had committed errors and he asks that the people of God not be punishedfor his sake.

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For the sake of God, he bore reproach and was covered with shame. This wasclearly the case with Christ, who was exposed to great shame during hissufferings.

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Verse 8 is poignant. In polygamous cultures someone would logically be closer tohis full-blood brothers than his half-brothers. There is a particular type of

Psalms Bible Study Psalm 66

loneliness here which David suffered, and so did Jesus. We know that Jesus wasnot 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 gatespeak against me; and I was the song of the drunkards.

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Verse 9 is especially true of Christ, and his disciples remembered this after hecleansed the Temple. (John 2:16-17)

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Even when he wept and fasted, he was criticized. Sackcloth was the harshclothing of mourners - like wearing burlap.

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He became a proverb - people would use his name as an example. He was spokenagainst 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; OGod, 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 deliveredfrom those who hate me, and out of the deep waters. (15) Let not the streamoverflow me, neither let the deep swallow me up, and let not the pit shut hermouth upon me.