Psalms 69
TO THE CHIEF MUSICIAN, UPON SHOSHANIM, A PSALM OF DAVID The Mairi says
Shoshanim were a type of musical instrument.
"Shoshanim" literally means roses and Mairi suggests that this also symbols
Israel who are the rose amongst the thorns in the Song of Solomon. He says
that David composed this Psalm at a time of personal trouble but he wrote
so that by extrapolation it could be pertinent to Israel and especially
Judah during the tribulations of their Exile.
[Psalms 69:1] SAVE ME, O GOD; FOR THE WATERS ARE COME IN UNTO MY SOUL.
The troubles are like rising waters that threaten to overwhelm and drown me.
[Psalms 69:2] I SINK IN DEEP MIRE, WHERE THERE IS NO STANDING: I AM COME
INTO DEEP WATERS, WHERE THE FLOODS OVERFLOW ME.
[Psalms 69:3] I AM WEARY OF MY CRYING: MY THROAT IS DRIED: MINE EYES FAIL
WHILE I WAIT FOR MY GOD.
[Psalms 69:4] THEY THAT HATE ME WITHOUT A CAUSE ARE MORE THAN THE HAIRS OF
MINE HEAD: THEY THAT WOULD DESTROY ME, BEING MINE ENEMIES WRONGFULLY, ARE
MIGHTY: THEN I RESTORED THAT WHICH I TOOK NOT AWAY.
[Psalms 69:5] O GOD, THOU KNOWEST MY FOOLISHNESS; AND MY SINS ARE NOT HID
FROM THEE.
[Psalms 69:6] LET NOT THEM THAT WAIT ON THEE, O LORD GOD OF HOSTS, BE
ASHAMED FOR MY SAKE: LET NOT THOSE THAT SEEK THEE BE CONFOUNDED FOR MY SAKE,
O GOD OF ISRAEL.
David speaks both on behalf of himself as well as in this Psalm on behalf of
Judah and the righteous in general.
It may be that I deserve some degree of perturbation. Nevertheless I am
identified with your Cause. They who seek God come to Him through me
therefore I request from the Almighty to help me for the sake of those who
turn to me for guidance.
The God of Israel is identified with the Kingdom of David.
[Psalms 69:7] BECAUSE FOR THY SAKE I HAVE BORNE REPROACH; SHAME HATH COVERED
MY FACE.
The Jewish People were persecuted because of their religion.
If they had not remained loyal to their faith they would not have been
identifiable as Jews.
[Psalms 69:8] I AM BECOME A STRANGER UNTO MY BRETHREN, AND AN ALIEN UNTO MY
MOTHER'S CHILDREN.
Even the brethren of Judah from the Lost Ten Tribes treated Judah as a
stranger and alien and turned their backs or actively joined in the
persecutions of Judah.
[Psalms 69:9] FOR THE ZEAL OF THINE HOUSE HATH EATEN ME UP; AND THE
REPROACHES OF THEM THAT REPROACHED THEE ARE FALLEN UPON ME.
Sometimes Judah was persecuted by religious fanatics who deluded
themselves into thinking they were serving the Almighty. Judah in
effect gave his whole being in the service of God. The national existence
of Judah was centered around the Torah. Even if one disagrees or fails to
feel empathy with the spiritual pathway Judah chose (or that was chosen for
him) it was suitable for Judah who did what he could as he understood the
requirements made of him.
<< THE REPROACHES OF THEM THAT REPROACHED THEE ARE FALLEN UPON ME >>:
From the Hebrew this can be interpreted to read, FOR YOUR SAKE I HAVE BEEN
INSULTED.
People who hate Judah hate the Almighty. What they do to the Jew they do to
the Almighty.
[Psalms 69:10] WHEN I WEPT, AND CHASTENED MY SOUL WITH FASTING, THAT WAS TO
MY REPROACH.
[Psalms 69:11] I MADE SACKCLOTH ALSO MY GARMENT; AND I BECAME A PROVERB TO
THEM.
Whatever Judah did whether right or wrong he was mocked and despised because
of it.
[Psalms 69:12] THEY THAT SIT IN THE GATE SPEAK AGAINST ME; AND I WAS
THE SONG OF THE DRUNKARDS.
Drunkards and layabouts made jokes and amused themselves at the expense of
David and Judah.
[Psalms 69:13] BUT AS FOR ME, MY PRAYER IS UNTO THEE, O LORD, IN AN
ACCEPTABLE TIME: O GOD, IN THE MULTITUDE OF THY MERCY HEAR ME, IN THE TRUTH
OF THY SALVATION.
Neither David nor Judah will despair. They know that the Almighty exists and
in HIS own time HE will make HIMSELF known to mankind.
[Psalms 69:14] DELIVER ME OUT OF THE MIRE, AND LET ME NOT SINK: LET ME BE
DELIVERED FROM THEM THAT HATE ME, AND OUT OF THE DEEP WATERS.
[Psalms 69:15] LET NOT THE WATERFLOOD OVERFLOW ME, NEITHER LET THE DEEP
SWALLOW ME UP, AND LET NOT THE PIT SHUT HER MOUTH UPON ME.
[Psalms 69:16] HEAR ME, O LORD; FOR THY LOVINGKINDNESS IS GOOD: TURN UNTO ME
ACCORDING TO THE MULTITUDE OF THY TENDER MERCIES.
[Psalms 69:17] AND HIDE NOT THY FACE FROM THY SERVANT; FOR I AM IN
TROUBLE: HEAR ME SPEEDILY.
[Psalms 69:18] DRAW NIGH UNTO MY SOUL, AND REDEEM IT: DELIVER ME BECAUSE OF
MINE ENEMIES.
Be with me God. The Presence of the Almighty is in ITSELF salvation.
The Almighty puts in our heart HIS PRESENCE and the ability to get out of
whatever problematic situation we find ourself in.
[Psalms 69:19] THOU HAST KNOWN MY REPROACH, AND MY SHAME, AND MY
DISHONOUR: MINE ADVERSARIES ARE ALL BEFORE THEE.
[Psalms 69:20] REPROACH HATH 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.
[Psalms 69:21] THEY GAVE ME ALSO GALL FOR MY MEAT; AND IN MY THIRST THEY
GAVE ME VINEGAR TO DRINK.
[Psalms 69:22] LET THEIR TABLE BECOME A SNARE BEFORE THEM: AND THAT WHICH
SHOULD HAVE BEEN FOR THEIR WELFARE, LET IT BECOME A TRAP.
[Psalms 69:23] LET THEIR EYES BE DARKENED, THAT THEY SEE NOT; AND MAKE THEIR
LOINS CONTINUALLY TO SHAKE.
[Psalms 69:24] POUR OUT THINE INDIGNATION UPON THEM, AND LET THY
WRATHFUL ANGER TAKE HOLD OF THEM.
[Psalms 69:25] LET THEIR HABITATION BE DESOLATE; AND LET NONE DWELL IN THEIR
TENTS.
[Psalms 69:26] FOR THEY PERSECUTE HIM WHOM THOU HAST SMITTEN; AND THEY TALK
TO THE GRIEF OF THOSE WHOM THOU HAST WOUNDED.
God caused Judah to be persecuted but HE will also take revenge on those who
persecuted Judah.
Cf. These verses from the Book of Zechariah:
AND I AM VERY SORE DISPLEASED WITH THE HEATHEN THAT ARE AT EASE:
FOR I WAS BUT A LITTLE DISPLEASED, AND THEY HELPED FORWARD THE AFFLICTION
[Zechariah 1:15].
AND THE LORD SHALL INHERIT JUDAH HIS PORTION IN THE HOLY LAND, AND
SHALL CHOOSE JERUSALEM AGAIN [Zechariah 2:12].
THUS SAITH THE LORD OF HOSTS; IN THOSE DAYS IT SHALL COME TO PASS, THAT TEN
MEN SHALL TAKE HOLD OUT OF ALL LANGUAGES OF THE NATIONS, EVEN SHALL TAKE
HOLD OF THE SKIRT OF HIM THAT IS A JEW, SAYING, WE WILL GO WITH YOU: FOR WE
HAVE HEARD THAT GOD IS WITH YOU [Zechariah 8:23].
[Psalms 69:27] ADD INIQUITY UNTO THEIR INIQUITY: AND LET THEM NOT COME INTO
THY RIGHTEOUSNESS.
People who dislike the Jews are usually corrupt personalities. They are
often moral reprobates with something wrong with them.
Potentially we are all liable to go bad in the same way that we can all
better ourselves if we so will.
The ability to do good, to be good, not to pervert our paths, is a gift from
the Almighty.
When you get a chance to be better take advantage of it.
It may not come again, at least not so easily.
Be like a good businessman running his business.
When you can profit spiritually do so.
Not only are anti-Semites naturally no-good but David in this Psalm wishes
that they not get better.
In other words, they who hate the Jews curse themselves and are accursed.
Stay away from them.
[Psalms 69:28] LET THEM BE BLOTTED OUT OF THE BOOK OF THE LIVING, AND NOT BE
WRITTEN WITH THE RIGHTEOUS.
[Psalms 69:29] BUT I AM POOR AND SORROWFUL: LET THY SALVATION, O GOD, SET ME
UP ON HIGH.
[Psalms 69:30] I WILL PRAISE THE NAME OF GOD WITH A SONG, AND WILL MAGNIFY
HIM WITH THANKSGIVING.
[Psalms 69:31] THIS ALSO SHALL PLEASE THE LORD BETTER THAN AN OX OR BULLOCK
THAT HATH HORNS AND HOOFS.
[Psalms 69:32] THE HUMBLE SHALL SEE THIS, AND BE GLAD: AND YOUR HEART SHALL
LIVE THAT SEEK GOD.
God gives life and seeking God revives and sustains.
[Psalms 69:33] FOR THE LORD HEARETH THE POOR, AND DESPISETH NOT HIS
PRISONERS.
God is with the downtrodden. He will listen to you.
God always listens. He will be with you.
[Psalms 69:34] LET THE HEAVEN AND EARTH PRAISE HIM, THE SEAS, AND EVERY
THING THAT MOVETH THEREIN.
[Psalms 69:35] FOR GOD WILL SAVE ZION, AND WILL BUILD THE CITIES OF
JUDAH: THAT THEY MAY DWELL THERE, AND HAVE IT IN POSSESSION.
The psalm ends with a promise that the Almighty will return to Zion and to
Judah.
This emphasizes the stress of the psalm specifically on Judah but also by
extension applicable to all they (Jew, Israelite, or Gentile) who seek the
Almighty.
[Psalms 69:36] THE SEED ALSO OF HIS SERVANTS SHALL INHERIT IT: AND THEY THAT
LOVE HIS NAME SHALL DWELL THEREIN.
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