The author of Psalm 69 was
David. He shares with us that even if we have to suffer severely for our devotion to God, that
should cause us to look forward with joy to the day when evil and
injustice will be gone forever.
Psalm 69:3 - "I am worn out calling for help; my throat is parched. My eyes fail, looking for my God."
Psalm 69 is one of the most
quoted psalms in the New Testament, and it is often applied to the
ministry and suffering of Jesus. David cried out until he was
physically exhausted, with a parched throat and blurred vision. Yet he
still trusted God to save him. When devastated by death or tragedy, we
need not collapse or despair because we can turn to God and ask him to
save us and help us. The tears will still come, but we will not be
crying in vain.
Psalm 69:13 - "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."
What problems David faced! He
was scoffed at, mocked at, insulted, humiliated, and made the object of
city-wide gossip. But still he prayed. When we are completely beaten
down, we are tempted to turn from God, give up, and quit trusting him.
When your situation seems hopeless, determine that no matter how bad
things become you will continue to pray. God will hear your prayer, and
he will rescue you. When others reject us, we need God most. Don't turn
from your most faithful friend.
Psalm 69 / New International Version
ReplyDelete1 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,
a 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;
deliver 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 hooves.
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.