Psalm 69b - The Psalmist's cry for help and Justice

We are continuing with our study of . Today we will look at vs. 13 - 28 and once again turn to the issue of imprecation. There is some harsh language here that we can’t run from. We must deal with it. We will examine this portion of the psalm in two parts

David’s prayer for rescue (vs. 13 - 18)

Additional discussion of his reproach (vs. 19 - 21)

The cry for Divine Justice (vs. 22 - 28)

Verses 13 - 18: His lament given, David prays for the favor of God to break through in his life. Appealing to the abundant covenant faithfulness of God, he asks the Lord to bring sure salvation. He pleads for the Lord to prevent him from being overwhelmed by his situation. He asks God to deliver him from his hateful enemies. As Matthew Henry puts it: “Let my fears be prevented and silenced”.[1] He cries out to God to prevent his destruction by the lying words and deeds for his adversaries. The Lord’s steadfast love is good and so David begs for God to answer and intercede. He wants God to take compassion and look upon his circumstances. He is distressed and discouraged and pleads for God not to delay any longer but come quickly. He is in desperate need of the Lord’s redeeming and freeing ransom of him because of the enemy attacks.

Verses 19 - 21: The psalmist declares the Lord is aware of his reproach. He knows the Lord see the shame and dishonor he has endured because of his faithfulness. The Lord sees and knows fully David enemies and what they have done. Nonetheless, what David has endured has brought heartbreak. He despairs his current situation. There was no one that what willing to give comfort during this time. He was deserted. His enemies did all they could to make his life worse, expressed as gall and vinegar.

Messianic application of verse 21: All four gospels but these words of the lips of Christ. The clearest example is found in . This is a cruel thing to do to a suffering man, but Christ would be victorious and his torturers punished. In the end God will do what is just.

How often do we as believers fill this way? Few things can compare to being the only one, or at least the only bold one, serving the Lord in a hostile environment. What can be more painful then being the butt of derision and jokes because you dare to live holy. It is enough to bring despair but we don’t have to stay there. As the psalmist tells us the Lord knows. The God of heaven has perfect knowledge of all things including what we are experiencing. He made not have acted yet but he is aware of what is going on. At his appointed time, at the time of favor, God will right wrongs. He will do that which is right. He will vindicate his people. We must trust Him.

Verses 22 - 28: David’s desire is for God to give just treatment to his enemies for their wickedness actions. He asks that

their dining table be a source of harm for them or that what they have done and plan do do boomerang.

they become unable to see and therefore unable to engage in their wickedness

they make snake in fear even as David has been shaken

they may be overtaken by the wrath of God even as he has been overtaken by their wicked actions

they may have no safe place to dwell, no freedom from danger, and families to care for.

They have touched the Lord’s servant so he acts that

they receive their just punishment

they be counted as wicked and removed from the land of the living and fellowship with God thereafter.

How do we as believers interact with these inspired words. We certainly can’t pray, in light of the NT, for our enemies to burn in hell. We must not pray out our personal vengeance. I suggest that we can pray the following: that what is intended for us to hurt us fail and return to its source, that those who hate us be made unable to continue their evil, and that the Lord may come quickly to set things right. I believe these words account for the fact that the psalms are scripture. They were the prayer and hymnbook of the church. We mustn’t be afraid or ashamed of them. We must learn all we can and use them wisely.

NT Application of verses 22 - 23: Paul uses this verse in in regards to Israel’s rejection of its savior. All the blessings it received where to point to the Messiah whom would come. He can and they refused to give heed. Therefore what was a blessing before is a curse now.

1. Henry, M. (1994). Matthew Henry’s commentary on the whole Bible: complete and unabridged in one volume (p. 841). Peabody: Hendrickson.