Psalm 69 - overcomer - The Zeal for Your House
Work in Progress
Tune: See Psalm 45 for the tune and "Upon the water-lillies". I had chosen the tune " Joys are flowing like a river" for Psalm 45 for the reasons given in that Psalm. Since this Psalm is also "Upon the water-lillies", I tried to use the same tune for this Psalm, but it did not work.
I searched for a tune that would go with "water-lillies" and also work for both Psalm 45 and this Psalm, and I tried the lively beautiful tune " When thou wakest in the morning". This worked for both at first, but I found it is too complex for a long psalm like Psalm 69.
I tried "Let us contemplate the grape vine", which seemed to work for both. But when I would try to sing Ps 69 from memory using that tune, I had to keep fighting from falling into the simpler tune, which I am now using. If I feel this one is right for this psalm, then I will change psalm 45 to use the same tune.
Thus for the second time we have a Psalm entitled "upon the lilies." In the forty-fifth they were golden lilies, dropping sweet smelling myrrh, and blooming in the fair gardens which skirt the ivory palaces: in this we have the lily among thorns, the lily of the valley, fair and beautiful, blooming in the garden of Gethsemane. - C. H. Spurgeon
This Psalm seems to be almost entirely about the Lord Jesus except for v5. Here is a table of the verses applying to David or the Lord Jesus or both:
Verse
|
David
|
Messiah
|
1
|
yes
|
yes
|
2
|
yes
|
possibly
|
3
|
yes
|
yes
|
4
|
doubtful
|
yes
|
5
|
yes
|
no
|
6
|
yes
|
yes
|
7
|
possibly
|
yes
|
8
|
no
|
yes
|
9
|
possibly
|
yes
|
10
|
yes
|
yes
|
11
|
yes
|
possibly
|
12
|
yes
|
yes
|
13
|
yes
|
yes
|
14
|
yes
|
yes
|
15
|
yes
|
yes
|
16
|
yes
|
yes
|
17
|
yes
|
yes
|
18
|
yes
|
yes
|
19
|
yes
|
yes
|
20
|
yes
|
yes
|
21
|
no
|
yes
|
22
|
no
|
yes
|
23
|
no
|
yes
|
24
|
no
|
yes
|
25
|
no
|
yes
|
26
|
possibly
|
yes
|
27
|
no
|
yes
|
28
|
no
|
yes
|
29
|
yes
|
yes
|
30
|
yes
|
yes
|
31
|
yes
|
yes
|
32
|
possibly
|
yes
|
33
|
yes
|
yes
|
34
|
yes
|
yes
|
35
|
yes
|
yes
|
36
|
yes
|
yes
|
v1 - 1st request: Save me.
1st suffering: David is drowning in deep waters, which are deep troubles.
"For the waters are come in unto my soul." Sorrows, deep, abounding, deadly, had penetrated his inner nature. Bodily anguish is not his first complaint; he begins not with the gall which embittered his lips, but with the mighty griefs which broke into his heart. All the sea outside a vessel is less to be feared than that which finds its way into the hold. A wounded spirit who can bear ( Prov. 18:14). Our Lord in this verse is seen before us as a Jonah, crying, "The waters compassed me about, even to the soul" ( Jonah 2:5). He was doing business for us on the great waters, at his Father's command; the stormy wind was lifting up the waves thereof, and he went down to the depths till his soul was melted because of trouble. In all this he has sympathy with us, and is able to succour us when we, like Peter, beginning to sink, cry to him, "Lord, save, or we perish." - Spurgeon
v2- 2nd suffering: David is sunk in deep mire, which is a deeply confused state. I can't go forward to follow the Lord.
I feel this way when I have too much too do, and I am afraid to do it.
"I sink in deep mire." In water one might swim, but in mud and mire all struggling is hopeless; the mire sucks down its victim.
"Where there is no standing." Everything gave way under the Sufferer; he could not get foothold for support—this is a worse fate than drowning. ... Let our hearts feel the emotions, both of contrition and gratitude, as we see in this simile the deep humiliation of our Lord. I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me. The sorrow gathers even greater force; he is as one cast into the sea, the waters go over his head. His sorrows were first within, then around, and now above him. ... His sufferings were unlike all others in degree, the waters were such as soaked into the soul; the mire was the mire of the abyss itself, and the floods were deep and overflowing. To us the promise is, "the rivers shall not overflow thee" ( Isa. 43:2), but no such word of consolation was vouchsafed to him. My soul, thy Well beloved endured all this for thee. Many waters could not quench his love, neither could the floods drown it ( SoS 8:7); and, because of this, thou hast the rich benefit of that covenant assurance, "as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth; so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee" ( Isa. 54:9). He stemmed the torrent of almighty wrath, that we might for ever rest in Jehovah's love. - Spurgeon
v3- 3rd suffering: God is not answering me. Maybe this is the deep mire in v2.
v4- lit. what I took not away I then return
4th suffering: Many strong enemies are trying to put an end to me.This is in addition to the deep waters in vv1-2 because of v14.
v5 - lit. and my trespasses from You are not hidden.
1st possible reason for my suffering.
I pray that God's seekers not be ashamed or confused.
He addresses God as the God of hosts, that is the God of armies, who is actively fighting, and then as the God of Israel, the God whose concern is for His people, and not just me.
v7 - lit. Shame covered my face.
v8 - lit. and an alien to my mother's sons.
5th suffering: My relatives are distant from me.
v9 - lit. and the reproaches of them that reproach Thee
6th suffering: I am being reproached.
2nd reason for my suffering. The first reason in v5 was a possible reason. This is a definite one.
v10 - lit. and insults to me it became.
This verse through v12 give details of the reproaches upon me in v9.
v11 - lit. a proverb I became to them
"I made sackcloth also my garment." This David did literally, but we have no reason to believe that Jesus did. In a spiritual sense he, as one filled with grief, was always a sackcloth wearer. - Spurgeon
v12 - I am thinking of posting this verse in response to people that make fun of me or someone else on social media. But I have to be true to the following verse also.
"And I was the song of the drunkard." The ungodly know no merrier jest than that in which the name of the holy is traduced. ... The character of the man of Nazareth was so far above the appreciation of the men of strength to mingle strong drink, it was so much out of their way and above their thoughts, that it is no wonder it seemed to them ridiculous, and therefore well adapted to create laughter over their cups. The saints are ever choice subjects for satire. ... What a wonder of condescension is here that he who is the adoration of angels should stoop to be the song of drunkards! What amazing sin that he whom seraphs worship with veiled faces should be a scornful proverb among the most abandoned of men. - Spurgeon
v13 - 3rd request. first praise
This is the best way to answer reproach.
This is the turning point in the Psalm from looking at my situation to God's mercy.
O God, in the multitude of thy mercy hear me. Even the perfect one makes his appeal to the rich mercy of God, much more should we. To misery no attribute is more sweet than mercy, and when sorrows multiply, the multitude of mercy is much prized. When enemies are more than the hairs of our head, they are yet to be numbered, but God's mercies are altogether innumerable, and let it never be forgotten that every one of them is an available and powerful argument in the hand of faith. - Spurgeon
v14 - Lit. Deliver me from the mud, and do not let me sink. Let me be delivered from my haters and from depts of waters.
3rd request continued through v18
I pray regarding my sufferings: suffering #2 sinking in the mire ( v2), #4 those who hate me ( v4), and #1 depths of waters ( v1). The "and" connecting "my haters" with "depths of waters" indicates that these are 2 different sufferings.
v16 - My favorite verse in this psalm.
2nd praise
The reason for God to answer me.
This builds on the turning point in v13. I know Your mercy is good.
v17 - lit. answer me speedily
Our Lord was the perfection of patience, yet he cried urgently for speedy mercy; and therein he gives us liberty to do the same, so long as we add, "nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt." - Spurgeon
v18 - Deliver me because of mine enemies, lest they should, in their vaunting, blaspheme thy name, and boast that thou art not able to rescue those who put their trust in thee. - Spurgeon
v19 - lit. You know my reproach
v20 - lit. and for comforters, but I found none.
v21 - lit. And they gave me gall for my food
This did not happen to David, but to his descendant, Jesus.
v22 - 4th request through v29
The reasons for the prayer are this prayer is that they gave me gall and vinegar (v21), and that they increase the pain of those God has smitten (v26).
v26 - lit. for they pursue him whom You have smitten, and they talk for the sorrow of those whom You have wounded.
v27 - lit. Give iniquity upon their iniquity, and do not let them enter Your righteousness.
v31 - ref Ps 40:6; Hos 6:6
v33 2nd praise through the end of the psalm
The Lord's captives are Christians whose lives are given to Him.
34 lit. the seas and all that moves therein
v35 Why does David say, cities of Judah instead of Israel? "Judah" refers to the Jewish people specifically, and "Israel" refers to God's chosen people, both Old Testament saints and Christians. I think this refers to the millenium and the physical land of Israel.
v36 I think "the seed of His servants" are the Jewish people. "They that love His name" are Christians who are grafted into Israel.
-copyright Steve Miller 1/29/2023
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Meter: 8.7.8.7.D.
1 1 Save me, O God for the waters
as far as the soul have come.
2 I am sunk in deep mire wherein
there's nothing to stand upon.
I've come into depths of waters,
and the flood o'er me prevails.
3 I'm exhausted in my calling,
my throat is scorched. My eyes fail.
2 from waiting on my God. 4 Those, that
without a reason hate me,
the hairs of my head outnumber.
They're mighty that would slay me
being foes wrongfully to me.
I return what I took not.
5 God, You've known about my folly.
My guilt from Thee is hid not.
3 6 Let not them that wait on Thee, Lord,
LORD of Hosts, be shamed by me.
Let not those that are seeking Thee
be confused because of me,
God of Israel. 7 For for Your sake
I've borne scorn, shame's on my face.
8 I'm a stranger to my brothers,
and an alien to my race.
4 9 For the zeal of Your house devoured,
it consumed, has eaten me,
and reproaches that reproach Thee
have fallen now upon me.
10 I wept in fasting of my soul.
Insults to me it became
11 And I gave sackcloth for my clothes,
a proverb then I became.
5 12 Sitters in the gate talk of me,
with the songs of drunken fools.
13 But for me, my prayer is to Thee,
LORD, in time acceptable.
God, in Your abundant mercy,
answer me in the truth of
Your salvation. 14 Deliver me
from sinking and from the mud.
6 Deliver me from my haters,
and out from depths of waters.
15 Let not the flood of the waters
overflow me nor cover.
neither let the deep swallow me,
nor let the pit its mouth shut
over me. 16 O LORD answer me
because Your mercy, is good:
7 According to the abundance
of Your most tender mercies
toward me turn 17 and do not hide
Your face from Your servant, me.
for I'm in trouble. Answer me.
18 Draw nigh to my soul redeem.
Ransom me because of my foes.
19 You know how low I'm esteemed
8 and my disgrace and dishonor.
All my foes are before Thee.
20 Reproach es have broken my heart,
and I am in misery.
and for sympathy I waited,
but t'was none, nor comforters.
21 They gave gall for me for food and
for my thirst gave vinegar.
9 22 Let their table a snare become
before them, and their welfare,
a stumbling block let it become.
23 Let their eyes become darkened,
that they cannot see, and always
make their backs to be down bent.
24 Pour out Your anger on them, and
let Your wrath take hold of them.
10 25 Their dwelling be desolated.
In their tents be there no one.
26 For they speak to increase the pain,
and pursue whom You've smitten.
They give sorrow to those You pierced.
27 Give iniquity upon
iniquity, and righteousness,
into it let not them come.
11 28 Blot them out from the Book of Life,
with righteous not be written.
29 But I'm lowly and sorrowful.
O God, let Thy salvation
set me on high. 30 I'll praise God's name
in a song and extol Him
in thanks, 31 and it shall please the LORD
more than an ox, hoofed and horned.
12 32 The meek saw. The seekers of God
shall be glad, and your heart live.
33 For the LORD hears the needy and
despises not His captives.
34 Let heaven and the earth praise Him,
the seas and all that creeps there
35 for God will save Zion and build
Judah's towns, and they'll dwell there
13 and possess it. 36 And the seed of
His servants inherit it,
and they that love His name shall dwell
therein as full citizens.
-copyright Steve Miller 1/29/2023
Proverbs 18:14 The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?
Jonah 2:5 The waters encompassed me, as far as the soul: The deep was round about me, The weeds were wrapped about my head.
Isaiah 43:2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee; when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned, neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
Song of Solomon 8:7 Many waters cannot quench love, Neither do the floods drown it: Even if a man gave all the substance of his house for love, It would utterly be contemned.
Isaiah 54:9 For this is as the waters of Noah unto me, since I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth: so have I sworn that I will no more be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee.
John 15:24 If I had not done among them the works which no other one has done, they had not had sin; but now they have both seen and hated both me and my Father.
25 But that the word written in their law might be fulfilled, They hated me without a cause.
John 1:10 He was in the world, and the world had its being through him, and the world knew him not.
11 He came to his own, and his own received him not;
12 but as many as received him, to them gave he the right to be children of God, to those that believe on his name;
7:5 for neither did his brethren believe on him.
John 2:13 And the passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
14 And he found in the temple the sellers of oxen and sheep and doves, and the money-changers sitting;
15 and, having made a scourge of cords, he cast them all out of the temple, both the sheep and the oxen; and he poured out the change of the money-changers, and overturned the tables,
16 and said to the sellers of doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house a house of merchandise.
17 And his disciples remembered that it is written, The zeal of thy house devours me.
Romans 15:1 But we ought, we that are strong, to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.
2 Let each one of us please his neighbour with a view to what is good, to edification.
3 For the Christ also did not please himself; but according as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproach thee have fallen upon me.
4 For as many things as have been written before have been written for our instruction, that through endurance and through encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope.
2Corinthians 6:2 (for he says, I have listened to thee in an accepted time, and I have helped thee in a day of salvation: behold, now is the well-accepted time; behold, now the day of salvation:)
Isaiah 49:7 Thus saith Jehovah, the Redeemer of Israel, his Holy One, to him whom man despiseth, to him whom the nation abhorreth, to the servant of rulers: Kings shall see and arise, princes, and they shall worship, because of Jehovah who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, who hath chosen thee.
8 Thus saith Jehovah: In a time of acceptance have I answered thee, and in the day of salvation have I helped thee; and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the land, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages;
9 saying to the prisoners, Go forth; to them that are in darkness, Shew yourselves. They shall feed in the ways, and their pasture shall be on all bare hills.
10 They shall not hunger nor thirst, neither shall the heat nor sun smite them; for he that hath mercy on them will lead them, and by the springs of water will he guide them.
11 And I will make all my mountains a way, and my highways shall be raised up.
12 Behold, these shall come from afar; and behold, these from the north and from the west; and these from the land of Sinim.
John 19:28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now finished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, says, I thirst.
29 There was a vessel therefore there full of vinegar, and having filled a sponge with vinegar, and putting hyssop round it, they put it up to his mouth.
30 When therefore Jesus had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished; and having bowed his head, he delivered up his spirit.
Romans 11:9 And David says, Let their table be for a snare, and for a gin, and for a fall-trap, and for a recompense to them:
10 let their eyes be darkened not to see, and bow down their back alway.
11 I say then, Have they stumbled in order that they might fall? Far be the thought: but by their fall there is salvation to the nations to provoke them to jealousy.
12 But if their fall be the world's wealth, and their loss the wealth of the nations, how much rather their fulness?
13 For I speak to you, the nations, inasmuch as *I* am apostle of nations, I glorify my ministry;
14 if by any means I shall provoke to jealousy them which are my flesh, and shall save some from among them.
15 For if their casting away be the world's reconciliation, what their reception but life from among the dead?
Matthew 23:37 Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those that are sent unto her, how often would I have gathered thy children as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!
38 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate;
39 for I say unto you, Ye shall in no wise see me henceforth until ye say, Blessed be he that comes in the name of the Lord.
Acts 1:20 For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his homestead become desolate, and let there be no dweller in it; and, Let another take his overseership.
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