Psalm 69

1 Ein Psalm Davids, von den Rosen, vorzusingen. Gott, hilf mir; denn das Wasser geht mir bis an die Seele.
2 Ich versinke im tiefen Schlamm, da kein Grund ist; ich bin im tiefen Wasser, und die Flut will mich ersäufen.
3 Ich habe mich müde geschrieen, mein Hals ist heiser; das Gesicht vergeht mir, daß ich so lange muß harren auf meinen Gott.
4 Die mich ohne Ursache hassen, deren ist mehr, denn ich Haare auf dem Haupt habe. Die mir unbillig feind sind und mich verderben, sind mächtig. Ich muß bezahlen, was ich nicht geraubt habe.
5 Gott, du weißt meine Torheit, und meine Schulden sind nicht verborgen.
6 Laß nicht zu Schanden werden an mir, die dein harren, HERR HERR Zebaoth! Laß nicht schamrot werden an mir, die dich suchen, Gott Israels!
7 Denn um deinetwillen trage ich Schmach; mein Angesicht ist voller Schande.
8 Ich bin fremd geworden meinen Brüdern und unbekannt meiner Mutter Kindern.
9 Denn der Eifer um dein Haus hat mich gefressen; und die Schmähungen derer, die dich schmähen, sind auf mich gefallen.
10 Und ich weine und faste bitterlich; und man spottet mein dazu.
11 Ich habe einen Sack angezogen; aber sie treiben Gespött mit mir.
12 Die im Tor sitzen, schwatzen von mir, und in den Zechen singt man von mir.
13 Ich aber bete, HERR, zu dir zur angenehmen Zeit; Gott durch deine große Güte erhöre mich mit deiner treuen Hilfe.
14 Errette mich aus dem Kot, daß ich nicht versinke; daß ich errettet werde von meinen Hassern und aus dem tiefen Wasser;
15 daß mich die Wasserflut nicht ersäufe und die Tiefe nicht verschlinge und das Loch der Grube nicht über mich zusammengehe.
16 Erhöre mich, HERR, denn dein Güte ist tröstlich; wende dich zu mir nach deiner großen Barmherzigkeit
17 und verbirg dein Angesicht nicht vor deinem Knechte, denn mir ist angst; erhöre mich eilend.
18 Mache dich zu meiner Seele und erlöse sie; erlöse mich um meiner Feinde willen.
19 Du weißt meine Schmach, Schande und Scham; meine Widersacher sind alle vor dir.
20 Die Schmach bricht mir mein Herz und kränkt mich. Ich warte, ob es jemand jammere, aber da ist niemand, und auf Tröster, aber ich finde keine.
21 Und sie geben mir Galle zu essen und Essig zu trinken in meinem großen Durst.
22 Ihr Tisch werde vor ihnen zum Strick, zur Vergeltung und zu einer Falle.
23 Ihre Augen müssen finster werden, daß sie nicht sehen, und ihre Lenden laß immer wanken.
24 Gieße deine Ungnade auf sie, und dein grimmiger Zorn ergreife sie.
25 Ihre Wohnung müsse wüst werden, und sei niemand, der in ihren Hütten wohne.
26 Denn sie verfolgen, den du geschlagen hast, und rühmen, daß du die Deinen übel schlagest.
27 Laß sie in eine Sünde über die andere fallen, daß sie nicht kommen zu deiner Gerechtigkeit.
28 Tilge sie aus dem Buch der Lebendigen, daß sie mit den Gerechten nicht angeschrieben werden.
29 Ich aber bin elend, und mir ist wehe. Gott, deine Hilfe schütze mich!
30 Ich will den Namen Gottes loben mit einem Lied und will ihn hoch ehren mit Dank.
31 Das wird dem HERRN besser gefallen denn ein Farre, der Hörner und Klauen hat.
32 Die Elenden sehen's und freuen sich; und die Gott suchen, denen wird das Herz leben.
33 Denn der HERR hört die Armen und verachtet seine Gefangenen nicht.
34 Es lobe ihn Himmel, Erde und Meer und alles, was sich darin regt.
35 Denn Gott wird Zion helfen und die Städte Juda's bauen, daß man daselbst wohne und sie besitze.
36 Und der Same seiner Knechte wird sie ererben, und die seinen Namen lieben, werden darin bleiben.

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Psalm 69 Commentary

Chapter 69

David complains of great distress. (1-12) And begs for succour. (13-21) He declares the judgments of God. (22-29) He concludes with joy and praise. (30-36)

Verses 1-12 We should frequently consider the person of the Sufferer here spoken of, and ask why, as well as what he suffered, that, meditating thereon, we may be more humbled for sin, and more convinced of our danger, so that we may feel more gratitude and love, constraining us to live to His glory who died for our salvation. Hence we learn, when in affliction, to commit the keeping of our souls to God, that we may not be soured with discontent, or sink into despair. David was hated wrongfully, but the words far more fully apply to Christ. In a world where unrighteousness reigns so much, we must not wonder if we meet with those that are our enemies wrongfully. Let us take care that we never do wrong; then if we receive wrong, we may the better bear it. By the satisfaction Christ made to God for our sin by his blood, he restored that which he took not away, he paid our debt, suffered for our offences. Even when we can plead Not guilty, as to men's unjust accusations, yet before God we must acknowledge ourselves to deserve all that is brought upon us. All our sins take rise from our foolishness. They are all done in God's sight. David complains of the unkindness of friends and relations. This was fulfilled in Christ, whose brethren did not believe on him, and who was forsaken by his disciples. Christ made satisfaction for us, not only by putting off the honours due to God, but by submitting to the greatest dishonours that could be done to any man. We need not be discouraged if our zeal for the truths, precepts, and worship of God, should provoke some, and cause others to mock our godly sorrow and deadness to the world.

Verses 13-21 Whatever deep waters of affliction or temptation we sink into, whatever floods of trouble or ungodly men seem ready to overwhelm us, let us persevere in prayer to our Lord to save us. The tokens of God's favour to us are enough to keep our spirits from sinking in the deepest outward troubles. If we think well of God, and continue to do so under the greatest hardships, we need not fear but he will do well for us. And if at any time we are called on to suffer reproach and shame, for Christ's sake, this may be our comfort, that he knows it. It bears hard on one that knows the worth of a good name, to be oppressed with a bad one; but when we consider what a favour it is to be accounted worthy to suffer shame for the name of Jesus, we shall see that there is no reason why it should be heart-breaking to us. The sufferings of Christ were here particularly foretold, which proves the Scripture to be the word of God; and how exactly these predictions were fulfilled in Jesus Christ, which proves him to be the true Messiah. The vinegar and the gall given to him, were a faint emblem of that bitter cup which he drank up, that we might drink the cup of salvation. We cannot expect too little from men, miserable comforters are they all; nor can we expect too much from the God of all comfort and consolation.

Verses 22-29 These are prophecies of the destruction of Christ's ( psalms 69:22-23 ) upon the unbelieving Jews, in ( romans 11:9 romans 11:10 ) . When the supports of life and delights of sense, through the corruption of our nature, are made the food and fuel of sin, then our table is a snare. Their sin was, that they would not see, but shut their eyes against the light, loving darkness rather; their punishment was, that they should not see, but should be given up to their own hearts' lusts which hardened them. Those who reject God's great salvation proffered to them, may justly fear that his indignation will be poured out upon them. If men will sin, the Lord will reckon for it. But those that have multiplied to sin, may yet find mercy, through the righteousness of the Mediator. God shuts not out any from that righteousness; the gospel excludes none who do not, by unbelief, shut themselves out. But those who are proud and self-willed, so that they will not come in to God's righteousness, shall have their doom accordingly; they themselves decide it. Let those not expect any benefit thereby, who are not glad to be beholden to it. It is better to be poor and sorrowful, with the blessing of the Lord, than rich and jovial, and under his curse. This may be applied to Christ. He was, when on earth, a man of sorrows that had not where to lay his head; but God exalted him. Let us call upon the Lord, and though poor and sorrowful, guilty and defiled, his salvation will set us up on high.

Verses 30-36 The psalmist concludes the psalm with holy joy and praise, which he began with complaints of his grief. It is a great comfort to us, that humble and thankful praises are more pleasing to God than the most costly, pompous sacrifices. The humble shall look to him, and be glad; those that seek him through Christ shall live and be comforted. God will do great things for the gospel church, in which let all who wish well to it rejoice. A seed shall serve him on earth, and his servants shall inherit his heavenly kingdom. Those that love his name shall dwell before him for ever. He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Arise, thou great Restorer of the ancient places to dwell in, and turn away ungodliness from thy people.

Chapter Summary

To the chief Musician upon Shoshannim, [A Psalm] of David. Of the word "shoshannim," See Gill on "Ps 45:1," title. The Targum renders it, "concerning the removal of the sanhedrim;" which was about the time of Christ's death. The Talmudists {t} say, that forty years before the destruction of the temple, the sanhedrim removed, they removed from the paved chamber, &c. But it can hardly be thought that David prophesied of this affair; nor of the captivity of the people of Israel, as the Targum, Aben Ezra, Kimchi, Arama, and R. Obadiah interpret it: and so Jarchi takes the word "shoshannim" to signify lilies, and applies it to the Israelites, who are as a lily among thorns. But not a body of people, but a single person, is spoken of, and in sorrowful and suffering circumstances; and, if the Jews were not blind, they might see that they are the enemies of the person designed, and the evil men from whom he suffered so much. And indeed what is said of him cannot be said of them, nor of any other person whatever but the Messiah: and that the psalm belongs to Christ, and to the times of the Gospel, is abundantly evident from the citations out of it in the New Testament; as

Psalm 69:4 in John 15:25;
Psalm 69:9 in John 2:17;
Psalm 69:21 in Matthew 27:34;
Psalm 69:22 in Romans 11:9;
Psalm 69:25 in Acts 1:16.

The inscription of the psalm in the Syriac version is, "'a psalm' of David, according to the letter, when Shemuah (Sheba), the son of Bichri, blew a trumpet, and the people ceased from following after him (David); but the prophecy is said concerning those things which the Messiah suffered, and concerning the rejection of the Jews." And Aben Ezra interprets Psalm 69:36 of the days of David, or of the days of the Messiah.

{t} T. Bab. Avoda Zara, fol. 8. 2. & Roshhashanah, fol. 31. 1, 2.

Psalm 69 Commentaries

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