Psalm 69: A King’s Cry for Help in a Time of Distress

This psalm is an individual lament written by King David. It is quoted a number of times in the New Testament, mostly with an application to David’s descendant, Yeshua (Jesus). But the story and situation first applied to David in a more figurative sense. Parts of the psalm happened to Jesus in a more direct sense than their first fulfillment with David.  Lament psalms often have the following elements: 1. Invocation, 2. A plea to God for help, 3. Complaints, 4. Confession of sin or an assertion of innocence, 5. Curse of enemies (imprecation), 6. Confidence in God’s response, 7. Hymn or blessing. This psalm can be easily divided into two equal parts, 1–18 and 19–36.

  I. A Prayer out of personal need (vs. 1–6)

     A. Invocation and a plea to God for help (vs. 1–2)

     B. David uses a vivid word picture, of a man sinking in the mud in the middle of a river 

     C. David is feeling overwhelmed by his problems [inner turmoil, depression] (vs. 2)

     D. A tearful complaints to God (vs. 3–4)

         1. David switches to another picture, a man in deep grief, sorrow, and pain (vs. 3)

         2. David is waiting on God but does not yet have an answer. Where are you, God? (vs. 3)

         3. David is being punished for things he did not do (vs. 4)

ESV John 15:24-25 If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father.  But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: 'They hated me without a cause.' 

     E. Confession of sin, David is not completely innocent. His folly is being careless with the 

          truth (vs. 5)

     F. Affirmation of God’s knowledge (vs. 5)

     G. Request: Don’t let me cause disgrace to God or His people (vs. 6)

 II.  Persecution for righteousness's sake (vs. 7–12)

     A. A tearful complaint to God (vs. 7–12)

     A. Persecution: A badge of honor, because of his devotion to God (vs. 7–8) [Acts 5:41]

     C. David’s zeal to prepare to build God’s temple caused him to be slandered (vs. 9)

     D. Antagonists attack the one leading a work of God (vs. 9)

     E. David’s descendant, Jesus, cleansed the temple twice and this verse is applied to Him

     ESV John 2:17 His disciples remembered that it was written, "Zeal for your house will consume me."

      F. Those who hate God also hate His king [David & Yeshua] (vs. 9)

ESV Rom 15:3 For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, "The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me."

     G. The pain that David bore brought joy to his enemies (vs. 10–11)

     H. Those who drink the forbidden strong drink, unmixed wine, the drunkards, make up songs 

         mocking the king [David & Jesus] (vs. 12)

III. A prayer for the deliverance of God’s servant (vs. 13–18)

      A. A plea for God to help (vs. 13–18)

      B. Confidence in God’s response (vs. 13–18)

          1. He asks for God’s sure salvation (vs. 13)

          2. Based on Yahweh’s covenant faithfulness, love, and mercy (vs. 13, 16)

    C. David returns to the dangerous water picture (vs. 14–15)

    D. An earnest plea for God to intervene (vs. 16–18)

 IV. The exhaustion of being constantly under attack (vs. 19–21)

        A. A tearful complaint to God about his enemies (vs. 19–21)

        B. Affirmation of God’s knowledge (vs. 19–21)

        C. The betrayal of ‘friends’ is always very painful

        D. David gives a word picture of man hungry and thirsty, given things that will make his  

             pain worse, his appetites intensified (vs. 21) [This happened to Jesus]

V. A prayer for God’s justice (vs. 22–28)

    A. King David’s curse was against the enemies of God, His people, and His king

    B. Israel was and is a physical nation that God has chosen

    C. Individual Christians are not in a battle with humans, but spiritual forces (2 Cor 10:4)

    D. Christians can pray against their indwelling sin and fight spiritual battles (Eph 6:10–18)

    E. David’s son Jesus tells us as individuals to love our enemies

    F. Believers in heaven pray for God’s justice to come to the wicked (Rev 6:9–11)

 VI. Personal Praise to God in faith (vs. 29–33)

      A. Confidence in God’s response (vs. 29–33)

      B. The redeemed and ransom worship God with song (vs. 30)

      B. The heart trumps the hoofs, the moral [love God with all your heart and your neighbor as 

           yourself] trumps the ceremonial law [sacrifices, diets, rituals, feasts] (vs. 31)

VII. Corporate Praise to God (vs. 34–36)

       A. A hymn of cosmic praise (vs. 34)

       B. Remembering God’s future promise to ethnic Israel (vs. 35–36)

Lessons to live by:

• We can tell God what we are thinking and feeling in prayer. There is no need to pray as if we can hide our real feelings and thoughts from God.

• Do you live in such a way that you cause people to attack God because of your personality or lifestyle? Do you bring shame on other Christians who know you? Do you bring shame on your church home? You should not be a disgrace to God or His people

• The godly will be persecuted for their devotion to God. The prosperity gospel does sell as well during a struggling economy

• Has anyone made fun of you because you were a disciple of Jesus, believe in creation, stood up and opened your mouth for the defenseless babies being murdered? You are in good company with King David and King Jesus

• We need to include confession of sin in our prayers like David. We enter the Christian life with repentance, and we stay close to God and clean with repentance

• Our sin damages the reputation and ministry of other Christians