Psalm 69 The Pain of the Innocent
Jesus can’t be saved and still be our Savior
Jesus came to his own country, and his own people did not receive him. (John 1:11)
God inspired, Prophetic in nature.-David is in a crisis mode and he asks God to deliver him from his enemies and to punish the ones that are always accusing him. We can see and hear this as we read the scripture. (I have chosen to look at the Phophetic nature of the Psalm) The often overlooked theme is. This is Messianic and is joined to Psalms 22 and 24.
Persecution for righteousness’ sake is what every child of God must expect.”
There will be suffering but there will be Glory that follows.
"Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do"is the first. Here is the forgiveness of sin—free forgiveness in answer to the Saviour's plea.
"Today shalt thou be with Me in paradise." Here is the safety of the believer in the hour of his departure, and his instant admission into the presence of his Lord.
"Women, behold thy son!" This very plainly sets forth the true and proper humanity of Christ, who to the end recognized his human relationship to Mary, of whom he was born. (Mary it is thought doesn’t stay to the end. Jesus has John take her away)
This is the most quoted Psalm in the New Testament. It is prophetic as it looks to plan of God to redeem and restored His people.
It is divided in three parts. Separated by pronouns.
Vv 1-21, I , Me, My - Christ on the cross, a tearful, tragic cry!
Vv 22-28 they, them, their- the wrath of God, His judgement on those who reject Him.
Vv 29-36 he, him, his- a triumphant cry of victory.
Let’s look at the way it is used and tied together :
Psalm 69:21 — Matthew 27:34; 27:48
Psalm 69:25 — Acts 1:20; Matthew 23:38
"Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" is the fourth cry, and it illustrates the penalty endured by our Substitute when he bore our sins, and so was forsaken of his God.
Vv 1-2 A cry that eases perhaps some of the suffering. What do you do when your spirit is wounded.
"The waters of affliction, those bitter waters, have come unto my soul, not only threaten my life, but disquiet my mind; they fill my head with perplexing cares and my heart with oppressive grief, so that I cannot enjoy God and myself as I used to do.’’
When you are alone and you cry out to God because He is all you have and you feel as though you can’t go on. You are sinking into the mire. Soon you will not be able to find your way to place you need to be.
There are times when the innocent is blamed or punished for something they didn’t do. In days of princes and princesses, they couldn’t be punished. A boy or girl would be chosen to take their punishment even though they weren’t guilty.
We know this happens in families.
Vv 3-4 Jesus explains what it cost Him in the flesh. The reality of the cross. He says, I am exhausted from crying for help. My throat is parched. My eyes are swollen with weeping. I am waiting for My God.
They hate me
They try to destroy me with lies
They demand from me what I didn’t steal
Can you imagine His pain as He hangs naked on the cross and as He is dying His body releases its by products in front of those watching Him.
The Titanic, when its hull was wounded, went down.
A picture of what happens to the flesh when our Spirit is wounded. Our heart is pierced.
Vv 5-6 He knows that God is looking away from the sin that He is caring and He knows how the disciples and His followers are thinking. Embarassed and ashamed, of ME! He knows how they will be persecuted, ridiculed because they were His followers. “ For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.”2 Cor 5:21
V 7 I endure these insults for Your sake, I am humiliated.
V 8 Can you hear Him say, Dad, even my own brothers pretend they don’t know me, they treat me like a stranger. (Many of them accepted him after His resurrection, we know that James did.) But they didn’t before. They even hindered His ministry.
V9-12 I have a passion for your house, it consumes me and other stand around and insult me. I am the favorite topic of town gossip, I can’t do anything to worship you without their ridicule.
Vv 13-19 As in Psalm 22. Christ soul is laid bare. Help me! Save me! My God, My God! Jesus is now looking at God, not at what is going on around Him.
As for me, I am looking at you You Lord. My prayers are to You.
I am looking for Your Favor, Your unfailing love, Your Rescue. Come rescue me from my enemies. They offer me sour wine for my thirst.
V 20 Their insults have broken my heart, and I am in despair.
IF ONLY ONE PERSON WOULD SHOW SOME PITY, IF ONLY ONE WOULD TURN AND COMFORT ME- Peter, Blind Bartemaeus, Lazarus, where are you? Where are you?
Who was there holding up His hands in prayer. Who was there making sure they were in His vision so He could be encouraged.
"I thirst" is the fifth cry, and its utterance teaches us the truth of Scripture, for all things were accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, and therefore our Lord said, "I thirst."
V 21 They give me poison for food and offer me sour wine for my thirst.
(The commentators agree that between verses 21 and 22 is the end of the church age, the rapture takes place)
It is finished." There is the complete justification of the believer, since the work by which he is accepted is fully accomplished.
Psalm 69 is one of the greatest Calvary Psalms but with the redeeming of those who will believe comes the curse of those who choose not to believe. Peace only comes through the blood shed on the Cross by the Perfect Lamb of God.
Vv 22-28 As they sit at their tables and plan to do harm – let it turn back on them.
Blind their eyes to what is going on and bring destruction on their bodies.
Every one is hurting during the tribulation. Those who didn’t listen to the Word of God in the Church Age, before the Rapture. They are facing terrible hardships and punishment from those in power. The ones causing their pain is to be punished and they are hurting.
Take from them all that they are counting on to save them. Everything they are relying on instead of Me. Take note of their sin, pile them up and punish them. Let their sin determine their inheritance. Erase their names , they don’t belong among the righteous Rev 14:9-11, Rev 20:11-15
Vv29-The scene changes again- Jesus from the cross looks forward. He is the Kinsman Redeemer. He is describing what He is experiencing.
· I am suffering and in pain-I need You to rescue Me.
· I am ready to sing, to praise Your name
· I am ready to Honor You and this plan of salvation for Our people
· I know this is the sacrifice You want. Nothing else is worthy of You.
· They will finally know Your plan Father. They will be glad
· Let those who seek You be encouraged
· You hear the cries of the needy
· You do not despise those imprisoned in…
Christ gets a glimpse of the finish line..
Psalm 24 reveals that wonderful Triumphal entry into His Home-It is Finished.
He is paying the price, He is settling our debt.
As He hangs on the cross for those final moments He expresses His Confidence.
Yet I will praise You… Jesus was knew well Psalm 22 and Psalm 69. The Word was deeply implanted in Him.
He was still in agony but He looked to the glory set before Him.
Wasn't it clearly predicted that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering his glory?"Luke 24:26
We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God's throne.
Vv 34 -36 Living by Christ’s example- When you are doing what you have to do-
Praise God
He will save Jerusalem
He will rebuild the ruins of Judah
Those who trust Him will inherit the land
Those who love Him will live there in safety.
"Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit." In that cry there is reconciliation to God. He who stood in our stead has finished all his work, and now his spirit comes back to the Father, and he brings us with him. Charles H. Spurgeon
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