Let us begin our study of Psalm 69 by listing places where the New Testament makes use of it.  We should learn from this list that most of the connections are with the life of Christ, that David was the author, and that the New Testament endorses the themes of the psalm.

Psalm 69:4  John 15:25
Psalm 69:8  Mark 3:21; Luke 8:19;    John 7:3-5
Psalm 69:9  John 2:17; Romans     15:3
Psalm 69:21  Matthew 27:34,48;    Mark 15:23,36;
   Luke 23:36; John     19:28-30
Psalm 69:22,23 Romans 11:9,10
Psalm 69:25  Matthew 23:38; Luke    13:35; Acts 1:20

The psalm itself has three major sections, and each section has three points.  Let us learn the answer to David’s question, “Is the multitude of thy mercy for me?”

THE THREE PARTS OF MY NEED FOR MERCY (69:1-12).
Part one is the personal anguish of David at the time of the writing (69:1-3).  Without hesitation, he describes the depths of his depression.  He is drowning in something, and has had no relief—yet.  But he is still waiting for His God.  Part two is a point about his many enemies (69:4).  He believes that they can be numbered about as easily as the hairs on his head, and that they have no good reason for hating him.  Jesus had this feeling, too (John 15:25).  Part three is a statement about his “foolishness” (69:5-12).  Here, he makes reference to any real foolishness (sin) and any apparent foolishness (his service to God as viewed by his enemies).  In either case, his life is harder because of foolishness.  The word for foolishness includes these ideas:

“A fool is one who is not prudent or provident, without aim or counsel, regardless of the means or instruments he should use, most ready to form rash hopes, who carelessly commits everything to an uncertain issue;…” (Wilson’s OT Word Studies, pp. 171,172).  To actually live this way, as we all do sometimes, is sinful.  To apparently live this way (according to our enemies) is their way of making excuses for their own actual foolishness!

THE THREE PARTS OF MY APPROACH TO MERCY (69:13-21).
Part one is his direct prayer to God in these circumstances (69:13-15).  In verse 13, we have the phrase that gives us the title of our present study: “…in the multitude of thy mercy hear me,…”  The word for multitude here refers to the abundance or the “whole” of God’s mercy.  David needs all of God’s mercy at this time.  An interesting phrase follows this one: “Hear me in the truth of your salvation” (NKJV).  If we do not deal with our needs in light of the truth of God’s salvation, then things are only going to get worse.  Part two is his begging for mercy in a very personal plea (69:16-18).  Think on his pleas: “Hear me…turn to me…do not hide…hear me…draw near to my soul…redeem…deliver me.”  “I am in trouble,” is his way of describing his distress.  Fellow reader, are you and I willing to approach God so honestly and so humbly?  Part three is his “You know my situation better than I can describe it” statement (69:19-21).  He says that no one else can give him the pity he needs right now.  The word for pity in verse 20 carries the picture of one who shakes his head in understanding of the plight of someone else.  Let us learn that the One True God has the exact kind of understanding about our lives that we need.  So, let us turn to Him for pity.

THE THREE PARTS OF THE RESULTS OF MERCY (69:22-36).
Part one has the results that are in store for his many enemies (69:22-28).  Could it be that we do not understand David’s comments about his enemies because we do not live in such a way as to make enemies?  And if that is so, then why is it so?  See John 16; 2 Timothy 3; and many other New Testament passages.  And when we see that some faithful Christian(s) is (are) suffering at the hands of enemies of the cross, let us be very careful to be on the Lord’s side when we wonder, talk, and react to such situations!  Part two has the results for David and the faithful in light of the reception of God’s pity and other mercies (69:29-33).  God’s salvation would fill him and his life with all kinds of blessings and grateful responses.  “Magnify” (69:30) means that he would make God great—in his thoughts, words, and manner of life.  The key word in this is “thanksgiving.”  He also teaches his readers that they should do likewise (69:32,33).  Part three has the results of his anguish turning to praise (69:34-36).  A psalm that began with great anguish of soul, body, and mind is about to conclude with a great ascription of praise to the One Whose mercy really is for “ME.”  It is for God’s Zion!  Let us note the idea of Zion in the Bible from a lesson by Wayne Jackson:

the place of God’s habitation (Psalm 9:11)
the center of Christ’s reign (Psalm 2:6)
the place of the Redeemer (Isaiah 59:20)
the origin point of the gospel (Isaiah 2:3)
the object of God’s love (Psalm 87:2)
the place of salvation (Psalm 14:7)

The Lord will thus save His people and no others (Adapted from THE BOOK OF PSALMS, The eighth annual Southwest Lectures, p. 429).

Are you in God’s spiritual Zion, which is the church of Christ (Isaiah 2; Acts 2)?  If not, please gladly accept His word and obey Jesus today (Acts 2:37-41)!

    — Skip Andrews
 
 

Next Week: Psalm 70: 
Haste Makes…Good Things Happen
 
 
 

TRUTH FOR THE WORLD
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Verse of the Week: 
“I have gone astray like a lost sheep; 
seek thy servant; for I do not forget thy commandments”
(Psalm 119:176).
 

VOLUME 2:29               October 22, 2000