Psalms 69 - Introduction

A.M. 2983. B.C. 1021.

This Psalm was composed by David when he was in great trouble, but on what account it is not easy to determine. Bishop Patrick thinks it might be about the time when he concluded that he should one day perish by the hand of Saul; and that he revised it again when he was in those straits to which he was reduced by the rebellion of Absalom, at which time he supposes that he added the 35th verse concerning God's love to Zion, which was not in possession of the Israelites till after the time of Saul. The general contents of it are as follows.

(1,) He complains of the great distress he was in, and earnestly begs of God to relieve and succour him, Psalms 69:1.

(2,) He foretels the judgments of God upon his persecutors, Psalms 69:22.

(3,) He concludes with the voice of joy and praise, in an assurance that God would succour him, and bless his church, Psalms 69:30. Now in all this David was a type of Christ, to whom, accordingly, divers passages in this Psalm are applied in the New Testament, and in whom they are said to have had their accomplishment; as divers other passages of it are quoted therein as referring to Christ's enemies. Indeed every one must perceive, that there are several verses in it, which, if they were applicable to David at all, evidently refer, in a much higher and more obvious sense, to the passion of the Lord Jesus. Theodoret observes, that “the Psalm is prophetical, and foretold the sufferings of our Lord, and the final destruction of the Jews on that account.” So that, like the 22d, it begins with the humiliation, and ends with the exaltation of Christ, one branch of which was the destruction of those that persecuted and put him to death.