Psalms 69:1

PSALM LXIX

The psalmist describes his afflicted state, and the wickedness

of his adversaries, 1-21;

he declares the miseries that should come upon his enemies,

22-28;

enlarges on his afflicted state, and expresses his confidence

in God, 29-34;

prophesies the restoration of the Jews to their own land and

temple, 35, 36.

NOTES ON PSALM LXIX

The title is: "To the chief Musician upon Shoshannim, A Psalm of David." See this title explained on Psalms 45:1.

The Psalm is supposed to have been written during the captivity, and to have been the work of some Levite Divinely inspired. It is a very fine composition, equal to most in the Psalter. Several portions of it seem to have a reference to our Lord; to his advent passion, resurrection, the vocation of the Gentiles, the establishment of the Christian Church, and the reprobation of the Jews. The ninth verse is quoted by St. John, John 2:17. The twenty-first verse is quoted by St. Matthew, Matthew 27:34; Matthew 27:48; by St. Mark, Mark 15:23; by St. John, John 19:29; and applied to the sufferings of our Lord, in the treatment he received from the Jews. St. Paul quotes the twenty-second as a prophecy of the wickedness of the Jews, and the punishment they were to receive. He quotes the twenty-third verse in the same way. See the marginal references [Isaiah 6:9 (note); John 12:39 (note); Romans 11:10 (note); 2 Corinthians 3:14 (note)]. Those portions which the writers of the New Testament apply to our Lord, we may apply also; of others we should be careful.

Verse Psalms 69:1. The waters are come in unto my soul.] I am in the deepest distress. The waters have broken their dikes, and are just ready to sweep me away! Save me, Lord! In such circumstances I can have no other help.

In the Psalms 69:1, Psalms 69:2, Psalms 69:3, Psalms 69:14, and Psalms 69:15 verses, the psalmist, speaking in the person of the captives in Babylon, compares their captivity to an abyss of waters, breaking all bounds, and ready to swallow them up; to a deep mire, in which there was no solid bottom, and no standing; and to a pit, in which they were about to be inclosed for ever. This is strongly figurative, and very expressive.