Sunday, September 5, 2010 pm
STUDIES IN PSALMS
Zeal for Your House
Psalm 69
The superscription attributes this psalm to David.
We can verify this because in Romans 11:9 Paul quotes this psalm
and attributes it to David.
It is ascribed to the chief musician, “according to Shoshannim”.
The NKJV says of this, “Set to ‘The Lilies’” – probably the title
of a tune. This is the
second psalm with that title (cf. Psalm 45, 80).
As with so many of the psalms of David, we do not know the
occasion for writing this psalm, but we know it was during one of his
times of distress, and that without just cause - or was there cause?
Whether he brought this on or not, in his typical fashion, he
cries to God for deliverance and trusts in Him.
Because of its length, we cannot examine every verse of this
psalm. But we want seek to
understand the intended message and in the process note some
applications AND, in particular, references to it found in the New
Testament.
a.
He is “in
it up to his head” describing one who is sinking or drowning (1-2)
b.
He is
crying with a dry throat (3) – great mourning.
c.
His
enemies seem to outnumber him greatly and their charge is unfounded (4)
d.
NT
QUOTE Vs. 4, “Those
who hate me without cause” is quoted in John 15:25 by Jesus
concerning His enemies. It
is a text where He tells His disciples they would be hated as He was.
II.
David’s zeal for God (5-12)
a.
An
acknowledgment that God knows his sinful conduct.
You CANNOT hide your sins from God – Heb. 4:13, Jer. 16:17
b.
“Let
not those who wait for You, O Lord God of hosts, be ashamed because of
me…” (6).
LESSON: Never forget the
influence your conduct has on others.
Do we love God enough that we realize when we sin, it foremost
hurts Him and His cause? May
we ALWAYS be aware of the potential for our evil conduct to cause others
to stumble.
c.
Vs. 7-8
find one who in doing right faces consequences.
LESSON: Will we stand for
right, even if it costs us?
d.
Vs. 9, “Because
zeal for your house has eaten me up” – my we let that attitude sink
in! How deeply are we
grieved when we see the Lord’s cause abused, taken for granted or
mocked?
NT QUOTE: We have an
example of this in John 15:25 where it quoted after Jesus cleansed the
temple the first time, at the beginning of His ministry.
“And the reproaches of those who
reproach You have fallen on me.”
NT QUOTE: Found in Romans
15:3 in reference to the sufferings of Christ noting that “even Christ
did not please Himself.”
This is found in a text which encourages us to give consideration to our
weaker brethren.
e.
VS. 10-12
– speaks of the mocking David faced in his zeal for God’s house.
LESSON: Today is our faith
visible enough that the enemies of God mock us and reproach us.
While we ought not provoke sinners to mock God (through
misbehavior –cf. vs. 5-6), neither should we let the truth be hidden
from our emotions when we see wickedness, even if it means being mocked.
Our Lord Jesus was mocked on many occasions, including while on
the cross. Luke 7:33-34
speaks of mocking against both John the Baptist and Christ by their
critics.
Perhaps an example of the “song of drunkards” could be the mocking of
Jesus by the soldiers (cf. Mark 15:17-19) and the rejoicing at the foot
of the cross by His enemies (Mk. 15:29-32)
III.
Prayer for deliverance (13-18)
a.
These
verses are typical of David.
In times of distress he prays to God.
His example continues to be worthy of consideration.
b.
In Vs. 13
he says, “O Lord, in the
acceptable time; O God, in the multitude of Your mercy, hear me in the
truth of Your salvation.”
NOTE how he is willing to patiently wait for God’s answer.
c.
His prayer
is specific for deliverance out of the mire he is in (13-15)
d.
His trust,
typically, is in the good character of God – His loving-kindness and
tender mercies (compassion – NASU).
e.
Vs. 18 –
ultimately, his desire is the deliverance of his soul.
IV.
God knew his reproach (19-21)
a.
David
again speaks of reproach, a word that means scorn or taunting from an
enemy. Whatever the
occasion, David feels he is being unjustly mocked.
b.
David is
alone in facing his troubles (vs. 20).
c.
Vs. 21 is
descriptive of something that probably did not literally happen to
David, but rather it points to the depth of his bitterness - even the
food he eats is bitter or consumed in bitterness (cannot be truly
enjoyed). Perhaps we are
familiar with such times.
CONSIDER: We find here a
term not specifically quoted in the New Testament, but we cannot help
but think of our Lord on the cross.
All four gospel mention the vinegar (sour wine) He was offered. –
Matt. 27:34 & 48; Mark 15:23 & 36; Luke 23:36,
John 19:29). And our Lord’s plight on the cross certainly fits
this context (all forsook Him, He was reproached, etc.).
I am convinced, whether David intended it or not, there are
Messianic implications in this psalm.
d.
LESSON: While David was
not innocent all his life, he often received, “the short end of the
stick”. If truth be known,
that is fairly typical of life.
Most of us at times face circumstances that seem unfair.
But when we face such, know that God knows what you are enduring
and take comfort in that.
V.
Imprecation (22-28)
a.
In more
than one psalm we find David asking the LORD God to defeat his enemies
and inflict them with wrath.
In this psalm, he concludes strongly, “Let
them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with
the righteous.” (28)
We have discussed such strong words before and noted that while David
wishes defeat upon his enemies, the tone is always in association with
his righteousness with God.
In other words, David’s enemies are also God’s enemies.
He wants God’s righteousness to prevail.
Remember considering such requests, David does NOT act, but makes
his request of God – who is just!
b.
NT
QUOTES: Verses 22-23 are
quoted by Paul in Romans 11:9-10, a passage where Paul is dealing with
the remnant of Israel who will be saved, even though the nation as a
whole had rejected and reproached God in their conduct.
These verses describe how in their conduct they have brought
upon themselves God’s wrath.
Consider the words “table” and “stumbling block”.
The table would indicate provisions from God which became
their reproach against Him because they rejected Him and them.
The Jews were given the Law of Moses, sacrifices, the tabernacle,
etc – all things which should have drawn them closer to God.
Yet those very things became their curse.
c.
NT
QUOTE: Vs. 25 is quoted in
Acts 1:20 in reference to Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus.
The text speaks of the field purchased with the “blood money”
Judas took to betray Jesus.
d.
LESSON: If you reject God,
PREPARE to be rejected by Him!
VI.
God hears the poor (29-33)
a.
Typical of
David (again) he resolves that he will praise God.
And his praise will be such that the godly will rejoice with him.
b.
Interestingly, David here makes reference to being poor and in vs. 33
notes how God hears the needy (poor).
Depending on when David wrote this, he was not really poor
(though if he was in flight, he could have had nothing available to
him). BUT, could he have
realized that no matter what one possesses in this life it is NOTHING
without God and is NOTHING compared to what God has to offer beyond this
life? (cf. Psa. 23:6, Matt. 6:19-21, etc.)
c.
David
again calls for praise to God – in song and thanksgiving, such that is
greater than sacrifices.
Be reminded of Hebrews 13:15, the sacrifices of praise found
coming from the lips. Psalm
51:17 says, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart
– these, O God, you will not despise.”
d.
LESSON: Vs. 32, “The
humble shall see this and be glad”, “The humble have seen it and are
glad.” (NASU) FRIENDS, never
ignore humility in serving God – 1 Peter 5:5-6, “…For,
‘God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.’ Therefore humble
yourselves under the mighty hand of God that He may exalt you in due
time.”
VII.
Let heaven and earth praise Him (34-36)
a.
Truly
creation praises God (34)
b.
Vs. 35-36
– David’s final observation is that God WILL save Zion.
The descendent of His servants will inherit it ultimately.
I love this conclusion –
as it looks toward that day when TRUE Israel will become His people.
That of course happened when our Lord came to this earth and died
on the cross, nailing the Old Law to it (Col. 2:14) and turning to all
who through faith accept His grace (in obedience).
These are the TRUE Israel (Rom. 2:28-29).
And thus we see another psalm of David.
When we put it all together, I choose to accept that this psalm
was Messianic and very personal to David.
We have the blessing of seeing the fulfillment of many things
David looked forward to and prophesied about.
Let us through faith accept them and may we give God the glory
and praise that demonstrates it.
Think about it.