Psalms 69

David, (and with him Christ under his Type) maketh complaint to God over his manifold heavy sufferings, prayeth fervently for deliverance, giveth over his obstinate enemies to just destruction, and praiseth God for the saving of his church.

1. (A Psalm) of David: for the chief-song-master: [See Psalm 4.v.1.] upon Schaschcannim. [Psal.45.1.]

2. Save me, O God: for the waters are come unto the soul. [i.e. excessive dangers threaten me with the hazard and loss of my life. See 2 Sam.22.on v.17. thus also v.3.15,16. Below.]

3. I am sunk into the bottomless mire, [Hebr. Mire of depth, or, abyss] where one cannot stand: [Heb. And there is no standing, i.e. no ground nor firmness to stand upon, I sink still deeper and deeper.] I am come into the depth of the waters, and the floods over streams (or overwhelms) me. [i.e. threatens to carry me away; here the word schibboleth is used, whereof Jud.12.on verse 6. And likewise below v.16.]

4. I am wearied with my calling, my throat is enflamed, mine eyes are faint, where I am hoping in my God.

5. They that hate me without cause [Heb. In vain, for nothing] are more then the hairs of my head; they that seek to destroy me [Heb. They that destroy me, i.e. they that seek or go about to cut me off or ruine me, they that make it their business and continual practise, as if he should say, it is for lack of such and their endeavors. Compare Psa.56.on v.2.] that are enemies to me for false causer; [Heb. Fir lies, falsehood] are grown mighty that which I robbed not, I must render unto them. [David implieth hereby, that for all his innovence, he was held and dealt withal as a guilty one, or evil doer. This is likewise to be applied to Christ, who bare none of his own, but only our sins, Isa.53.4,5,6,7,8. 1 Pet.2.24. and 3.18. Some refer it to Christ in this sence, that he suffered wrong, for saying that he was the son of God, whereas indeed he was Gods own and eternal son, of one and the same substance with the Father, and having no robbed Godhead. See Phil.2.6. and John 19:7.]

6. O God thou knowest of my folly, and my guiltinesses are not hid before the: [Whether I am guilty of sins and evil practises, which they lay to my charges; the wrong they do me is not unknown to thee. So Job 16:18. Earth doth not cover my blood, viz. If I should have spilt any. Compare Psa.38.6.]

7. Let them not be ashamed through me, that wait upon thee, O Lord LORD of hosts! Let them not be ashamed through me, that seek thee, O God of Israel. [The godly (will David say) which hold it with me, and wait together with me for a good issue of my cause, according to thy word, and would be made ashamed, if thou shouldest forsake me: now my cause is not only theirs also, but even thine own cause, seeing that both my self and they do rely on thee, thy word for it, therefore, &c.]

8. For thy sake do I bear reproach: shame hath covered my face.

9. I am grown strange ( Or become a stranger) to my Brethren, and unknown to my Mothers children. [i.e. no body will know me, no not my nearest friends. Compare Job 19.v.13.14,15,16. And above Psa.27.10. with the annotations.]

10. For the Zeal of thine house [i.e. to, or for thy house] hath eaten me up: [these words are applied to Christ John 2.v.17. and Rom.15.v.3.] and the reproaches of those that reproach thee, are fallen upon me.

11. And I have wept in the fasting of my soul: [Or with the fasting, &c. i.e. when I was humbling, or afflicting my soul with fasting. Compare Psa.35.v.13.] but unto me it is turned to all manner of reproach. [Heb. To reproachs.]

12. And I have put on [Heb.given] a sack [see Gen.37.on v.34.] for my garment: but I am become a proverb to them.

13. They that sit in the gate [Where the court of judgement is kept, and the people useth to assemble. See Gen.22.on v.17.] prate of me; and I am a play-song [see Job 30:9. with the annotation] of those that drink strong drink. [Heb. Scherhar, see Lev.10.on v.22. i.e. of Drunkards. His meaning is, that at their drunken meetings they sung and played jeering and scornful songs of him.]

14. But as for me, my prayer is to thee O LORD. [As if he should say, I know no other refuge in all these grievances of mine, but to thee] there is a time of wel-pleasing, O God [appointed in thy wise and most gracious counsel, wherein thou hast ordered and set the times and minutes when thou wilt and shalt really declare, and performingly manifest what favour thou bearest to thy children. Oth. (in) the time of wel-pleasing hear thou me O God, according, etc. Compare Isa.49.v.8.2. Cor.6.v.2.] through the greatness [or multitude] of thy kindness: hear me, through the faithfulness of thy salvation. [i.e. thy saving faithfulness, which requireth, that thou hear and help me according to thy promises.]

15. Pluck me out of the mire [Compare Psalms 40:3. and Job 30:19.] and let me not sink: let me be rescued from my haters, and out of the depths of the waters.

16. Let the water-flood not overwhelm me, and let the depth not swallow me up: nor let the pit shut up her mouth over me.

17. Hear me O LORD, for thy kindness is good: [i.e. pleasant, profitable and comfortable. Comp.Psa.63.v.4.] look upon me, according to the greatness (or multitude) of thy compassions.

18. And hide not thy face from thy servant: for I am in straight; make haste, hear me.

19. Draw near to my soul, deliver he: redeem me for mine enemies sake. [Because of their being so fierce, bitter and implacable; or that they may not boast of my ruine, to the dishonour of thine holy Name.]

20. Thou knowest my reproach, and my shame and my disgrace: [Which I must suffer and endure without my desert. Compare v.6.] all my distressers are before thee. [are known unto thee, and none of them hid before thine eyes.]

21. The reproach hath broken my heart, and I am very weak: and I have waited for pitty, but there is none: and for comforters, but have not found them.

22. Yea, they have given me gall for my food: [Or, poison venomous herbs, something that was extream bitter and hurtful. See Deut.29.18. and 32.32. Lam.3.19. Hos.10.4. Amos.6.12. by the water thereof, great and bitter affliction is signified Jer.8.14. and 9.15. and 23.15.] and in my thirst they have given me vinegar to drink.

23. Let their table become a snare before their face, [Their table, i.e. their meat and drink, and whatsoever should serve for the entertaining and cherishing of man; wherewithal the wicked are often times ensnared and taken to their ruine, see Rom.12.9. and compare 2.Cor.2.15,16. This ad the following prayers and wishes, are prophecies of bodily and spiritual temporal, and everlasting judgements, which are to seize upon the obstinate enemies of God and his Church, and especially of our Lord Jesus Christ.] and for full recompence for a trap. [Heb. Recompences, i.e. a full revenge of God upon them, for what was said in the former verse to have been practised by them: others, that which should serve for peace, or, welfare, become or be a trap for them.]

24. Let their eyes grow dim, that they see not: and make their loins continually to shake; [Be without strength and settledness or vigour.]

25. Pour out thine indignation upon them, and the heat of thy wrath apprehend them. [That they may feel wrath.]

26. Their Palace [Or, their castle, fort, gallant magnificent structure.] be desolate, let there be no inhabitant in their Tents.

27. For they persecute him whom thou hast smitten, [i.e. whom thou dost fatherly chastise, or try, & exercise him, they do fall upon, ready to destroy him. Compare further (in relation to our Saviour) Isa.53.4,5. Mat.26.31.] and make a prating of [i.e. scoff and jear, and make their pastime with] the smart of thy wounded ones. [i.e. tose whom sake.comp. below, v.34. and touching the manner of speaking, Psalms 37:22.]

28. Add28. Add iniquity: [Heb. Give, put, let them fall from the one sin into the other; give them over into a reprobate mind, etc. See Rom.1.v.24.28. and 11.8. 1 Thes.2.16. and 2 Thes.2.v.11. Item Mat.23.32. Some do understand by iniquity the punishment of it, as who should say, add punishment to their punishment.] and let them not come to thy righteousness. [to bejusticed before thee, and absolved from their sins, see Rom.10.3. Phil.3.9. John 12:39.40. but continue in their unbelief, and die in their sins: John 8:24.]

29. Let them be blotted out of the book of life; [Or of the living (i.e. as the woods following do declare it) let elect, and are not written down among them by thee, not withstanding, that both by themselves and others, they are held to be of the people of God, and accounted among them; but do thou cut them of, etc. Thus Job 39.v.20. are depriving of wisdom, and nor impart understanding, declared or cleared the one by the other. So that the particle and, may fitly here be taken for that is, or that is to say. See further hereof, Exod.32.on ver.32.33. and compare Psalm 22.v.31. and 87.ver.6. Item.Isa.4.3. Ezek.13.9. Rom.11.20.] and not be written down with the righteous.

30. Yet I am afflicted and in pain; (let) thy salvation O God, set me in a high retrait.

31. I shall praise the name of God with singing, and magnify him with thankfulness.

32. And it shall be more acceptable, [Heb. Better, i.e more pleasing or acceptable] to the LORD, then an Ox, [offerings of beasts: See Psalms 40:7. and 50.13,14,15.] (or) an horned bullock that divideth (the claws.) see Lev.11.on v.2.]

33. The meck [See Psalm 10.on v.17. and 22.on v.27.] having seen this, shall receive: and you that seek God, your heart shall live.

34. For the LORD doth hear the needy; and he doth not despise his prisoners. [Heb. Bounden ones, i.e. his faithfull servants, whom he suffers to be afflicted for his Names sake compa.Eph.3.1. and above v.27.]

35. That the heaven and earth (may) praise him, the seas, and all that crawleth therein. [See Gen.1.on verse 21.]

36. For God shall save Zion [His Church. See Psal.2.on v.6.] and build the Cities of Juda: and there they shall dwell [those meek ones, namely, that see God, his servants and loves, v.33. and in the sequel] and hereditarily possess her: [viz. Zion, and so in the next verse.]

37. And the seed of his servants [Their posterity See Psalm 22.on v.31.] shall inherit her: and the lovers of his Name shall dwell therein.