Psalm 69. From Sinking To Singing.

‘FROM SINKING TO SINGING’

Read Psalm 69

Q: General impressions?

INTRODUCTION

Psalm 22 and Psalm 69 are the two most-quoted psalms in the New Testament.

Both ‘messianic’ psalms

Both psalms of David.

Both psalms of lament.

Psalm 22 more popular with preachers.

Psalm 69 contains curses (imprecations). Psalm 69 contains the longest section of imprecations of any psalm.

Psalm starts with David describing himself as sinking in the mire. Context is being persecuted as a result of zeal for God’s house – see verses 7 and 9.

Psalm finishes with David with a song on his lips, glad, thanking God.

Look at curses (imprecations) in verses 22-28. They're a problem!

Q: HOW DOES DAVID FINISH THESE IMPRECATIONS? (v.28)

Q: IN THESE IMPRECATIONS IS DAVID EXPRESSING A RIGHT THOUGHT OR A WRONG THOUGHT?

Put that to one side, come back to it later.

Long psalm. We will focus on how the New Testament uses it. Five main verses in the psalm that the New Testament picks up on.

~HATRED

PSALM 69:4

More in number than the hairs of my head

are those who hate me without cause…

JOHN 15:23-25

Whoever hates me hates my Father also. If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: ‘They hated me without a cause.’

Q: Who is speaking?

A: Jesus.

Q: What was Jesus’ experience?

A: Jesus found that people hated him even though he was only doing good.

Q: How did Jesus use the psalm?

A: He applied it directly to himself. He speaks as though the psalm is about him.

Q: In view of the way Jesus used the psalm, is it likely that the thoughts expressed in the psalm are wrong?

A: I don’t think so!

Q: How did the psalm help him?

A: This psalm gave him comfort because it says, basically, ‘This is how it will be for God’s servant’. It may not be fair, but it’s to be expected. People will hate us for no reason. It’s just the way it is. Let’s not let it bother us. We’ve got good things coming our way.

Q: Can the psalm help us in the same way?

[NOTE FOR LEADER

As we progress through the psalm, we find that David:

1. Feels as though he’s sinking

2. Experiences hatred

3. Has a consuming zeal

4. Experiences reproach

5. Experiences persecution

6. Prays for God to judge his persecutors

7. Concludes with praise and singing

Presumably, this was David’s experience. The NT quotes nos. 2-6 in relation to Jesus or his ministry.

And the pattern of the psalm is true for many of us too.]

~CONSUMING ZEAL

PSALM 69:9a

For zeal for your house has consumed me…

JOHN 2:17

His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.”

Q: Who is speaking?

A: Jesus’ disciples.

Q: What is context?

A: Jesus has driven the traders out of the temple.

Q: Why did Jesus’ disciples think this verse was appropriate for what Jesus did?

A: They saw in Jesus a passion for the purity of God’s house. They recognized that it fitted with this psalm. Jesus was fulfilling scripture.

Q: What can we see about the disciples’ knowledge of the psalms?

A: Can’t say generally, but it looks like they knew THIS psalm well.

Q: If the disciples knew THIS psalm well, is it likely that they felt that the thoughts expressed in the psalm were wrong?

A: I don’t think so!

Q: What do you think of the phrase ‘consume me’?

A: Jesus’ passion was so great that it cost him his life.

Q: Should we display that sort of passion for God’s house?

A: Absolutely! We want to be in the image of Christ. We are also called to be living sacrifices.

~REPROACH

PSALM 69:9b

and the reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me.

ROMANS 15:1-4

We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbour for his good, to build him up. For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.” For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

Q: Who is speaking?

A: Paul

Q: What’s the point he’s making?

A: We should bear with the failings of the weak rather than pleasing ourselves.

Q: How does he make that point?

A: Jesus is a great example of bearing with the failings of the weak. In doing so, Jesus followed the pattern of Psalm 69:9.