The Sufferer's Song

THE SUFFERER’S SONG--PSALM 69

Introduction: There has been some question about the author of this Psalm. Many think that Jeremiah is the author. The reason for this is because the Psalmist suffers because of his zeal for God’s house. The Psalmist is humiliated, scorned and it corresponds with Jeremiah 15:15-18. Then there is the peculiar nature of Jeremiah’s suffering. He was cast into a dungeon, where he sank in the mire. He makes reference to water overflowing him in Lamentations 3:53-58. Then finally, the close of the Psalm in vs. 34-36 is the summary of Jeremiah 30-33. There is a good argument for putting Jeremiah’s signature on this Psalm.

However, the title plainly ascribes the Psalm to David. It is true that these titles of the Psalms are not part of the orignial text, but they are definitely ancient and the jews who wrote the superscriptions knew what they were singing about. The Jews believed that David wrote the Psalm. The key to knowing for sure is found in Romans 11:9. Paul quotes from this Psalm (vs. 22) and clearly states that it is a Psalm of David.

Whatever one chooses to believe about who the author is, we would all agree that the writer is an innocent sufferer. He speaks of deep and difficult affliction.

David penned this psalm when he was in affliction, and in it he complains of the great distress and trouble he was in and earnestly begs of God to relieve and succour him in vs. 1-21. He ask for the judgment of God upon his enemies in vs. 22-29. He concludes with the voice of joy and praise, in assurance that God would help him in vs. 30-36.

I. HIS SITUATION--vs. 1-6

A. Pain - vs. 1-3

1. Here we see the hopelessness and helplessness of the Psalmist.

2. His Trouble was not only from without, but also from within.

3. The Severity of his sufferings is seen in three ways. He gives three figures that express the height of his

troubles.

a. He is in rising water and deep mire.

b. He is in the process of being overwhelmed.

c. He is weary of his crying.

4. The implication here is that if Divine help does not come quickly it will come too late.

5. Here we see:

a. Faith in the midst of Difficulty - “O God”

b. Prayer in the midst of Discouragement - “I am weary”

c. Hope in the midst of Disappointment - “I wait for my God”

B. Persecution - vs. 4

1. Here David speaks of the persecution of his Enemies.

2. He reveals three important facts.

a. Their Multitude - They number more than the hairs of his head.

b. Their Might - They are Mighty

c. Their Madness - They hate him without a cause.

3. They hatred of his enemies was so fierce that they sought his complete destruction.

4. David had done nothing to provoke their anger, but still they compelled him to give up what was rightfully his.

5. Unjustified suffering is the hardest to handle. The tendency is to fight back, but notice what David does in the

next two verses.

C. Prayer - vs. 5-6

1. God’s knowledge is of sin is the best incentive to repent, because it is foolish to try to hide any sin from him

and it is impossible to confess all our sins to him.

2. God’s knowledge of sin is an encouragement to hope for pardon. Because, in the full knowledge of sin, he

has declared himself to be merciful and ready to forgive.

3. In verse 5 we find Confession

a. Although he felt his enemies hated him without a cause, he was not claiming that he was without sin.

b. He may not have sinned against his enemies, but he knew he had sinned against God.

4. In verse 6 we find Concern. He did not want to be the cause of others sin. He did not want to shame God.

II. HIS STATEMENT--vs. 7-12

A. This section he claims there has been a Desertion of Friends and the Delight of Foes.

B. He the Psalmist is:

1. Ridiculed by Drunkards

2. Reviled by his Enemies

3. Renounced by his Relatives

C. To an Honourable man nothing is more bitter and painful than reproach and slander.

1. Notice who is heading the list -- “my mother’s children”

2. His nearest relatives treated him as if he were a stranger and a foreigner

D. Notice why he is suffering reproach

1. It was because of his Faithfulness to God -- vs. 7 “for thy sake”

2. Jesus said in Matthew 5:10-11 “Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake...Blessed are

ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.”