Tuesday, October 11, 2022

2022.10.11 Hopewell @Home ▫ Psalm 69:19–36

Read Psalm 69:19–36

Questions from the Scripture text: What does David say God knows in Psalm 69:19a? What else is before God (verse 19b)? How has David experienced all of this (Psalm 69:20a–b)? For what two things did David look (verse 20c–d)? How many did he find? What have those whom he hoped would be comforters done instead (Psalm 69:21)? What does David pray will be God’s commensurate response to their food and drink (Psalm 69:22a)? What does he pray will trap them (verse 22b)? What two curses does he pray in Psalm 69:23? As a result of what (Psalm 69:24)? With what earthly ultimate result (Psalm 69:25)? Why, what two things have they done (Psalm 69:26)? To those that Who has struck and wounded? To what does David pray that God would give them over (Psalm 69:27)? With what eternally ultimate result (Psalm 69:28)? What is David’s current condition (Psalm 69:29a)? For what does he ask (verse 29b)? What two things is he going to do, both now and in that condition (Psalm 69:30)? What will these two things do (Psalm 69:31)? Better than what? Who else will be glad about this (Psalm 69:32a)? What effect will it have upon them (verse 32b, cf. Psalm 69:6)? Of what will believers be reminded in David’s deliverance (Psalm 69:33)? Who, from where, will respond to this in what way (Psalm 69:34)? What further five things will God do to provoke this praise (Psalm 69:35-36)?

How does David’s affliction end in worldwide praise? Psalm 69:19–36 looks forward to the opening portion of morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these eighteen verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that God demonstrates that He hears the poor by delivering David and other believers, but especially by the resurrection of Christ. 

Psalm 69:19–21 function as a sort of recap of the first half of the Psalm. David is under reproach (Psalm 69:19a, cf. Psalm 69:7-10) from many, mighty enemies (Psalm 69:19b, cf. Psalm 69:4) that has brought him into deep grief (Psalm 69:20a–b, cf. Psalm 69:2-3). And those who should have been a comfort to him turned out to be attackers instead (Psalm 69:20c–21, cf. Psalm 69:8-12). Psalm 69:21 reminds us, as we had seen in Psalm 69:9, that David’s experience is not just characteristic of believers but ultimately prophetic of Christ. Now, what does David ask for?

JusticePsalm 69:22. “Their table” becoming a snare is a just retribution for their giving him gall and vinegar in the place of food and drink in Psalm 69:21. The “well being a trap” from Psalm 69:22b fleshes this out a bit. Though they be blessed in material things, yet they may fall suddenly and eternally like the prosperous wicked whom Asaph envies in Psalm 73.

WrathPsalm 69:23-28. Suddenly, the trap is sprung, and the adversary is devastated (Psalm 69:23) not just by pain but by the personal nature of the fury (Psalm 69:24). Not only do they die, but their generation is cut off (Psalm 69:25). Rather than being brought to repentance, they are given over to more sin (Psalm 69:27), that sinks them lower than the grave (Psalm 69:28). The nature of the wicked’s affliction stands in stark contrast to that of the righteous in Psalm 69:26. The Lord strikes and wounds His servants in His chastening love, but those who interpret this as an opportunity to pile on or gossip will find themselves on the receiving end of God’s vengeance.

Worship from himselfPsalm 69:29-31. He is eager for salvation to put him in a place where he can praise from his soul. “Horses and hooves” aren’t the sacrifices that please God (cf. Psalm 40:6–8; Hebrews 10:5–7). The ultimate sacrifice, of course, is Christ. And it is through Christ that saints offer spiritual sacrifice (cf. 1 Peter 2:4–5; Hebrews 13:15). 

Worship from believersPsalm 69:32-34. Earlier, David’s great concern was that he would respond foolishly or sinfully, and that this would bring other believers down (cf. Psalm 69:5-6). Now, he’s asking that the Lord’s deliverance would give the humble who seek God opportunity to rejoice from the heart (Psalm 69:32). Whenever we are afflicted, we want all to discover that “Yahweh hears the poor and does not despise His prisoners.” The greatest instance of this is the resurrection of Christ. By His resurrection, we are sure that for the sake of Him Who took our sin and was still resurrected as righteous, the Lord will hear us also.

Worship from all creationPsalm 69:34-36. The blessing in Psalm 69:36 is opposite the curse pronounced in Psalm 69:25. Here is the great reason for all creation (Psalm 69:34) to praise God: His delivering and blessing His people (Psalm 69:35). When believers find themselves in trouble, let them seek that praise of God from all creation that will ultimately come out of the trouble.

What affliction are you in? What do you hope its ultimate result will be? How are you praying for that?

Sample prayer:  O Lord, You hear the poor. Save Your Zion and build her up, so that we may see it and be glad. By Your Spirit, cause us to seek You. Give life to our hearts that we may praise Your Name with song and magnify You with thanksgiving, we ask through Christ, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP69A “Save Me, O God” or TPH69B “Thy Lovingkindness, Lord, Is Good and Free”

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