October 15 - Psalm 69

October 15 - Psalm 69:1-36

This is a much longer Psalm. Take some time to read through it. I'm only going to touch on a few highlights. This Psalm is referred to several different times in the New Testament as prophetic of Christ and the time of the Gospel. Let's look at those.

Compare John 15:25 and Psalm 69:4.

How well do you know your Psalms? Can you quote any of them (maybe Psalm 23)? Consider the fact that Jesus was able to pull verses from this Psalm from his memory. Then consider that Jesus knew full well that when David was writing it, He would be fulfilling the spirit of it hundreds of years later.

Isaiah 53 is the description of the Suffering Servant, but Psalm 69 fits that same imagery. It heartens me to know that the man who followed after God's own heart was the centerpoint of the lineage from Adam to Jesus and was the one who wrote gorgeous poems and songs that seem to come from the deepest part of his heart ... the part that was connected to the deepest part of God's heart (Psalm 42:7).

You know, the relationship between Jesus Christ and David becomes increasingly special to me as I study these Psalms. John 1:1 tells us that Jesus Christ is the Word made flesh and that He was with God from the beginning of creation. The Word was the active, creative part of Creation. These Psalms are some of the most creative, beautiful words gathered together in ways that most of us can only hope to mimic. Just how close was Jesus to David as he was writing these words? When David was writing these words in Psalm 69, imagine God watching as the pen struck the paper and nodding with tears flowing down his face as he felt the pain that David was feeling and as he looked forward hundreds of years to the pain he would have to face to save his people from what was yet to come.

The kingdom had not yet split, the people were still one people. The terrible sins of idolatry and the exile, the destruction of the temple and the diaspora were not part of history yet for the Israelites, yet God put these words in place, because one day a Savior would be required to sacrifice his life for this nation of people that the Creator of the world adored.

We find that Psalm 69:8 is repeated in John 1:11 and John 7:5. Psalm 69:9 is found in John 2:17 when the disciples realize that Jesus has just fulfilled this verse as he rips through the Temple and overturns the tables of the money changers.

Mark 3:21 and John 7:5 fulfill Psalm 69:7-8.

Imagine the loneliness of Psalm 69:19-20 and find it in Mark 14:50.

The prophecy of the gall and vinegar is found here in Psalm 69:21 and fulfilled in the gospels (Matthew 27:48, Mark 15:36, Luke 23:36, and John 19:28-29).

Compare Matthew 23:38 and Luke 13:35 to Psalm 69:25. Then, read Acts 1:20 to hear Luke speak of this verse in reference to the place where Judas died.

Though we read this today with the emphasis on prophesy regarding Jesus, David is still in pain. When he reaches the end of the Psalm, he remembers who the Creator is and how deserving He is of praise. David was able to step out of his own worries and concerns and lift his voice in worship and thanksgiving. Can we do any less?