Psa 69:1-4 | Clarke | e4.org | PSALM LXIX The psalmist describes his afflicted state, and the wickedness of his adversaries , 1-21; he declares the miseries that should come upon his enemies , 22-28; enlarges on his afflicted state, and expresses his confidence in God , 29-34; prophesies the restoration of the Jews to their own land and temple , 35, 36. NOTES ON PSALM LXIX The title is: "To the chief Musician upon Shoshannim, A Psalm of David." See this title explained on . The Psalm is supposed to have been written during the captivity , and to have been the work of some Levite Divinely inspired. It is a very fine composition, equal to most in the Psalter. Several portions of it seem to have a reference to our Lord; to his advent passion, resurrection, the vocation of the Gentiles, the establishment of the Christian Church, and the reprobation of the Jews. The ninth verse is quoted by St. John, . The twenty-first verse is quoted by St. Matthew , ; by St. Mark , ; by St. John , ; and applied to the sufferings of our Lord, in the treatment he received from the Jews. St. Paul quotes the twenty-second as a prophecy of the wickedness of the Jews, and the punishment they were to receive. He quotes the twenty-third verse in the same way. See the marginal references. Those portions which the writers of the New Testament apply to our Lord, we may apply also; of others we should be careful. Verse 1. The waters are come in unto my soul. ] I am in the deepest distress. The waters have broken their dikes, and are just ready to sweep me away! Save me, Lord! In such circumstances I can have no other help. In the first, second, third, fourteenth , and fifteenth verses, the psalmist, speaking in the person of the captives in Babylon, compares their captivity to an abyss of waters , breaking all bounds, and ready to swallow them up; to a deep mire , in which there was no solid bottom, and no standing ; and to a pit , in which they were about to be inclosed for ever. This is strongly figurative, and very expressive.

‏ Psalms 69:1-4

PSALM LXIX

The psalmist describes his afflicted state, and the wickedness of his adversaries, 1-21;

he declares the miseries that should come upon his enemies,

22-28;

enlarges on his afflicted state, and expresses his confidence in God, 29-34;

prophesies the restoration of the Jews to their own land and temple, 35, 36.

NOTES ON PSALM LXIX

The title is: "To the chief Musician upon Shoshannim, A Psalm of David." See this title explained on Ps 45:1.

The Psalm is supposed to have been written during the captivity, and to have been the work of some Levite Divinely inspired. It is a very fine composition, equal to most in the Psalter. Several portions of it seem to have a reference to our Lord; to his advent passion, resurrection, the vocation of the Gentiles, the establishment of the Christian Church, and the reprobation of the Jews. The ninth verse is quoted by St. John, Joh 2:17. The twenty-first verse is quoted by St. Matthew, Mt 27:34, 48; by St. Mark, Mr 15:23; by St. John, Joh 19:29; and applied to the sufferings of our Lord, in the treatment he received from the Jews. St. Paul quotes the twenty-second as a prophecy of the wickedness of the Jews, and the punishment they were to receive. He quotes the twenty-third verse in the same way. See the marginal references. Those portions which the writers of the New Testament apply to our Lord, we may apply also; of others we should be careful.

Verse 1. The waters are come in unto my soul.] I am in the deepest distress. The waters have broken their dikes, and are just ready to sweep me away! Save me, Lord! In such circumstances I can have no other help.

In the first, second, third, fourteenth, and fifteenth verses, the psalmist, speaking in the person of the captives in Babylon, compares their captivity to an abyss of waters, breaking all bounds, and ready to swallow them up; to a deep mire, in which there was no solid bottom, and no standing; and to a pit, in which they were about to be inclosed for ever. This is strongly figurative, and very expressive.

Verse 3. I am weary of my crying] A pathetic description of the state of the poor captives for about seventy years.

Verse 4. Then I restored that which I took not away.] I think, with Calmet, that this is a sort of proverbial expression, like such as these, "Those who suffered the wrong, pay the costs." Delirant reges, plectuntur Achivi. "Kings sin, and the people are punished." "The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge." Our fathers have grievously sinned against the Lord, and we their posterity suffer for it. See on Ps 69:12. Some have applied it to our Lord. I restored, by my suffering and death, that image of God and the Divine favour, which I took not away. That is, In my human nature I expiated the crime that human beings had committed against God. But such applications are very gratuitous.