Psalm 69 – Our Almighty Who Saves
(Written by Andrew Lim)
Have you ever wondered how it is like when someone is drowning?
Imagine the struggles to keep your neck above the water. Imagine the fear of not able to feel your feet on solid ground. With each struggle, you sink deeper and deeper, and with your last breath you cry out “Save me, O God!”
That was how King David felt and expresses his experience in Psalm 69. David was a fugitive although he was anointed to be King as a teenager. King Saul was jealous of God’s favour on David and wanted to kill him. David was hated without cause. Slander, lies and character assassination surrounded him. Are you going through an almost similar experience as King David?
In honesty, he admitted to God his past mistakes (verse 5). He realised that his mistakes should not become a stumbling block to those who are seeking God. He was concerned for others and was willing to take the blame (verses 6-7). He experienced broken family relationship for God’s sake. He wept and fasted before God and yet people made fun of him (verses 8-12). However, David refused to live a life of defeat. Instead of focusing on all his problems, he turns to God (verse 13).
He asked God for five breakthroughs.
1. Deliver him from his hopeless and helpless situation (verses 14-15).
2. Answer him when he is in distress (verses 16-17).
3. Draw near to him in the midst of his enemies (verses 18-21).
4. Punish his enemies (verses 22-28).
5. Be victorious through suffering (verse 29).
Through the pain and suffering, David was finally able to turn his problems into praise. He was able to magnify God with thanksgiving and worship.
Friends, if you are going through some tough situations, let go and let God take control. David understood what it means to trust God. I hope you will do the same. Amen.
Let’s Read Psalm 69
For the director of music. To the tune of “Lilies.” Of David.
1 Save me, O God,
for the waters have come up to my neck.
2 I sink in the miry depths,
where there is no foothold.
I have come into the deep waters;
the floods engulf me.
3 I am worn out calling for help;
my throat is parched.
My eyes fail, looking for my God.
4 Those who hate me without reason
outnumber the hairs of my head;
many are my enemies without cause,
those who seek to destroy me.
I am forced to restore
what I did not steal.
5 You, God, know my folly;
my guilt is not hidden from you.
6 Lord, the Lord Almighty,
may those who hope in you
not be disgraced because of me;
God of Israel,
may those who seek you
not be put to shame because of me.
7 For I endure scorn for your sake,
and shame covers my face.
8 I am a foreigner to my own family,
a stranger to my own mother’s children;
9 for zeal for your house consumes me,
and the insults of those who insult you fall on me.
10 When I weep and fast,
I must endure scorn;
11 when I put on sackcloth,
people make sport of me.
12 Those who sit at the gate mock me,
and I am the song of the drunkards.
13 But I pray to you, Lord,
in the time of your favor;
in your great love, O God,
answer me with your sure salvation.
14 Rescue me from the mire,
do not let me sink;
deliver me from those who hate me,
from the deep waters.
15 Do not let the floodwaters engulf me
or the depths swallow me up
or the pit close its mouth over me.
16 Answer me, Lord, out of the goodness of your love;
in your great mercy turn to me.
17 Do not hide your face from your servant;
answer me quickly, for I am in trouble.
18 Come near and rescue me;
deliver me because of my foes.
19 You know how I am scorned, disgraced and shamed;
all my enemies are before you.
20 Scorn has broken my heart
and has left me helpless;
I looked for sympathy, but there was none,
for comforters, but I found none.
21 They put gall in my food
and gave me vinegar for my thirst.
22 May the table set before them become a snare;
may it become retribution and a trap.
23 May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see,
and their backs be bent forever.
24 Pour out your wrath on them;
let your fierce anger overtake them.
25 May their place be deserted;
let there be no one to dwell in their tents.
26 For they persecute those you wound
and talk about the pain of those you hurt.
27 Charge them with crime upon crime;
do not let them share in your salvation.
28 May they be blotted out of the book of life
and not be listed with the righteous.
29 But as for me, afflicted and in pain—
may your salvation, God, protect me.
30 I will praise God’s name in song
and glorify him with thanksgiving.
31 This will please the Lord more than an ox,
more than a bull with its horns and hooves.
32 The poor will see and be glad—
you who seek God, may your hearts live!
33 The Lord hears the needy
and does not despise his captive people.
34 Let heaven and earth praise him,
the seas and all that move in them,
35 for God will save Zion
and rebuild the cities of Judah.
Then people will settle there and possess it;
36 the children of his servants will inherit it,
and those who love his name will dwell there.
Let’s Pray
Almighty God, You are all powerful yet you are loving and compassionate. You lift us up when we are down. You set our feet on solid ground. You put a song of praise in our mouth. How wonderful to know you are our Saviour. May those who hope in you also trust you with their lives. May they find joy, peace and happiness even in the midst of trials. Thank you God for the victories we received in Christ. Praise your wonderful name! Amen.
This devotional was kindly contributed by Dr. Chow Li Sze and her channel Heavenly Devotion. You may find the channel at https://www.youtube.com/c/HeavenlyDevotion/videos
About the Heavenly Devotion channel
The Heavenly Devotion channel is dedicated to encouraging you to listen to Bible Scriptures and pray with the Scriptures. They are inspired by the call of service as expressed and exemplified by Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 9:12-15.
“For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Hebrew 4:12 NKJV)
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