The Chosen Key Word in this Chapter is “Zeal” it comes from the Hebrew Word “qinah” which means “zeal, jealousy.”
David cries out from overwhelming distress in language the New Testament connects to Christ’s suffering. Welcome to Bible Life Basics Chapter Reviews, I am Chris and this is Psalm 69.
David pleads, “Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul. I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me,” describing being weary of his crying, his throat being dried, his eyes failing while he waits for his God, more numerous than the hairs of his head being those who hate him without a cause.
David describes bearing reproach for God’s sake, becoming a stranger to his own brethren, and an alien to his mother’s children, since “zeal,” “qinah” in Hebrew, for God’s house has eaten him up, and the reproaches of those who reproached God have fallen upon him, describing how they gave him gall for his food, and in his thirst gave him vinegar to drink, language the gospels directly connect to Christ’s own crucifixion.
David asks God to hear him, since His lovingkindness is good, turning to him according to the multitude of His tender mercies, not hiding His face from His servant, drawing near to his soul and redeeming it, promising to praise God’s name with a song, and magnify Him with thanksgiving, since this will please the Lord better than an ox or bullock, closing with hope for Zion’s restoration, that God will save Zion and build the cities of Judah, that they may dwell there and have it in possession, the seed of His servants inheriting it, and those who love His name dwelling therein.
This psalm’s vivid imagery, gall for food and vinegar for drink, zeal for God’s house consuming him, being rejected even by his own family, reads so precisely like Christ’s own experience that the gospel writers directly quote it when describing the crucifixion. David’s raw description of sinking in deep waters gives genuine voice to overwhelming distress while still ultimately reaching toward confident hope in God’s tender mercy and eventual restoration.
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