Psalms 69

The psalmist describes his afflicted state, and the wickedness of his adversaries, vv. 1-21; he declares the miseries that should come upon his enemies, Psalm 69:22-28 ; enlarges on has afflicted state, and expresses his confidence in God, Psalm 69:29-34 ; prophesies the restoration of the Jews to their own land and temple, Psalm 69:35 , Psalm 69:36 .

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

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, John 2:17 . The twenty-first verse is quoted by St. Matthew, Matthew 27:34 , Matthew 27:48 ; by St. Mark, Mark 15:23 ; by St. John, John 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 Isaiah 6:9-10 ; (note); John 12:39-40 ; (note); Romans 11:10 ; (note); 2 Corinthians 3:14 ; (note). Those portions which the writers of the New Testament apply to our Lord, we may apply also; of others we should be careful.