Bible Commentaries
Psalms 69

Verses 1-36

Psalms 69:0

Psalms 69:1 (To the chief Musician upon Shoshannim, A Psalm of David.) Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul.

Psalms 69:1 Word Study on “Shoshannim” Strong says the Hebrew word “Shoshannim” ( שׁוּשַׁן ) (H7799) means, “a lily (from its whiteness),” and is derived from the primitive root ( שׂוּשׂ ) (H7797), which literally means, “to be bright, cheerful.” The Enhanced Strong says it has 15 uses in the Old Testament, being translated in the KJV as “lily 13, Shoshannim 2.” It is obvious transliterated from the Hebrew in Psalms 45:1 and is in the plural form. The other place where this word is transliterated in the KJV is Psalms 69:1. These two uses where it is transliterated are done so because it seems to refer to a musical instrument or to a familiar tune that was entitled “Lilies.”

Psalms 45:1, “To the chief Musician upon Shoshannim, for the sons of Korah, Maschil, A Song of loves. My heart is inditing a good matter: I speak of the things which I have made touching the king: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer.”

Psalms 69:7 Because for thy sake I have borne reproach; shame hath covered my face.

Psalms 69:7 Comments - Note a similar description of the Lord Jesus in Isaiah 53:3, “He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.”

Psalms 69:8 I am become a stranger unto my brethren, and an alien unto my mother's children.

Psalms 69:8 Comments - Psalms 69:8 gives an accurate description of the relationship that Jesus had with His family during His earthly ministry (Mark 3:21, Luke 8:19-21, John 7:3-5).

Mark 3:21, “And when his friends heard of it, they went out to lay hold on him: for they said, He is beside himself.”

Luke 8:19-21, “Then came to him his mother and his brethren, and could not come at him for the press. And it was told him by certain which said, Thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to see thee. And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.”

John 7:3-5, “His brethren therefore said unto him, Depart hence, and go into Judaea, that thy disciples also may see the works that thou doest. For there is no man that doeth any thing in secret, and he himself seeketh to be known openly. If thou do these things, shew thyself to the world. For neither did his brethren believe in him.”

Psalms 69:9 For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me.

Psalms 69:9 “For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up” Comments - Psalms 69:9 describes the cleansing of the temple by Jesus Christ (John 2:17).

John 2:17, “And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.”

Psalms 69:21 They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.

Psalms 69:21 omments - We see the prophecy of Psalms 69:21 fulfilled in Matthew 27:34.

Matthew 27:34, “They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink.”

Psalms 69:22 Let their table become a snare before them: and that which should have been for their welfare, let it become a trap.

Psalms 69:23 Let their eyes be darkened, that they see not; and make their loins continually to shake.

Psalms 69:22-23 Old Testament Quotes in the New Testament - Psalms 69:22-23 quoted in Romans 11:9-10.

Romans 11:9-10, “And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them: Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.”

Psalms 69:24 Pour out thine indignation upon them, and let thy wrathful anger take hold of them.

Psalms 69:25 Let their habitation be desolate; and let none dwell in their tents.

Psalms 69:25 Comments - Psalms 69:25 was fulfilled in the death of Judas for his betrayal of Jesus (Acts 1:16-20).

Acts 1:16-20, “Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus. For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry. Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out. And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem; insomuch as that field is called in their proper tongue, Aceldama, that is to say, The field of blood. For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein : and his bishoprick let another take.”