Psalm 69:13-24 NKJV
69 Save me, O God!
For the waters have come up to my neck.
2 I sink in deep mire,
Where there is no standing;
I have come into deep waters,
Where the floods overflow me.
3 I am weary with my crying;
My throat is dry;
My eyes fail while I wait for my God.
4 Those who hate me without a cause
Are more than the hairs of my head;
They are mighty who would destroy me,
Being my enemies wrongfully;
Though I have stolen nothing,
I still must restore it.
5 O God, You know my foolishness;
And my sins are not hidden from You.
6 Let not those who wait for You, O Lord God of hosts, be ashamed because of me;
Let not those who seek You be confounded because of me, O God of Israel.
7 Because for Your sake I have borne reproach;
Shame has covered my face.
8 I have become a stranger to my brothers,
And an alien to my mother’s children;
9 Because zeal for Your house has eaten me up,
And the reproaches of those who reproach You have fallen on me.
10 When I wept and chastened my soul with fasting,
That became my reproach.
11 I also made sackcloth my garment;
I became a byword to them.
12 Those who sit in the gate speak against me,
And I am the song of the drunkards.
“But as for me, my prayer is to You, O Lord, in the acceptable time; O God, in the multitude of Your mercy, hear me in the truth of Your salvation” (Psalm 69:13).
In Psalm 69:13-24, we see the psalmist overwhelmed by troubles but steadfast in prayer. His confidence lies not in his own strength but in God’s mercy and salvation. He pleads for deliverance from the “mire” and the “deep waters,” vivid images of the trials that threaten to consume him.
When life’s challenges rise like floodwaters, we, too, are invited to cry out to God. The psalmist’s prayer reminds us that God’s lovingkindness is abundant, His mercies tender and countless. Even when circumstances seem unbearable, we can trust that God’s timing is perfect and His salvation sure.
The psalmist also experiences reproach and shame from his enemies, foreshadowing Christ’s own suffering on the cross. In moments of rejection or dishonor, we can find comfort in knowing that Jesus has walked this path before us. He bore our sin and shame so that we might stand unashamed before God.
Verses 22-24 express a cry for justice. The psalmist entrusts vengeance to the Lord, recognizing that evil will not ultimately triumph. While these imprecatory prayers may seem harsh, they point us to the truth that God is holy and will deal righteously with sin.
For Christians, this passage finds its fulfillment in Christ. Jesus bore the wrath of God on our behalf, sparing us from condemnation and offering us the gift of eternal life. Because of Him, we can confidently approach God in prayer, knowing that He hears us and will deliver us in His time.
Whatever trials you face, remember that God’s mercy is greater than your need, His justice is perfect, and His salvation is sure. Like the psalmist, lift your prayer to the Lord, trusting in His abundant grace. Let us pray: Merciful Father, in our distress we cry to You. Deliver us from our troubles and strengthen our faith. May we trust in Your mercy and rest in the truth of Your salvation. Through Jesus Christ, our Savior, Amen.