Psalms 69

Now when we are tender of his glory by laying to heart his dishonors, this is a glorifying of him. An ingenuous child weeps to see a disgrace done to his father (Psalm 69:9): The reproaches of them that reproach you are fallen upon me. When we hear God reproached, it is as if we…

Mercies for the poor (1 Samuel 2:8): He raises the poor out of the dust. Mercies for the prisoner (Psalm 69:33): He despises not his prisoners. Mercies for the dejected (Isaiah 54:8): In a little wrath I hid my face from you, but with great mercies will I gather you.

Kind, loving words should be spoken to such as are of a heavy heart (Job 6:14). To him that is afflicted, pity should be shown. Healing words are fittest for a broken heart; but that is a cruel, unmerciful tongue which speaks such words to the afflicted, as cut them to the heart…

1. We prefer the honor of God's name before our own credit. The saints of old have for the honor of God been willing to endure reproach (Psalm 69:7): For your sake I have borne reproach. David cared not what reproach he suffered, so God's name might not suffer.

Object. But I have prayed a long time for mercy, and have no answer (Psalm 69:3)? I am weary of crying?

Luther was called, A Trumpeter of Rebellion. David calls reproach an heart-breaking (Psalm 69:20); this God lets his dear saints be oft exercised with. Dirt may be cast upon a pearl; those names may be blotted which are written in the Book of Life.

If in those shallows of outward troubles which are common to man his faith could not find footing, but he was well-nigh carried away with the common stream and error of wicked men to have condemned himself and the generation of the righteous (verse 15) — how would his faith have…

2. We desire that a zeal of God's glory may be kindled in our hearts, and that we may be kept from profaning and abusing of his name. Psalm 69:9: The zeal of your house has eaten me up. Psalm 45:1: My heart shall utter, or cast up a good matter.

So Job's afflictions came on him in a growing way. David, (Psalm 69:2) I sink in the deep mire, where there is no standing. I wade on deeper and deeper, till I lose ground and bottom.

How much love for extension, and intention: for one man, and every one in covenant (Psalm 106:45), multitudes of mercies, and (Psalm 130:7) plentiful redemption. One David must have multitude of tender mercies (Psalm 51:1), (Psalm 69:13, 16). It's not one love, but loves, many l…

I answer, I speak as my subject leads me: It will put the point generally — Satan makes an advantage of our condition. Christ had power to do what was suggested; every condition has its snares, a full condition most of all (Psalm 69:22). Let their table be a snare, their welfare…

Habakkuk must wait because the vision is for a time appointed (Habakkuk 2:1). David's eyes and strength failed in waiting on God (Psalm 69:3). Daniel waits on God 70 years, and then prays for deliverance out of captivity, the time being expired.

This must teach us to be content, if after much praying, we find not the fruit of our prayers: because there is an appointed time for the accomplishing of them. In this respect David says, that his eyes failed, and he was hoarse in praying (Psalm 69:4). The second question is, w…

God requires this importunity of us (Luke 18:1). It is practiced by David (Psalm 69:4), by the woman of Canaan (Matthew 15). We must do as Jacob did, wrestle with God, and give him no rest till he fulfills the desires of our hearts, and gives us the blessing.

And they are said to fall from grace, not because all were indeed under the favor of God, and at length cast out of it: but because God makes it manifest to men that they were never in the favor of God. Thus Christ's enemies are said to be blotted out of the book of life (Psalm…

The dumb and senseless creatures may set us to school in this point: for they expect with a fervent desire to be delivered from the bondage of corruption, into the glorious liberty of the sons of God (Romans 8:19-20), and as the word signifies, they expect with a longing desire,…

For this place must not be expounded like the former, wherein he expressed and set forth the sorrow and heaviness of foreign nations: But in regard he speaks here of the afflictions of the Church of which himself was a member, he has good cause to mourn in good earnest, and to c…

For he, having omitted the regard of himself, gave himself wholly to this. For in him is truly verified whatever the Prophet says (Psalm 69:10). And among other things, he also puts this down, that the zeal of the Lord has even eaten him up.

This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Psalm 69 verse 6. Let not those that seek thee be confounded for my sake.

This recompenses the delay, and payes us for all the expences of our patience. But though there be such weighty reasons for the stop and delay of refreshing comfortable Providences; yet we cannot bear it, our hands hang down and we faint, Psalm 69:3 I am weary of my crying, my t…

Your betters have waited long upon God for mercy, and why should not you? David waited till his eyes failed, Psalm 69. 3 The Church waited for him in the way of his judgements, Isaiah 26:8 Are you better than all the saints that are gone before you? Is God more obliged to you th…

To others nothing is sanctified either as an Instrument or occasion of any spiritual good; but as the worst things are ordered to the benefit of the saints, so the best things wicked men enjoy do them no good. Their prayers are turned into sin, Psalm 109:7 The Ordinances are the…

Be you all of one mind, having compassion one of another (1 Peter 3:8) — these are Apostolic rules for, and trials of Gospel love. It was a sad condition that David was in; and it was a very sinful condition that others about him were in, when he says (Psalm 69:20), I looked for…

The word takes in also wronging with the tongue (Jeremiah 18:18): "Come, let us smite Jeremiah with the tongue": and it is likely, by the words following in that verse, the profane priests had no little role in it. 3. They wound her: this is a further step, and implies such a sm…

The second step or degree of this love, and the similitude illustrating it, is in these words, jealousy is cruel as the grave: it is the prosecution of the same purpose, only, what she called love before, is here termed jealousy; jealousy may be taken in a good sense, or an evil…

These are your zealous ones (2 Peter 3:3): In the last days there shall be scoffers. Holy walking is become the object of derision (Psalm 69:12): I am become the song of the drunkards. This shows a vile heart.

If we draw near to God with repenting hearts, he will draw near to us with a compassionate heart. David prayed (Psalm 69:18): Draw near to my soul. It is good to have God draw near to us.

As at another time, when his own followers spoke of stoning him, though he could not still the tumult of his troops, he could those of his spirits, for then he encouraged himself in the Lord his God (1 Samuel 30:6). As to those prayers against his enemies, which we find in some…

That the Lord Jesus, who so loved the world, is so much hated and despised by the world. The reproaches of them who thus reproach our master, if we be his faithful servants we should feel as falling upon us (Psalm 69:10; Matthew 25:45). And if he take what is said and done again…

Fourthly, not appearing, is a betraying the truth: It is a speech of Zuinglius, in his third Epistle; We may as well with Dioclesian, worship at the Altar of Jupiter or Venus, as hide our faith under Antichrist: He that is not with me, is against me, says Christ. Fifthly, Christ…

If reproaches and sufferings be the reproaches of Christ, Christ is engaged in them more then you; there may be many branches of comfort to Gods people from hence, That Christ is so engaged in all their sufferings, as they are accounted Christs own: it is a great matter, when an…

Contentions and Wounds are the ordinary effects of drunken meetings: when Reason is deposed, and Lust heated, what will not men attempt? (2.) Scoff and reproaches of the ways and people of God. Psalm 69:12. David was the Song of the Drunkards. (3.) It's the great incendiary of L…

Or have I not persecuted such as God has smitten? Psalm 69:26. And rigorously exacted the uttermost of my due, though the hand of God has gone out against them, bre[•]king their estates? O my Soul, examine your self upon these particulars; rest not quiet, until this guilt be [•]…

Second preserving principle: love to the saints, with care that they not suffer on our account, is a great preserving principle in a time of temptations and trials. How powerful this was in David he declares in that earnest prayer: 'Let not those who wait on you, O Lord God of h…

He that was a judge, was willing to become a party, and to pay what we owed. David in the type of Christ says (Psalm 69:4), I restored that which I took not away. He did not take away any honor from God: it was we that robbed God of the glory of his justice, authority, and truth…

As long as sin remains unpardoned, our blessings are cursed (Malachi 2:2): "If you will not hear, and if you will not lay it to heart to give glory to my name, says the Lord of Hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yes, I have cursed them alr…

Many that would be loathers of the other drunkenness, yet are guilty of this kind of surfeiting and drunkenness; the heart is over-charged with an inordinate affection to present things. There cannot be a more heavy judgment, than when our table is made our snare: (Psalm 69:22)…

So reciprocally, the saint which loves God, what is done to God is done to us; when God is honored, we are comforted as much or more than with our own benefit: And when God is dishonored, we have the grief and sorrow. (Psalm 69:9) The reproaches of them that reproached you, are…

5. If we would keep up the sprightly Vigour of Grace in evil times, let us harden our Hearts against the taunts and reproaches of the wicked. David was the Song of the Drunkards, Psalm 69:12. A Christian is never the worse for reproach.

Therefore we must take the greatest care not to come to such madness, but to meet such vengeance early, submitting ourselves gently to God and accepting his fatherly reproofs, lest his gifts be turned into pestilence and ruin for us, and what was meant to be the nourishment for…

For, I ask, with what mind could we bear God being subjected to insults by the wicked, and his most sacred name being trampled upon? Let us therefore, imitating David, not value so highly the injuries inflicted upon us by unbelievers and sworn enemies of pure religion, even if t…

Jesus Christ, who was Lord Paramount, he tells us, I am not of this world (John 17:14). He was a stranger to his brethren, and an alien among his mother's children (Psalm 69:8). He that was Lord of all, had neither house nor home; he passed through the world to sanctify it for a…

1. It is some hope if we have nothing to bring before God but our grief and misery; for he is pitiful. A beggar will uncover his sore to move your bowels; so many times all the reason that a poor pitiful afflicted person can bring for himself, is lamenting his case to God, how d…

2. It prevents God as a judge. It is all known to God, (Psalm 69:5) O God! you know my foolishness, and my sins are not hid from you. It is a folly to conceal that which cannot be hid.

You that pretend to be in the right way, the way of truth, will you walk carelessly and inordinately? You are compassed about with snares; there's a snare in your refreshments (Psalm 69), your estates may become a snare (1 Timothy 6:9), your duties may become a snare, Be not a n…

(Job 4:6) Is not this your fear, your confidence, and the uprightness of your ways your hope? (2.) Or insultings over our low and comfortless condition, men will tread down the hedge where they find it low, the Psalmist complains, (Psalm 69:26) They speak to the grief of those w…

In short, these mockings issue out of contempt, and tend to the disgrace and dishonor of the party mocked; they make it their sport to abuse them. David says, Reproach has broken my heart (Psalm 69:20). 3. This should not move us either to open defection or partial declining, fo…

As a child cannot endure to hear or see his father disgraced. Surely God's glory is dear to the saints (Psalm 69:9): The reproaches of them that reproached you, are fallen upon me. Injuries done to God and religion affect them no less nearly than personal injuries which are done…

1. Hardness of heart. When we are not thankful for blessings, they prove an occasion to the flesh, and so our table is made a snare (Psalm 69:22), and our welfare a trap. Men go on stupidly receiving blessings, but do not acknowledge the donor; but when we own God upon all occas…

3. Though it be so great a blessing, yet often it falls out that [reconstructed: there] are great discords and estrangements between those that fear God, and know his testimonies; godly men may be strange one to another. David complains, (Psalm 69:8) "I am become a stranger to m…