King of the Valley
The last few weeks we have been in the book of Psalms, and we have seen God’s purpose and hope for the world expanding out from Israel to the nations. Seeds that were sown from the very beginning of the Bible chart the path of salvation. A salvation that is not just a salvation for God’s covenant people, but a salvation for every tribe and language and people and nation.
As Jonathan summarized for us last week. Psalm 67 describes the blessing of all nations. Then, Psalm 68, shows that this blessing and salvation will come through a single king. Then comes Psalm 69. If read in succession, you would notice the abrupt turn that happens in Psalm 69. And at first glance, it would be easy to say that we have moved on to a new theme in the Psalms. However, as we will see, we are far from leaving the topic of the last few Psalms.
Psalms 67 answers who will be blessed by God: the nations.
Psalm 68 answers how they will be blessed: through a conquering king.
Psalm 69 in turn will answer, How does this king conquer?
Psalm 69 is written for a time of suffering and distress. It is an individual lament, which includes corporate aspects. It includes prayer for the righteous and curses for the wicked, both which find fulfillment in the new testament. With all that is going on in this Psalm, my hope for us this morning is to understand 3 things. First, the Problem, second, David’s Prayer, and last, the Promise.
So again 3 things, the problem, the prayer, and the promise.
The Problem
David has been in an extended season of distress, and he is at the breaking point, he is just holding on and is pleading to the Lord for help.
With vivid descriptions of his distress (v.1-3), David says:
“The waters are rising and are up to my neck”
“My feet are sinking in the muck, and I have no foothold”
“I am weary from crying out, and my throat is dry and hoarse from my pleas”
“My eyes grow dim as I wait for the Lord”
Whether you have ever been literally in a situation like this or not, we all feel it. We intuitively can understand what that would be like. There is an utter helplessness here. David has been in distress for a while. It has reached a critical stage, not only is David stuck, but the waters have been rising up, they aren’t at his ankles or his knees, they are up to his neck. His pleading thus far has gone unanswered. If the water goes any farther, or his feet sink any deeper, he will be overtaken by the flood and no longer will have the ability to cry out. David is nearing his last breath and cries out,
“Save me, O God!”
We can feel this distress, the panic and volatility of his predicament, lets dig in a little more to see what had caused such a distress of David.
The cause of the distress
Verses 4-12 show us two pieces here: the who and the why.
The who of the distress are David’s enemies.
Verse 4,
“more than the hairs on my head are those who hate me without cause, mighty are those who would destroy me, those who attack me with lies. What I did not steal must I now restore?”
Verse 8,
“I have become a stranger to my brothers, an alien to my mother’s sons.”
David’s enemies aren’t just out there, but he is a stranger to his own nation and brothers. His enemies are many and they are mighty. Those who are near him either stand at a distance or join in with the attacks against David.
Verse 19,
“I looked for pity, but there was none, and for comforters, but I found none.”
Not only is the situation terrible, but he is alone in it.
In addition to all that, David’s suffering is not a private matter.
Verses 11-12,
“When I made sackcloth my clothing, I became a byword to them. I am the talk of those who sit in the gate, and the drunkards make songs about me.”
From the officials at the gates, to the drunkards in the alley, David’s situation is known.
Psalm 22:7-8,
“All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads; He trusts in the LORD; let him deliver him; let him rescue him, for he delights in him!”
David is also the talk of the town.
As David humbles himself, laments and seeks God they develop sayings about him. His humbling of himself has become the occasion for further reproach. They are pouring it on.
An example of this in sports would be a little extra push at the end, the extra nudge, the step over. It is not only a stab in the back, but the added twist.
The why of the distress: Why do these enemies ridicule David?
His destress is caused by His enemies because of his zeal for God.
Some commentaries see David suffering here for his sin, but his enemies piling on. I think the main thrust of the Psalm is on David suffering for his zeal for God’s House and God’s Glory. David surely is sinful, but here it is not the cause of his suffering. Or at a minimum, David’s sin is not in focus in this Psalm. I want to list 7 reasons I think this is the case, and then explain why it matters.
1) In verse 4, there are 3 statements of David’s innocence.
His enemies “hate him without cause”, they “attack him with lies”, and he rhetorically asks “What I did not steal must I now restore?” Plainly, the accusations aren’t true.
2) In verse 5 David mentions that his folly and wrongs all are known by God.
This verse functions as a defense in light of the false accusations in verse 4. I also think David draws strength from being known by God, not further condemnation.
3) Verse 7, David says: “For it is for [God’s] sake that I have borne reproach.”
4) Verse 9, David says that zeal for God’s house is his driving passion, it has consumed him.
A passion which even flows out in his words against his enemies, for their wickedness in turn have consequences. Defend the righteous from the wicked. And the reproaches David is receiving are the same reproaches they have of God.
5) David never repents in this psalm, which stand in contrast to others (see Ps. 51)
Verses 10-11, David wept, humbled himself and put on sackcloth, which can be actions of repentance, but also actions of lament and mourning.
For example, when Jacob’s sons told him that Joseph had been killed by a wild animal, as well as when Mordecai hears of the decree to kill all the Jews, and he tears his clothes, puts on sackcloth and ashes, went to the center of the city and cried out with a loud.
These are times of mourning and bitter providence, that often are attached to sin, not always.
6) Verse 20, David says their reproaches have broken his heart.
Which helps us understand his prayer in verse 6 and 7. David’s heart, weakened by false accusations, explains his desire for others who hope in God to not be put to shame (v. 6-7). He is not in regret of past sin, but pleading with God that he would have strength to patiently suffer and wait for God’s deliverance.
He also may be concerned that they will be led away by the lies.
7) The last reason is because of who speaks this Psalm in the new testament.
David has suffered for a long time, with desperation, by himself, with others pouring it on and it is because of His love for God.
Why does it matter?
Because it is important for us to see that suffering for the sake of God is a common expectation for a follower of Jesus. David’s lament was written for the community, they are to see themselves to some degree in the story, and he models how they should respond and what they should be concerned about.
Difficulty in this life and displeasure from God are not the same thing. When things are tough, our internal dialogue can sound like this: Does he not see it? Does he not care? Or maybe he sees, but is he for me?
Trial is not always because of our sin. We will suffer wrong from one another. We will be mocked or ridiculed by the world around us, because we love Jesus and follow him.
David vocalizes what he, along with Israel, has experienced at times. They have seen others, like the Egyptians literally in situations like this, and now they feel it themselves.
This expectation carries over into our experience. Those who desire to live a Godly life will be persecuted, especially when circumstances are difficult and the benefit of following God isn’t readily apparent. In the world we will have tribulation, but with God we have grace and peace. In the world we will get less than we deserve, but with God we get much much more than we deserve. And because of God’s love for us, we should be more concerned with honoring God than striving for relief.
David humbling himself under God became another occasion for reproach from enemies. His heart is broken by them, and he is desperate. He may have been doing well for a while, but their constant attacks are starting to wound. Now entering round 9 of the fight, their punches are starting to land, his hands are feeling heavy, and the water is up to his neck. This is those extra shoves.
He is struggling to not despair and does not want to quit his waiting for God. The description starts as a depiction of physical distress but the real distress here is the distress of David’s soul.
This desperation leads David again towards prayer. We’ve looked at David’s problem, now lets look at his prayer.
David’s Prayer (v.13-29)
Verse 13 stands in stark contrast with verse 12. Remember, David’s suffering is the new saying and song. David is the talk of the town, and as they talk to one another, David is going to talk to God. And the amazing thing, is that despite the water being up to David’s neck, his prayer is on the path to patience and trust.
Verse 13,
“At an acceptable time, O God, in the abundance of your steadfast love answer me in your saving faithfulness.”
He asks by God’s timing, God’s character, and God’s salvation.
David, whose eyes are growing dim from waiting, will keep on waiting. But, his waiting does not prevent him from again asking for help in a myriad of ways: Deliver me! Answer me, hide not your face from me, ransom me, Draw near to my soul, let not the flood overtake me or the pit close around me.
What was implicit earlier is explicit here, David isn’t on the run from enemies and concerned about his physical life, he is concerned about the life of his soul.
His prayer addresses all the things mentioned in verse 1-3, but God’s nearness, his character his faithfulness and mercy are entering the picture.
David doesn’t just pray for himself, but he prays for the blessing of the faithful and the cursing of the wicked.
It’s not just defense of himself, but for defense of God’s people, and God’s name.
He prays that the suffering of God’s people, and the wickedness around them, wouldn’t go unnoticed.
As David prays against the wicked, he prays largely for poetic justice. Let them receive what they have done.
“They gave me poison for food” so “Let their table before them become a snare.”
“My eyes are dim in my faithfulness” so “may their eyes be darkened in their wickedness.”
Let those who gave no comfort, have no comfort themselves.
Those who deserted me “let their camp become a desolation.”
Those who pile on reproach, may you pile on punishment.
Those who do not yield in their persecution of the righteous, yield not in your punishment of their wickedness.
If they will not leave their table let it be a snare. If they will not cease in digging a pit then let them fall into it themselves. Defend the cause of the righteous. Glorify your name.
David is wrestling in prayer. He knows his desperate situation, he knows God is sovereign in it. He knows that his enemies are attacking him but ultimately God brought him to this position. He knows that God doesn’t just overlook sin. He knows that God has a plan and has confidence in the end result. We see this from verse 13 and the assumption that God will “answer him with his saving faithfulness” to verse 29 where David asks for God’s salvation to “set him on high” And we must remember that God’s glory is his passion, not personal vengeance.
David models how we should wrestle through suffering, even if it’s because of our sin. He takes his problems and God’s promise to him and pull them together. It’s hard work of pulling those together in your soul not just your mind.
When you don’t know where to start or what to pray, pray about the problem and pray with God’s promises and strive to pull those together. Strive to reconcile these in your heart and soul.
David is pulling these together, and if David is pulling on God’s promises, what are they?
The Promise that leads to praise (v.29-33)
The promise to David generally was that God would be faithful to him, and specifically that he would have an heir that would reign forever and usher in a good and everlasting kingdom. A king that would rule with equity & justice, doing God’s will. You see that in his prayer.
Verse 34 says the offspring of God’s servants will inherit the land, and that offspring, that king, has come. What David saw from a distance, we have seen closely and clearly. There are 2 wondrous surprises that we can see from our place in history, a few thousand years later.
First, that Jesus descended. I wonder if David thought, times are tough for me, but the Lord will redeem me and as I have walked through the valley, the future king to come will climb to the mountain top. Much like the first words of David in Psalm 68,
“God shall arise, his enemies shall be scattered. And those who hate him shall flee before him.”
David didn’t just precede the path of the triumphant king, he foreshadowed the path of the triumphant king. He who ascended, first descended. He who will be exalted on high, first will be brought low and humiliated. It was not better times for Jesus, Jesus took on the full valley.
The God who saved David from the valley walked a longer, deeper, darker valley himself. While carrying all our sin on his back. And he became the hope for the sinner and sufferer alike.
We, like the new testament, are to see Jesus in Psalm 69. Jesus finishes the path through the valley of Psalm 69. The New Testament draws from this Psalm at least 7 times, 2 of which are places where Jesus took this Psalm on his own lips.
Here are a few examples:
Jesus says that “he was hated without cause”.
As he clears the temple his disciples remembered it was written “zeal for your house has consumed me”.
Jesus also was the talk of the town, and proverbs were spoken about him
Some said: “Physician heal yourself” (Luke 4:23)
Others mocked and said:“He who saved others cannot save himself” (Matt. 27:42)
And on the cross Jesus said “I thirst.” And they give him sour wine to drink, to fulfill the scriptures.
Jesus is a king, but he first was a King of the valley.
Second, with the surprising route of the valley, Jesus came first with mercy instead of wrath. Jesus first comes with blessing for the sinner who repents. Salvation for any who love his name. David prays for justice, but Jesus comes to say “let mercy have its day”. He came first for the rescue of the nations.
The curses aren’t cancelled but are delayed, and they serve as warning for those who continue in wickedness. But right now, Jesus offers forgiveness and grace. He has carried our sin and can relate in our sadness or in our suffering.
Not only does Jesus save wicked people like us, but he lets us share in the spoils of the victory. It is one thing to save sinners like us, which should stop our mouths right there, but still greater is to not only save us but to share his reward, his rule and his glory with us. That Jesus comes and says, “I’m with them.” “Those are my friends, that is my family.” That he will sit at the table and eat with us. They will possess my inheritance.
And therefore, David, and the people will praise God. They will praise him while they are still in the valley. Because they know the end, they can celebrate victory in the midst of the battle, hope in the midst of the valley.
And for us, there is no valley Jesus has not already been through. Jesus does see you, he does care for you, he enters into your suffering. He will keep you, and walk with you.
God did not abandon David, he did not abandon Jesus, and he will not abandon us.
So we, like David, can praise God in the midst of the valley. We are not yet home, but he will see us through, and we can in confidence praise Him now.
The Table
And this bring us to this table. Where Jesus reminds us and declares: “I am with them and they are with me.” They have a share in my covenant, in my inheritance. And at this table, we celebrate victory in the midst of battle. The promise is sure, so we will eat the bread, and lift up the cup of salvation, together.