Heart of a Psalmist - Worshipping Christ Through The Psalms

“Save me, O God, for the floodwaters are up to my neck. Deeper and deeper I sink into the mire; I can’t find a foothold to stand on. I am in deep water, and the floods overwhelm me. I am exhausted from crying for help; my throat is parched and dry. My eyes are swollen with weeping, waiting for my God to help me.”(1-3) This is the second psalm to begin with ‘Save me, O God…’, the first being psalm 54. David is de- scribing an unknown crisis in the language of a person drowning or sinking into deep mud or mire. It seems to be representative of unfathomable trouble because David says he is both sinking in mud and swimming in deep water and yet his throat is dry. Because Jeremiah experienced being thrown into a muddy cistern, some have thought that he might be the author of this psalm. Though David is identified as the one who penned these words he was pointing prophetically to Jesus and the emotions he felt as he approached his crucifixion. “Those who hate me without cause are more numerous than the hairs on my head. These enemies who seek to destroy me are doing so without cause. They attack me with lies, demanding that I give back what I didn’t steal. O God, you know how foolish I am; my sins cannot be hidden from you.” (4,5) This is quoted directly by Jesus as he taught his disciples that they too would be hated by the world: “…yet they have hated both me and my Father. But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: ‘They hated me without reason.’” (Jn. 15:24,25) The foolishness and sin mentioned in verse 5 was perhaps in ref- erence to David’s sin of adultery with Bathsheba. “Don’t let those who trust in you stumble because of me, O Sovereign Lord Almighty. Don’t let me cause them to be humiliated, O God of Israel. For I am mocked and shamed for your sake; humiliation is written all over my face. Even my own brothers pretend they don’t know me; they treat me like a stranger.” (6-8) The humiliation of Christ on the cross is portrayed in vivid language. Even his brothers rejected him in his hour of greatest need: “…and Jesus’ brothers urged him to go to Judea for the celebration. (Passover where he was crucified.) ‘Go where your followers can see your miracles!’ they scoffed…For even his brothers didn’t believe in him.” (Jn. 7:3,5) David also experienced rejection by his brothers in his early life but later they served him as officers in his administration. All of Jesus’ brothers later became ministers of the good news of Christ. “Passion for your house burns within me, so those who insult you are also insulting me. When I weep and fast before the Lord, they scoff at me. When I dress in sackcloth to show sorrow, they make fun of me. I am the favorite topic of town gossip, and all the drunkards sing about me.” (9-12) Verse 9 is quoted directly from the story of Jesus cleansing the temple: “Jesus made a whip…He…turned over their tables.…’Don’t turn my Father’s house into a marketplace!’ Then his dis- ciples remembered this prophecy from the Scriptures: Passion for God’s house burns within me.” (Jn. 2:15-17) The passion of the earlier chapters of the gospel was still burning in Jesus’ heart as he went to the cross for us. Passion sustains us through suffering. Paul quotes the second half of verse 9 to teach us to not please ourselves but live for God no matter what the cost: “For even Christ didn’t please him- self. As the Scriptures say, ‘Those who insult you are also insulting me.’”(Rom. 15:3) “But I keep right on praying to you, Lord, hoping this is the time you will show me favor. In your un- failing love, O God, answer my prayer with your sure salvation. Pull me out of the mud; don’t let me sink any deeper! Rescue me from those who hate me, and pull me from these deep waters. Don’t let the floods overwhelm me, or the deep waters swallow me, or the pit of death devour me. Answer my prayers, O Lord, for your unfailing love is wonderful. Turn and take care of me, for your mercy is so plentiful. Don’t hide from your servant; answer me quickly, for I am in deep trouble! Come and rescue me; free me from all my enemies.” (13-18) 3. Servant’s Supplication- 13-18 2. Shame and Scoffing- 6-12

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