Timeless Biblical Truth.
When believers face opposition because of their zeal for the LORD, they will pray for vindication and vow to praise the LORD for answered prayer.
- When believers feel emotionally overwhelmed by the hatred from others, they pray for deliverance (1-4).
- Believers pray for their deliverance (1).
- Believers pray when they are overwhelmed with great pain (2-3).
- Believers’ cry for help is appropriate when people attack them without a cause (4).
- When believers pray it is best if their suffering is for their zeal for God and not for their sins (5-12).
- Believers confess to God their sinful folly (5).
- Believers express a concern for others whose hope is in God (6).
- Believers assert that their suffering is for God’s sake (7-8).
- Believers affirm that their zeal for God’s house is why they are suffering from others (9-12).
- Believers, because of their covenant relationship with the LORD, may pray for justice: vindication and relief from pain for themselves and judgment for the wicked (13-29).
- Believers pray for the LORD’S deliverance because of His covenantal love (13-18).
- Believers may recount to the LORD how they have been treated unjustly (19-21).
- Believers may pray to the LORD for justice: vindication for them and judgement for the wicked (22-28).
- Believers may fervently pray for relief from their suffering (29).
- Believers vow to praise the LORD for His deliverance and vindication knowing that such pleases Him and encourages others (30-36).
- Persuaded that the LORD will hear and deliver, believers vow to offer Him their praise knowing that such pleases Him and encourages others (30-33).
- Believers express their faith that the LORD will vindicate them with a call to others to praise the LORD, they call for universal praise (34-36).
Questions for Second Milers
- Compare Psalm 69 with Psalm 22 and Psalm 35. What is the prominent mood of these psalms?
- In David’s description of his situation, do you see any parallels with the suffering of Jesus from His enemies, especially when He is being crucified?
- Upon what does David base his prayers and cause him to expect the LORD to answer?
- David naturally praises the LORD for His deliverance but asks for His judgment on his enemies. Is this something Christians should do? Why or why not? Is this implied when we pray “Thy kingdom come”? N.B.: David is not taking personal vengeance on his enemies but only asking God for justice and expressing his intense pain.
- How zealous are you for the LORD in your worship and service? Have you ever suffered some condescension or ridicule for your faith in Him? If not, why not?
- What recent answer to your prayers has caused you to praise the LORD for His faithfulness? God’s vengeance is the other side of His compassion—the sovereign correction of a wrong. Vengeance is never an end in itself but a means to establish and preserve His just rule of His mercy. God’s vengeance speaks of moral coherence and moral order. God is faithful to His sovereign purposes and plans. Judgment comes to those who willfully refuse to serve His purposes. God’s vengeance affirms that God is not indifferent about life on earth, but He has taken sides. He is faithful to His covenant with His people to deliver them. Thus, God’s vengeance is not indiscriminate but reflects His zeal for His purposes of justice and freedom—and He will not quit until He has His way. We may ask for it, but He alone ad-ministers His justice. Adapted from Walter Brueggemann: Praying the Psalms.
A comment about maledictions in the Psalms.
The Bible is clear that vengeance belongs to God (Deut 32:25; Ps 94:1; Isa 63:4; Rom 12:19; Heb 10:30). This means yielding our desire for personal vengeance to His will.
Lanny Tanton is the Pastor at The Bible Church of the Lakes in Horseshoe Bay, Texas – just outside of Marble Falls. Pastor Tanton welcomes you to our website and hopes that you’ll enjoy reading these insightful blog posts. Please contact us if you have further questions!!
