And those who love His name shall dwell in it.”
As I have read the Psalms over the years, I have noticed a pattern that is quite
evident in many of David’s Psalms. The first verses of the chapter are a plea and
cry for help and deliverance from his enemies. In the middle chapters David asks
the LORD to vindicate him and punish the wicked and those who are seeking to destroy
him. And then it seems, suddenly, out of nowhere, David begins praising the
LORD!
You
definitely see this in Psalm 69! In verses 1-21, you find David in deep distress
and despair pleading for help and deliverance. In verses 22-29, David is
praying for God to pour out His wrath on his enemies. Then, right after he cries
out, “But I am poor and sorrowful…” (v. 29), David shouts out, “I
will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify Him with thanksgiving!”
(v. 30). Verses 30-36, close the chapter with worship!
Remember,
as we close our thoughts on Psalm 69, that it is one of the Messianic Psalms.
As in other Messianic and prophetic Psalms there is a similar pattern. In
verses 1-21, we see Jesus in His humanity being rejected, scorned and suffering
on the cross. In verses 22-29, we jump to the Tribulation where the “wrath
of the Lamb” is being poured out on the wicked and unrepentant people and
nations. Then in verses 30-36, we enter the Millenium reign of the Messiah, the
Christ, where He is magnified, praised and worshipped!
In
the last verses of Psalm 69, David is making a promise to the Lord, that he no
doubt fulfilled. He wanted the Lord to be glorified in his personal worship, “I
will praise the name of God…”, (vv.
30-31). He wanted the Lord to be magnified in his witness to the poor, the needy,
and the prisoners (vv. 32-33). He asked the Lord to protect and provide for the
poor whom the sinners were abusing and exploiting (v. 33). David wanted all of
creation, “heaven and earth, and everything in them to glorify and praise
the Lord” (v. 34).
David
also wanted “Zion, Judah, and all of Israel and their descendants” to
experience and recognized God’s great salvation and deliverance, and to come worship
and bring praise and thanksgiving to the LORD (vv. 35-36). David saw a day
coming when the land would be united and healed and the cities populated again.
"Pray for the peace of Jerusalem" (Psalm 122:6). And that will
happen when the last prayer of the Bible is fulfilled, "Even so, come,
Lord Jesus!" (Rev. 22:21).
Psalm
9:10 tells us, “And those who know Your name will put their trust in You;
For You, LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You.” The names of God reveal His attributes and His
character! When you are intimately acquainted with His name and all that it
represents, you will not have any problem with putting your trust in Him as you
lean on His everlasting arms when you are surrounded by your enemies! “The
eternal God is your refuge, And underneath are the everlasting arms; He will
thrust out the enemy from before you, And will say, 'Destroy!'” (Deuteronomy 33:27).
Now
Psalm 69:36 goes a little deeper! When we have personally experienced the LORD’s
salvation and deliverance, we will “love His name and dwell, abide in Him”.
Remember Jesus asked Peter three times, “Do you love me?” At the heart of every issue, every problem,
every need, every failure, every relationship, every circumstance and situation
in our lives, is this question, do we really love Jesus with all of our heart? When
we settle that question, we will securely abide in Him and enjoy His joy, His peace
and His presence! (Philippians 4:4-9)
God bless!
