Turning To God In Times Of Pain

Psalm 69

Our psalm for today is one that was written by King David during a very difficult and trying time.  It is a psalm filled with crying out to the Lord in emotional pain.  It is also one psalm that has several verses of prophecy that was fulfilled centuries later by the Lord Jesus Christ.

Scripture is not specific as to what circumstances led to King David crying out so to God.  There were numerous occasions in his life when things were very difficult, even life-threateningly dangerous for him, such as when King Saul kept him on the run for his life, or when several of his sons attempted a coup against his throne.  We don’t know what led to this occasion, but things got so bad that David was worn out with his crying and despair (vs. 3).  Even members of his family had rejected him (vs. 8).  But through it all he did not fail to wait upon the Lord for deliverance.

David knew that during this deeply trying time people were watching his reactions.  He was concerned that how he would respond to the circumstances in his life might bring reproach on the Name of the Lord, that his enemies and the unbelievers might mock the Lord (vs. 6).  Our actions have an affect on those around us, both for good and for bad.  Try to be a good influence, and not a stumbling block.  People are always watching us as Christians.  We should strive to represent the Lord well.

Verse 9 is one verse that is quoted with reference to Jesus in the New Testament in John 2:13-17.  David wanted the people’s behavior to match their claim of following God.  It hurt him when people didn’t follow or obey God, as they claimed to as His children.  This brought down anger upon David from many people.  Later John cites this verse as he and the other disciples observed Jesus when He entered the Temple in Jerusalem and drove out the money-changers and those who bought and sold the sacrificial animals right in the halls of the Temple.

Verse 21 is a verse that was very prophetic and which was fulfilled by Jesus.  This was fulfilled while Jesus hung upon the cross.  David says that he was given gall to eat and vinegar to drink.  Later in the New Testament, Jesus, as He is dying upon the cross, was given by the soldiers vinegar mixed with gall to drink.  Why would the soldiers do that?  The vinegar most probably was old, cheap wine that had started turning sour.  No one would give dying criminals any good wine.  Gall was a type of plant, probably similar to the opium poppy, that was used as a narcotic.  Mixed with the cheap wine, it would drug the dying criminals to relieve some of the pain.  Jesus, though, when He realized that the drink He was being offered contained pain-killing drugs, refused (Matthew 27:34).  He would endure the pain for our salvation.  Later, when offered the plain vinegar or cheap wine, He took that (John 19:29-30).

Some people have accused Jesus of deliberately trying to fulfill all of the prophecies that concerned the Messiah.  How could Jesus have done that with this prophecy?  While being executed and dying on the cross as a condemned prisoner He could not have made a centurion give Him a sponge dipped in vinegar, especially one that had been laced with a narcotic.  These prophetic verses, fulfilled by Jesus, are just some of the proofs that He was, indeed, the Messiah.

In verse 28, David mentions the Book of the Living, or the Book of Life.  This is mentioned elsewhere in the Bible, including several times in the New Testament (Philippians 4:3; Revelation 3:5; Revelation 13:8; and Revelation 20:15).  This is a list of the names of those who are in a right relationship with God, who are saved, and who remain faithful to Him.  In David’s circumstance here, with the attack on him being so strong and ungodly, he does not believe that their names could ever be in the Book of Life.

When we feel beaten up and trampled down in life by others or difficult circumstances, don’t give up hope (vs. 13).  David never did.  Keep your faith and trust in God.  He won’t forsake us, even if others do.  Even when crying out to God in emotional pain, remember to give God praise and thanksgiving (vs. 30).  And above all, be sure that you are in a right relationship with God through His Son, Jesus Christ, so that your name will be written down in the Book of Life.