We hear victory songs for many different events. Many sports teams, whether professional or school teams, have songs that the crowds sing to cheer them on to a win. Maybe not so much today, but in the past, various militaries on either side in times of preparing for battle, had songs that would hopefully boost their morale. Today’s psalm is one written by King David, for the occasion of something grand, something he felt was a great victory for the Lord and His people. Let’s take a look, as there are several verses of interest in this psalm.
Psalm 69 was written by the great psalmist, King David, and it was possibly written when the Ark of the Covenant was transferred from the house of Obed-Edom to the new location on Mt. Zion in Jerusalem. The Ark of the Covenant had been taken by the Philistines in battle during the final years of the time of the Judges (I Samuel 4:1-11). The Philistines kept the Ark for a while, but the Lord showed His vengeance against the Philistines and their pagan gods (I Samuel 5), and the leaders decided to send the Ark back to Israel, where it remained in the house of Abinadab for twenty years (I Samuel 7:1-2). After David became king, he desired to bring the Ark into Jerusalem, and organized a procession to do so. However, when the Ark became jostled on the wagon which was carrying it, Uzzah tried to steady it, and was struck dead. David feared to move the Ark further, so he left it in the house of Obed-Edom for three months (II Samuel 6:1-11). Afterwards, David resumed his plans, and the Ark of the Covenant was brought into Jerusalem (II Samuel 6:12-18).
This was a time of great rejoicing for King David and the people, and David’s psalm reflects that. The Ark represented the presence of God with His people. Its movement to a new location is a reflection of God’s continual blessing and conquest of their enemies. The Philistines had thought that by capturing the Ark, they could now control Israel’s God, but they soon found out how wrong they were! Then, as now, God’s enemies will soon be scattered and forced to flee (vs. 1-2). These verses are reminiscent of what Moses called out in Numbers 10:35, when they moved the Ark from place to place in the wilderness. David continues to describe the Lord as an all-powerful and mighty God, who rides on the clouds (vs. 4). The Name YAH is a shortened form of the Lord’s Name Yahweh.
Have you ever felt totally alone, that there was no one to help you in your time of need, no one who cared anything about you? At risk, vulnerable, and powerless people, such as orphans, widows, and the poor will always find the Lord as their Defender against those who come against them (vs. 5). And those who are lonely, again often those helpless folks, will find comfort and fellowship with Him (vs. 6). Only in God is there hope for these people. God is a father to the fatherless, and a defender of widows. He is there for everyone who feels an empty void in their heart for the love that can only come from God. The love of God promises to fill every love deficit in our heart.
Further along in our psalm David describes a little scene involving some mountains in and around the nation of Israel (vs. 15-16). The land of Bashan was an area northeast of Israel, including present-day Syria, and it has several mountain ranges. The tallest mountain there is Mt. Hermon, which is possibly where the Transfiguration of the Lord Jesus occurred. Mt. Zion in Jerusalem was just a foothill in comparison. David humorously describes those mountains in Bashan as being jealous of Mt. Zion, which God chose to dwell in and place the Ark of the Covenant. They might have felt that they “deserved” that honor, being that they are much bigger. Sometimes Christians get jealous of one another, wondering why God chose this or that one for some special task, even though they felt they were “more qualified”. God chooses who and what He will, just like He chose Mt. Zion in Jerusalem where the Ark of the Covenant would reside, not a more spectacular mountain.
Continuing in celebration and victory, David describes God ascending on high, and leading the rebellious captive (vs. 18). This verse was quoted by St Paul in Ephesians 4:8, and is applied to the ministry of the ascended Lord Jesus Christ, celebrating His victory over the evil powers and dominion of Satan.
In closing, when we feel the weight of the world on our shoulders, we can know that we are not called to carry the burdens ourselves (vs. 19-20). The Lord Jesus told us we can turn to Him to carry our burden for us (Matthew 11:28-30). Just as a bedraggled rooster will crawl out after a devastating storm to still crow for the new day, we can still turn to the Lord in praise during times of trouble. It is then that we can know that there is no one closer to us than the Lord Jesus.
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