John Calvin Commentary Psalms 69:29

"But I am poor and sorrowful: Let thy salvation, O God, set me up on high." — Psalms 69:29 (ASV)

As for me, I am poor and sorrowful. From this verse we perceive more distinctly how David cast away from himself the swelling and raging passion of those who, with ungovernable fury, pour forth imprecation and vengeance. Here, he undoubtedly offers himself to God with the sacrifice of a broken and humble heart, so that by this meekness of spirit he might obtain favor with Him.

He therefore adds immediately after, Thy salvation shall exalt me. Certainly, those who are impelled to avenge themselves by their own ungovernable spirits are so far from being humbled that they exalt themselves to a position to which they are not entitled. A mutual relation is stated here between the sorrow with which he was oppressed and the help of God by which he hoped to be lifted up.

At the same time, he assures himself that the very thing which others considered a reason for despair would prove to him the cause of his salvation. This sentence might also be explained adversatively as follows: Although I now mourn under the pressure of affliction, yet Your salvation, O Lord, will exalt me.

But for my part, I consider it certain that David brings forward his own affliction as a plea for obtaining mercy from God. Nor does he say simply that he will be raised up, but he expressly speaks of being exalted; and in this, he alludes to fortresses that are set on high places, for this is the proper meaning of the Hebrew word שגב, sagab, used here.