Matthew Henry Commentary Psalms 69:1-12

"Save me, O God; For the waters are come in unto my soul. I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me. I am weary with my crying; my throat is dried: Mine eyes fail while I wait for my God. They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of my head: They that would cut me off, being mine enemies wrongfully, are mighty: That which I took not away I have to restore. O God, thou knowest my foolishness; And my sins are not hid from thee. Let not them that wait for thee be put to shame through me, O Lord Jehovah of hosts: Let not those that seek thee be brought to dishonor through me, O God of Israel. Because for thy sake I have borne reproach; Shame hath covered my face. I am become a stranger unto my brethren, And an alien unto my mother`s children. For the zeal of thy house hath eaten me up; And the reproaches of them that reproach thee are fallen upon me. When I wept, [and chastened] my soul with fasting, That was to my reproach. When I made sackcloth my clothing, I became a byword unto them. They that sit in the gate talk of me; And [I am] the song of the drunkards." — Psalms 69:1-12 (ASV)

We should frequently consider the person of the Sufferer spoken of here, and ask why, as well as what He suffered. By meditating on this, we may be more humbled for sin and more convinced of our danger, so that we may feel more gratitude and love, compelling us to live for His glory who died for our salvation. From this we learn, when in affliction, to commit the keeping of our souls to God, so that we may not be soured with discontent or sink into despair. David was hated wrongfully, but the words apply far more fully to Christ. In a world where unrighteousness reigns so much, we must not be surprised if we encounter those who are our enemies wrongfully.

Let us take care that we never do wrong; then, if we receive wrong, we may bear it better. By the satisfaction Christ made to God for our sin by His blood, He restored that which He did not take away, paid our debt, and suffered for our offenses. Even when we can plead Not guilty regarding men's unjust accusations, yet before God we must acknowledge that we deserve all that is brought upon us. All our sins arise from our foolishness.

They are all done in God's sight. David complains of the unkindness of friends and relations. This was fulfilled in Christ, whose brothers did not believe in Him, and who was forsaken by His disciples. Christ made satisfaction for us, not only by laying aside the honors due to God, but by submitting to the greatest dishonors that could be done to any man. We need not be discouraged if our zeal for the truths, precepts, and worship of God should provoke some and cause others to mock our godly sorrow and deadness to the world.