RETURN TO SYLLABUS
PSALMS 69 AND PSALMS 70
LESSON #23/P2
THE SUFFERINGS OF CHRIST

• MEMORY VERSE: 1PET 3:14

• THE SUB-TITLE: "To the chief Musician upon Shoshannim, A Psalm of David"
• "SHOSHNNIN" MEANS = LILY
• JESUS CHRIST IS CALLED THE LILY OF THE VALLEY BECAUSE HE IS ALTOGETHER LOVELY.
• THEREFORE THIS PSALM IS A MESSIANIC PSALM ABOUT JESUS CHRIST, THE LILY OF THE VALLEY.
• BECAUSE THIS IS CALLED A MESSIANIC PSALM, WE WILL FIND IT QUOTED IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. IN FACT, NEXT TO PSALM 22 THIS PSALM IS THE SECOND MOST QUOTED PSALM IN THE NEW TESTAMENT.
• WE WILL FIND QUOTES FROM THIS PSALM IN MATTHEW, MARK, LUKE, JOHN, ACTS, AND ROMANS, PLUS OTHER SUBTLE REFERENCES THAT ARE NOT ACTUAL QUOTATIONS.
• THE PRIMARY AND PROPHETIC INTERPRETATION:
• PSALMS 69
• READ PSA 69:1-12 THE SUFFERING SERVANT
• WHILE THIS PSALM ON THE SURFACE COULD APPLY TO DAVID’S REQUEST FOR DELIVERANCE FROM HIS ENEMIES, THE HOLY SPIRIT HAS APPLIED THIS PSALM PRAIMARILY TO CHRIST.
• THE SUFFERING AS A BABY: (1-2)
• JESUS CAME TO THIS EARTH AND WAS BORN AS HUMAN FLESH TO BEGIN A LIFE OF SUFFERING. (1)
• USUALLY WHEN WE THINK ABOUT JESUS’ SUFFERING WE IMMEDIATELY THINK OF THE CROSS. HOWEVER, THERE WERE MANY MORE TIMES OF SUFFERING DURING HIS LIFETIME, OF WHICH WE KNOW ONLY A SMALL NUMBER OF INSTANCES. THIS PSALM WILL TELL US SOME OF THEM.
• HIS BIRTH BEGAN IN A SMELLY STABLE VOID OF COMFORT.
• "I SINK IN DEEP MIRE, WHERE THERE IS NO STANDING…" (2)
• AS THE SECOND MEMBER OF THE TRIUNE GODHEAD, JESUS CHRIST LEFT HIS PLACE OF ROYALTY TO SINK HIMSELF INTO THE MIRE OF HUMAN FLESH WHERE HE HAD NO SPECIAL STATUS. THAT IN ITSELF WAS SUFFERING.
• IMAGINE THAT YOU ARE A ROYAL PRINCE OR PRINCESS RAISED WITH ONLY THE FINER THINGS OF LIFE AND NEVER KNOWING A MOMENT OF DEPRIVATION. THEN ONE DAY YOU FIND YOURSELF LIVING IN THE FILTH OF THE STREET, IN THE POOREST NEIGHBORHOOD, AND DEPRIVED OF EVERTHING. RELATIVELY SPEAKING, I THINK YOU WOULD CALL THAT SUFFERING.
• THE CONTRAST BETWEEN JESUS’ HEAVENLY LIFE AND HIS EARTHLY LIFE IS AN EVEN GREATER CONTRAST THAN BETWEEN A PRINCE AND STREET KID.
• "…WHERE THE FLOODS OVERFLOW ME." (2)
• THE FLOODS OF SUFFERING BEGAN AT BIRTH WHEN KING HEROD SENT SOLDIERS TO KILL HIM. HIS PARENTS TOOK JESUS AND FLED TO EGYPT.
• THE SUFFERING AS A GROWING CHILD: (3-4)
• WHILE JESUS GREW AS A CHILD, HE WAITED PATIENTLY FOR THE MINISTRY HE KNEW GOD WOULD GIVE HIM.
• AS HE WAITED, HE CRIED TO GOD BECAUSE HE SUFFERED REJECTION BY THOSE AROUND HIM. (MAR 6:3-4 JOH 1:46 )
• IN HIS OWN FAMILY, HIS BROTHERS AND SISTERS DID NOT ACKNOWLEDGE HIM FOR WHO HE WAS UNTIL AFTER THE CRUCIFIXION.
• IN HIS NEIGHBORHOOD, THERE WERE PEOPLE WHO ACCUSED HIM OF BEING AN ILLEGITIMATE SON OF MARY.
• OUTSIDE OF HIS NEIGHBORHOOD, THERE WERE PEOPLE WHO SAID THAT NOTHING GOOD COULD COME OUT OF NAZARETH, ESPECIALLY A SON OF A CARPENTER.
• "THEY THAT HATE ME WITHOUT A CAUSE…" (4)
• JESUS QUOTED THIS VERSE IN JOH 15:25 AND APPLIED IT TO HIMSELF IN REGARDS TO THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS AND THE ROMAN LEADERS WHO PLOTTED AGAINST HIM.
• "…THEN I RESTORED THAT WHICH I TOOK NOT AWAY." (4)
• JESUS DID NOT CAUSE MEN TO BECOME SINNERS. HE DID NOT TAKE AWAY MAN’S ORIGINAL SINLESS NATURE. INSTEAD HE RESTORED TO US A NEW NATURE WITHOUT CAUSE.
• WE HAD NO GOOD CAUSE WITHIN US TO MERIT THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS, BUT JESUS SUFFERED FOR US ANYWAY.
• THE SUFFERING AS A SUBSTITUTE ON THE CROSS: (5-7)
• JESUS’ GREATEST SUFFERING WAS THE 3 HOURS OF DARKNESS ON THE CROSS WHEN HE BECAME SIN FOR US. (2COR 5:21)
• ALL THE SINS OF ALL MANKIND WERE PLACED ON HIM FOR ONLY GOD TO SEE.
• WE KNOW THIS WAS JESUS’ GREATEST SUFFERING BECAUSE ON THE NIGHT BEFORE HIS CRUCIFIXION HE PRAYED, "LET THIS CUP PASS FROM ME."
• WHAT CUP? THE CUP WAS FILLED WITH THE SINS OF ALL MANKIND FOR ALL TIME.
• "LET NOT THEM THAT WAIT ON THEE, … BE AHSAMED FOR MY SAKE…" (6)
• JESUS KNEW HE WAS BEARING THE WEIGHT OF SALVATION FOR EVERY HUMAN BEING WHO WOULD BELIEVE IN HIM.
• CHRIST’S SUFFERING WAS NOT FOR HIS OWN BENEFIT BUT FOR GOD’S AND FOR OURS. (7)
• CHRIST SAYS TO GOD, "BECAUSE FOR THY (GOD’S) SAKE I HAVE BORNE REPROACH.". (7)
• HIS PERSONAL SUFFERING AS AN ADULT: (8-12)
• "…A STRANGER UNTO MY BRETHREN…AN ALIEN UNTO MY MOTHER’S CHILDREN." (8)
• WE SEE THE VIRGIN BIRTH OF CHRIST IN THIS VERSE.
• NOTICE THAT THIS VERSE REFERS TO HIS MOTHER’S CHILDREN, NOT HIS FATHER’S CHILDREN.
• HIS MOTHER’S CHILDREN WERE THOSE HALF BROTHERS AND SISTERS BORM OF MARY BUT FATHERED BY JOSEPH.
• JESUS’ FATHER WAS THE HOLY SPIRIT AND NOT JOSEPH. THAT MADE JESUS AN ALIEN IN HIS OWN HOME.
• "FOR THE ZEAL OF THINE HOUSE HATH EATEN ME UP…" (9)
• JESUS QUOTED THIS VERSE IN RELATION TO THE TEMPLE, GOD’S HOUSE.
• JESUS BECAME VERY UPSET BY THE EVIL PRACTICES THAT EXISTED IN THE TEMPLE. HE TOOK ISSUE WITH THE MONEYCHANGERS AND THOSE WHO SOLD ANIMALS FOR SACRIFICE IN THE TEMPLE AT EXORBITANT PRICES. (JOH 2:16-17)
• WHEN JESUS WOULD FAST AND WEEP, PEOPLE MADE FUN OF HIM. (10)
• "…I BECAME A PROVERB TO THEM." (11)
• PEOPLE PROBABLY CALLED JESUS A "BASTARD", BECAUSE RUMOR HAD IT THAT HE WAS ILLEGITIMATE.
• HE BORE THE STIGMA OF ILLEGITIMACY THAT WE MIGHT BE CALLED LEGITIMATE CHILDREN OF GOD.
• "THEY THAT SIT IN THE GATE SPEAK AGAINST ME…" (12)
• THE CITY GATE WAS THE LOCATION OF EVERYTHING OF IMPORTANCE THAT HAPPENED IN A CITY. IT WAS THE CENTER OF GOVERNMENT, THE JUDICIAL CENTER, AND THE MARKETPLACE. THEREFORE, THOSE THAT SAT IN THE GATE WERE THE HIGH GOVERNMENTAL OFFICIALS, PEOPLE OF AUTHORITY, POSITION, AND POWER.
• "…THE SONG OF DRUNKARDS." (12)
• JESUS WAS THE BUTT OF DIRTY JOKES MADE UP AT THE LOCAL BARS BY DRUNKARDS.

• READ PSA 13-21 THE ACTUAL LORD’S PRAYER
• USUALLY CHRISTIANS CALL THE PRAYER IN MAT 6:9-13, THE LORD’S PRAYER. HOWEVER, THAT WAS A MODEL PRAYER TO TEACH US HOW TO PRAY. IT WAS NOT HIS PERSONAL PRAYER.
• THERE ARE MANY TIMES IN THE GOSPELS WHEN WE ARE TOLD THAT JESUS PRAYED, BUT IT IS ONLY IN THE PSALMS THAT WE KNOW EXACTLY WHAT HE PRAYED. THIS IS ONE OF THOSE PSALMS.
• "…IN AN ACCEPTABLE TIME…" (13)
• PAUL QUOTES THIS VERSE IN 2COR 6:2 TO INDICATE THAT NOW IS THE TIME OF SALVATION.
• JESUS’ REQUESTS CONSISTED OF THE FOLLOWING:
• THE DELIVERANCE FROM HIS ENEMIES (14)
• THE DELIVERANCE FROM HADES OR SHEOL. (15)
• "…LET NOT THE PIT SHUT HER MOUTH UPON ME." (15)
• HE PRAYED THAT THE GRAVE WOULD NOT HOLD HIM.
• THE LOVE AND MERCY OF GOD BE UPON HIM. (16)
• GOD’S ATTENTION AND SPEED. (17)
• GOD’S PRESENCE, GOD’S REDEMPTION, AND GOD’S DELIVERANCE. (18)
• GOD’S ALL KNOWING JUDGMENT. (19)
• BECAUSE OF HIS SUFFERING ON THE CROSS: (20-21)
• REPROACH AND A BROKEN HEART.
• JESUS’ HEART BURST WHICH CAUSED BLOOD AND WATER TO COME OUT OF HIM WHEN, WHILE HE WAS ON THE CROSS, THE SOLDIER PIERCED HIS SIDE.
• GALL AND VINEGAR TO DRINK. (MAT 27:34)

• READ PSA 69:22-28 JESUS’ IMPRECATORY PRAYER
• WE OFTEN SEE THIS KIND OF PRAYER IN THE PSALMS.
• WHAT IS AN IMPRECATORY PRAYER?
• IT IS A PRAYER THAT CALLS FOR DOOM OR JUDGMENT TO COME UPON ONE’S ENEMIES.
• THIS WAS A COMMON PRAYER UNDER THE OLD TESTAMENT PERIOD OF LAW. THIS IS NOT THE KIND OF PRAYER THAT THE NEW TESTAMENT CHRISTIAN SHOULD PRAY. WHY?
• REMEMBER THAT JESUS SAID WE SHOULD PRAY FOR OUR ENEMIES AND NOT AGAINST THEM. (MAT 5:44)
• WHEN WE READ THESE IMPRECATORY PRAYERS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT, ESPECIALLY THE PSALMS, WE SHOULD CONSIDER THEM AS PROPHETIC STATEMENTS OF JUDGMENT ON THOSE WHO REJECT CHRIST.
• SOME NOTEWORTHY STATEMENTS:
• PAUL USES VERSE 22 IN ROM 11:9-10 IN RELATION TO THOSE WHO REJECT CHRIST.
• PETER QUOTES VERSE 25 IN ACTS 1:20 AND APPLIES IT TO JUDAS ISCARIOT WHO BETRAYED CHRIST.
• "FOR THEY PERSECUTE HIM WHOM THOU HAST SMITTEN…" (26)
• THIS IS REMINISCENT OF ISA 53:4, 10 WHERE WE ARE TOLD THAT JESUS WAS SMITTEN BY GOD AND THAT GOD WAS PLEASED TO BRUISE HIM. WHY?
• IT IS BECAUSE THE CRUICIFIXION WAS GOD’S PLAN FOR OUR SALVATION ALL ALONG. GOD KNEW THAT TO CRUCIFY HIS ONLY SON WAS THE ONLY WAY TO BRING MILLIONS OF PEOPLE BACK INTO RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM.
• "LET THEM BE BLOTTED OUT OF THE BOOK OF THE LIVING…" (28)
• READ REV 20:12-15
• NOTICE THAT SEVERAL BOOKS ARE MENTIONED. WHAT BOOKS ARE THESE AND TO WHICH ONE DOES PSA 69:28 REFER?
• THE BOOK OF CREATION OR THE BOOK OF THE LIVING (PSA 139:16)
• THE JEWS BELIEVED THAT THE NAME OF EVERY HUMAN BEING EVER BORN WAS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF CREATION. WHEN A PERSON DIED, HIS NAME WAS BLOTTED OUT OF THE BOOK OF CREATION. THEREFORE THE BOOK OF CREATION CONTAINS ALL THOSE PEOPLE CURRENTLY LIVING ON EARTH. THE BOOK OF THE LIVING IN PSA 69:28 IS THAT BOOK OF CREATION.
• THE BOOK OF WORKS (REV 20:12)
• RATHER THAN RECEIVE CHRIST AS THEIR PERSONAL SAVIOR, SOME PEOPLE TRY TO LIVE A GOOD LIFE THINKING IT WILL BE GOOD ENOUGH TO GET THEM INTO HEAVEN. THEREFORE, THEY HAVE CHOSEN TO BE JUDGED, NOT BY THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF CHRIST, BUT BY THEIR OWN WORKS THAT ARE WRITTEN IN THIS BOOK OF WORKS.
• THE LAMB’S BOOK OF LIFE
• IN THE NEW TESTAMENT, THIS BOOK IS CALLED EITHER, THE BOOK OF LIFE, OR THE LAMB’S BOOK OF LIFE.
• THIS BOOK CONTAINS THE NAMES OF ALL THOSE WHO HAVE TRUSTED IN JESUS CHRIST FOR THEIR PERSONAL SALVATION.
• THIS BOOK IS OPENED AT THE FINAL JUDGMENT OF NON-BELIEVERS TO VERIFY THAT THEIR NAMES ARE NOT IN THE LAMB’S BOOK OF LIFE.
• NO BELIEVER’S NAME IS EVERY BLOTTED OUT OF THIS BOOK.

• READ PSA 69:29-36 PRAISE, THANKSGIVING, AND PROMISE
• PRAYERS AND SONGS OF PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING TO GOD ARE MORE PLEASING THAN ANIMAL SACRIFICE. (30-31)
• GOD’S ALL-REACHING PROPPHETIC PROMISE:
• DAVID MAKES A PROPHETIC PROMISE THAT GOD WILL SAVE ZION. (35)
• THE BROAD MEANING OF THE WORD, ZION:
• THE WORD, ZION, REFERS TO THE CITY OF JERUSALEM AS WELL AS THE INHABITANTS OF IT.
• THE WORD, ZION, ALSO REFERS TO GOD’S KINGDOM PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE, EARTHLY AND HEAVENLY.
• THE WORD, ZION, ALSO REFERS TO THE PROMISED LAND AND GOD’S PEOPLE IN IT.
• THEREFORE, THIS IS A PROMISE THAT THE JEWS WILL BE SAVED.
• WE HAVE A CONFIRMATION OF THIS PROMISE IN ZEC 13:1.
• GOD WILL FULFILL THIS PROMISE AT THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST. (ZEC 12:10)
• THEN THE JEWS WILL INHERIT THE LAND UNDER THE MILLENNIAL REIGN OF CHRIST ON EARTH FOR 1000 YEARS. (36)

• PSALM 70
• READ PSA 70 AND COMPARE IT WITH PSA 40:13-17,
• YOU WILL NOTICE THAT PSA 70 IS ALMOST A WORD FOR WORD COPY OF PSA 40:13-17.
• WE HAVE SEEN IN THIS LESSON HOW PSALM 69 REFERS PRIMARILY TO THE SUFFERING OF CHRIST. PSALM 40 ALSO REFERS PRIMARILY TO THE CRUICIFIXION.
• THEREFORE, PSA 40, PSA 69, AND PSA 70 SEEM TO BE RELATED IN THEME.
• FOR A DISCUSSION OF THIS TEXT PLEASE SEE LESSON #30 IN PART 1 OF PSALMS.

• SUMMARY AND APPLICATION:
• JESUS CHRIST IS THE SUPREME EXAMPLE OF THE RIGHTEOUS PERSON WHO SUFFERS FOR DOING GOD’S WILL. YET, EVEN THOUGH SATAN MAY SCREAM HIS SATANIC YELL, "AHA, AHA" AS HE DID IN PSA 70 AND PSA 40 BECAUSE HE THINKS HE IS WINNING, THE FINAL VICTORY BELONGS TO CHRIST AND HIS REDEEMED.
• THEREFORE, REMEMBER TO PRAISE HIM FREQUENTLY ACCORDING TO PSA 69:30-31.

• APPLICATION OF PSA 69 AND PSA 70:
• IF YOU ARE SUFFERING BECAUSE YOU ARE DOING GOD’S WILL, YOU CAN BE ENCOURAGED BY PSALM 69. IN WHAT SPECIFIC WAYS DOES PSA 69 ENCOURAGE YOU?

• PREPARATION FOR PSA 71
• READ PSA 71:1-24
• WHAT DO YOU THINK THE AUTHOR OF THE PSALM HAS IN MIND WHEN HE USES THE WORD "SALVATION" IN VERSE 15? (KEEP IN MIND THE CONTEXT OF THE WHOLE PSALM)

• WHAT ARE THE PROBLEMS OF OLD AGE FOR WHICH THIS PSALM IS ESPECIALLY HELPFUL?

• MEMORY VERSE: PSA 71:1

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