The “easy living” character of Western Bible teaching is lamentable. Most of our pastors fail to educate congregants as to just how filled with suffering and hardship the Christian life can be. Christian suffering is not a popular topic.
Yet, the Bible is filled with accounts of the sufferings of God’s people. One such Bible figure is King David – the “man after God’s own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14) – whom God chose to be Israel’s monarch. One would think this “chosen vessel” lived a charmed life, but no. David’s existence was pockmarked by physical, mental, social, and spiritual suffering.
Thankfully, David was not shy about it. In one particular portion of Scripture, he revealed just how bad things were, his torment an open-book.
The Gut-Punch Psalm
Psalm 69 is an emotional gut-punch. That it is referenced 6 times in the New Testament speaks of its dynamic character. Though all 36 of its verses are worth examining, we’ll just look at the most devastating chunk, verses 14-21.
In verse 14, David begs God to “rescue me from the mud and do not let me sink; may I be rescued from those who hate me, and from the depths of water.”
David knows he is hated, and is convinced he will soon die. He throws himself on God’s mercy to deliver him – drowning in the “depths of water” a stark image of just how near death he believes he is.
In verse 15, David cries out: “May the flood of water” – the numerous threats to his life – “not overflow me nor the deep swallow me up, nor the pit close its mouth on me.”
Don’t forget, this is God’s anointed! We don’t know at what time of David’s life he composed such tortured lines, but this is a man at death’s door. He is overcome with fear and worry.
In verses 16-17, David appeals to God’s goodness, pleading, “Answer me, LORD, for Your mercy is good; according to the greatness of your compassion, turn to me, and do not hide Your face from Your servant, for I am in distress; answer me quickly.”
The word “distress” is the Hebrew ṣārar and implies to be bound up and besieged; to be severely afflicted. This man of God is suffering!
In verse 18, David beseeches God to, “Come near to my soul and redeem it; ransom me because of my enemies.”
The Hebrew for “redeem” is ga-al, to act as a kinsman-redeemer (as was Boaz in the Book of Ruth). David’s redemption was not to be spiritual, but physical. His death was imminent as his adversaries surrounded him. There was no escape but for the Lord.
Shame and Dishonor
In verse 19, we see David’s embattled state: “You know my disgrace, my shame, and my dishonor; all my enemies are known to you.”
David is not referring to the disgrace, shame, and dishonor brought on by sin, but how his plight has cast him into such a state. This man – who either is, or will be, king – is running for his life. Instead of sitting on a throne, he is being hunted like an animal. Hence disgrace, shame, and dishonor have replaced royalty.
In verse 20, David makes known just how alone he is: “Disgrace has broken my heart, and I am so sick. And I waited for sympathy, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none.”
David is desolate. He has no allies or friends. Perhaps they are repulsed by his disgraceful condition, as if to say, “This is the Lord’s anointed? We best follow someone else.”
David has no one who sympathizes with him; no one to comfort him. He is miserable and alone. Even when you and I suffer, there is always at least one person who will stand by us. But not in this instance – this chosen of God has no one!
And just how bad are David’s supposed friends and allies? He tells us in verse 21: “They also gave me a bitter herb in my food, and for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.”
The Hebrew word for “bitter herb” is roshe, which is translated “gall” in other versions. The bitter herb David refers to is poison, here used metaphorically to indicate betrayal.
David has sunk to the depths!
Crucial Content
Psalm 69 helps us understand that far from an easy existence – which Christians are NEVER promised – our earthly lives will often include hardship, suffering, and even torment.
Every Christian should read Psalm 69 yearly just to be reminded of the realities following Christ entails. If such things happened to the anointed King David, they can – and will to some degree – happen to us.
But we are far from hopeless. As believers in the Lord Jesus, we can take comfort in the torment, knowing that the One we worship is He who will go “ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not desert you or abandon you” (Deuteronomy 31:8).
In the torment, God is right there with you – just as He was with David!
Written by David Ettinger
This is an updated edition of a post originally published on Christian Grandfather Magazine
Featured Image by Alana Jordan from Pixabay
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