The text: Psalm 69 – NRSV
Psalm 69 is an extended personal lament, one of the longest psalms of this kind. It shares many similarities with Psalm 22, famous for its opening line, My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? Indeed, it seems clear that the Gospel writers saw the suffering of Jesus, in particular the stages of the crucifixion, in the words of both of these psalms. As you read, watch for those clues, those characteristics of the suffering Christ. Take turns imagining Jesus to be the speaker, and then place yourself in that role, allowing the words to resonate with your own experience of suffering. What insights does this give?
As you read, you may notice the overall structure of two stanzas (v. 1-12, 13-21) followed by an imprecatory section, and finally a hymn of praise. This is not a jumble of seemingly unrelated or even contradictory topics. It is a pattern of prayer: two pleas for help, a cry of anger at one’s oppressors, and a proclamation of faith in God’s healing salvation. How would the prayer be different if the anger were suppressed and left unsaid? How would it be different if it ended in an angry rant without the final proclamation of faith? My prayer is that when we are at a loss for words to pray, this psalm shows us a way, and provides them.
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