Today's Devotions

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Showcase: Assorted Treats

  • Not in this mount, but in Spirit and Truth: a talk by John Piper +

    John Piper challenges our walk and our church practices by questioning what it is we worship, and how we worship—whether Read More
  • Ignorant of the Truth: A sermon by Martyn Lloyd-Jones +

    "For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto Read More
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Don  Carson

http://www.esvbible.org/Numbers+26

http://www.esvbible.org/Psalm+69

http://www.esvbible.org/Isaiah+16

http://www.esvbible.org/1+Peter+4

AT ONE LEVEL, Psalm 69 finds David pouring his heart out to God, begging for help as he faces extraordinary pressures and opponents.

We may not be able to reconstruct all the circumstances that are presented here in poetic form, but David has been betrayed by people close to him, and his anguish is palpable.

At another level, this psalm is a rich repository of texts quoted or paraphrased by New Testament writers: "Those who hate me without reason outnumber the hairs of my head" (69:4; see John 15:25); "I am a stranger to my brothers, an alien to my own mother's sons" (69:8; cf. John 7:5); "for zeal for your house consumes me" (69:9; see John 2:17); "and the insults of those who insult you fall on me" (69:9; see Rom. 15:3); "but I pray to you, O LORD, in the time of your favor; in your great love, O God, answer me with your sure salvation" (69:13; cf. Isa. 49:8); 2 Cor. 6:2); "they put gall in my food and gave me vinegar" (69:21; see Matt. 27:48; Mark 15:36; Luke 23:36); "they . . . gave me vinegar for my thirst" (69:21; see Matt. 27:34; Mark 15:23; John 19:28-30); "may their place be deserted; let there be no one to dwell in their tents" (69:25; see Matt. 23:38; Acts 1:20); "may they be blotted out of the book of life" (69:28; cf. Luke 10:20).

For the sheer concentration of such citations and allusions in one chapter, this psalm is remarkable. Of course, they are not all of the same sort, and this brief meditation cannot possibly probe them all. But several of them fall into one important pattern. This is a psalm written by David. (There is no good reason to doubt this attribution from the superscription.) David is not only the head of the dynasty that issues in "great David's greater Son" (as the hymn writer puts it), but in many ways he becomes a model for the king who is to come, a pattern for him — a type, if you will.

That is the reasoning of the New Testament authors. It is easy enough to demonstrate that the reasoning is well grounded. Here it is enough to glimpse something of the result. If King David could endure scorn for God's sake (69:7), how much more the ultimate King — who certainly also suffers rejection by his brothers for God's sake (69:8). If David is zealous for the house of the Lord, how could Jesus' disciples possibly fail to see in his cleansing of the temple and related utterances something of his own zeal (John 2:17)? Indeed, in the minds of the New Testament authors, such passages link with the "Suffering Servant" theme that surfaces in Isaiah 53 — and is here tied to King David and his ultimate heir and Lord.

Numbers 26; Psalm 69; Isaiah 16; 1 Peter 4

Reflections to Consider

  • Warfare Spirituality

    The Trinity function as farmers of our souls, actively caring for God’s creation: an ongoing, radical reclamation of His creation. Read More
  • Corporate Spirituality

    Encouragement, Accountability, and Worship Solitude, community and ministry are three areas requiring balance and integration in the Christian walk. The Read More
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Publications

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Music

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Audio & Video

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Favorites

  • Praise Adonai by Paul Baloche +

    Who is like Him The Lion and the Lamb Seated on the throne Mountains bow down Every ocean roars To the Lord of hosts  Read More
  • An Interview with Paul Washer by Tim Challies +

    You probably know Paul Washer as the man who preached the infamous "Shocking Youth Message," a sermon that has tallied Read More
  • Glorious by Paul Baloche +

    Look inside the mysterySee the empty crossSee the risen SaviorVictorious and strong Read More
  • Paul's Prayers +

    How do we pray? What should we pray for? Yes, there is the Lord's prayer--Jesus teaching his disciples, and us, Read More
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Hidden Blessings

  • Joy Will Find A Way: Bruce Cockburn +

    Bruce Cockburn’s song Joy Will Find A Way describes the way joy from love can transform one’s life. make me Read More
  • Shepherd's Joy by Luther Jackson Middle School Advanced Chorus +

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  • Joy to the World! by Surfjan Stevens +

    Joy to the World , the Lord is come!Let earth receive her King;Let every heart prepare Him room,And Heaven and nature Read More
  • The joy of the Lord is my strength by Douglas Miller +

    The joy of the LORD is my strengthThe joy of the LORD is my strengthThe joy of the LORD is Read More
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