Psalms 69

Hated Without a Cause

They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of mine head: they that would destroy me, being mine enemies wrongfully, are mighty: then I restored that which I took not away. Psalms 69:4

Jesus quoted this line about Himself, saying His enemies fulfilled the word written in their law: They hated me without a cause.

• quoted by John 15:25 — Jesus: They hated me without a cause.

Rejected by His Brethren

I am become a stranger unto my brethren, and an alien unto my mother’s children. Psalms 69:8

The sufferer is a stranger to his own family. Jesus' own brothers did not at first believe in Him.

How we know: the verse itself names Him

• fulfilled by John 7:5 — Neither did his brethren believe in him.
• fulfilled by John 1:11 — He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

Zeal for His Father's House

For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me. Psalms 69:9

When Jesus cleansed the temple, His disciples remembered this verse. Paul also quotes its second half: Christ bore the insults aimed at God.

How we know: a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• quoted by John 2:17 — The disciples remembered: The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.
• quoted by Romans 15:3 — Christ pleased not himself; the reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.

Gethsemane

Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none. Psalms 69:20

The sufferer's heart is broken and no one comforts him. Jesus in Gethsemane was exceeding sorrowful and was left alone as His disciples slept and then fled.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · a footnote points to Him

• fulfilled by Matthew 26:38 — My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death.
• fulfilled by Mark 14:50 — They all forsook him, and fled.
• alludes to Isaiah 63:5 — I looked, and there was none to help.

Crucifixion

They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink. Psalms 69:21

At the cross soldiers offered Jesus vinegar mingled with gall and, when He said I thirst, gave Him vinegar. John says it was done that the scripture might be fulfilled.

How we know: a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• fulfilled by Matthew 27:34 — They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall.
• fulfilled by Matthew 27:48 — A sponge filled with vinegar was given him to drink.
• fulfilled by John 19:28-30 — That the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.

Rejection of the Messiah

Let their table become a snare before them: and that which should have been for their welfare, let it become a trap. Psalms 69:22–23

Paul quotes these lines to describe those in Israel who were blinded and stumbled at Christ.

• quoted by Romans 11:9-10 — David saith, Let their table be made a snare ... let their eyes be darkened.

Betrayal by Judas

Let their habitation be desolate; and let none dwell in their tents. Psalms 69:25

Peter applied this verse to Judas, who betrayed Jesus, when the apostles chose a replacement for him.

• quoted by Acts 1:20 — Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein.

Smitten of God

For they persecute him whom thou hast smitten; and they talk to the grief of those whom thou hast wounded. Psalms 69:26

The one God has smitten is then persecuted by men. Isaiah uses the same language for the suffering Messiah, esteemed smitten of God.

• alludes to Isaiah 53:4 — We did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.