在詩篇第六九篇中，大衛已經到達絕望的頂點。他感到自己已處在毀滅的邊緣，祇有向上帝求救一途了。在這一詩篇中，非常明顯大衛就是基督的預表；有些經節顯然就是彌賽亞的經節，而且又在新約中引用、說明耶穌的受苦受難，但是它的其他部份祇是說明有關詩人的遭遇。

        大衛受到可怕的逼迫。有很多令人討厭而又堅強的仇敵想要殺死他；他們的行動是沒有理由的，因為大衛沒有做過錯事；可是他必須受到懲罰。耶穌證明這節經文的預言式的解釋，因為祂說，它指的就是祂（69：4；約15：25）。誠然，耶穌沒有犯過任何罪，然而祂依然要為我們的罪受到懲罰。不過，下兩節經文祇適用大衛；他作了愚蠢的事，跌倒在罪裡。他禱告希望自己不致成為別人的絆腳石（69：5~6）。

        大衛所受到的譴責預表大衛之子耶穌基督要受到的譴責；那是為了公義的緣故：「辱罵人的辱罵都落在我的身上」（69：9、10、20；羅15：3）。那些反對上帝的人自然會反對事奉上帝的人。大衛的熱誠就像耶穌的熱誠一樣，非常痛恨那些過份自由或世俗化的人（69：9；約2：17）。就像大衛已成為一個可笑的人，以及不為他自己的人民、甚至他的家人所接納一樣，耶穌基督也同樣地遭遇到這些事（69：8；約1：11；7：5；可3：21）。大衛說，他們給他醋和苦膽，這就是說，他受到人們的輕視和苦待，然而從字面上看，耶穌也同樣地碰到這些事（69：21；太27：34、48）。不過，大衛對仇敵的反應卻與耶穌的反應成了一個明顯的對比（69：22~28）。大衛本人已經承認，上帝的憐憫已遠超過人的憐憫（撒下24：14）。大衛祈求上帝要毀滅他的仇敵，不要饒恕他們；反之，耶穌卻以慈悲的心懷，懇求上帝赦免祂的仇敵（路23：34）。

        大衛帶著盼望的心，祈求耶和華拯救他，並且恢復他的一切，好使義人歡欣，就像那些愛耶穌名的義人，也因祂的復活與登位感到歡欣一樣。溫順的人（貧窮的人）求上帝的禱告必蒙上帝垂聽；他們的心都要活起來（永遠的），以及他們要居住在天上的耶路撒冷裡，永遠讚美上帝（69：29~36）。

        詩篇第七十與七一兩篇詩篇本為一首詩篇。除了其中少些差異之外，詩篇第七十篇與詩篇四十篇十三至十七節完全相同。詩人大衛也許使用他早期的詩句，並且為了特殊的時機與目的，將它們作了一些修改。大衛知道，他自己沒有能力脫離這絕望的情況。他描述自己是「困苦窮乏的」（70：5）。作為一位富裕的君王，他當然不會有任何缺乏，但是他缺乏拯救自己的能力。他一生都信靠上帝，相信上帝會拯救他，並且無時不榮耀耶和華，就是現在也不例外。他所有的力量源頭大過他自己的源頭，所以他呼求上帝，上帝是他在困難中唯一的幫助者。

        我們在詩篇第七一篇中讀到大衛熟悉的請求、祈求上帝不要使他受到羞辱。為什麼大衛總是擔心他會受到失敗的羞辱？其實，他不但為自己擔心，而是為了上帝的緣故，因為身為一位公義的君王，他是上帝的代表。如果他受到羞辱，也等於是上帝的名受到羞辱，然而大衛所追求的總是要榮耀上帝。在大衛得到拯救之後，他就會公開地敬拜上帝，全心全意地信靠上帝，因為他在過去多年來都是這樣做的。他就是這樣榮耀耶和華。大衛也一再祈求上帝羞辱他的仇敵，使他們陷入混亂的狀態中；這樣他們陷害他的陰謀詭計就不會得逞（70：2；71：13），他為了這一緣故，就更要榮耀上帝，因為他們也是在對抗上帝；最後證明，公義的一方一定會得到勝利。在這一詩篇結束時，大衛愉快地讚美上帝，因為他所有的禱告都獲得上帝的回答（71：24）。

        大衛在撰寫這一詩篇時，年歲已經很大了；他的一生已飽嚐了不少的困苦，然而自孩提時起，他就與上帝保持親密的關係；既然他已快走到生命的盡頭，他就更加地接近上帝。他宣稱，從他一出母胎，就受上帝的扶持（71：6），也常受上帝的教訓（71：17）；終其一生，他都在努力傳指日可待的上帝的奇妙事工與良善。既然他老了，他就決定繼續傳揚上帝的慈愛，更加讚美上帝，也永遠信靠祂（71：14）。他祈求上帝使他活得更久一點，好使他有足夠的時間，向這一代的人傳揚上帝教訓他的一切，並且向他們傳說上帝的力量、權柄、及公義（71：18~19）。大衛決定利用他在地上僅有的時日，更積極地傳揚上帝的福音；他本著信心宣稱：上帝會接納他，恢復他的名譽，並且安慰他，好使他永遠讚美上帝，也向別人見證上帝的公義（71：20~24）。

        哦，主啊，我們每天都想更接近您，也越加讚美您。由於我們是您在地上的代表，我們要向別人傳揚您的慈愛和良善，決不能使您的名受到羞辱。奉主耶穌基督聖名，阿們！

English

        In Psalm 69, David has reached the depths of despair. He feels he is on the brink of destruction and can only cry out to God for help. In this psalm, it is especially clear that David was a type of Christ; many aspects of his life foreshadow that of Christ. Some verses are clearly Messianic and have been quoted in the New Testament as relating to the sufferings of Jesus, but other portions of the psalm relate only to the psalmist.

        Terrible persecution had taken its toll on David. He had many hateful and powerful enemies who sought to destroy him, and yet it is without cause, for he has done no wrong; yet he must pay the penalty. Jesus confirmed the prophetic interpretation of this passage by saying that this was spoken of Him (69:4; John 15:25). Truly Jesus had not sinned, yet he payed the punishment for our sins. The next two verses, however, apply only to David, who had behaved foolishly and had fallen into sin. He prays that he will not be a stumbling block to others (69:5-6).

        The reproach that David experienced foreshadowed the reproach of the Son of David, Jesus Christ, and it was for the sake of righteousness: "the reproaches of those who reproach You have fallen on me" (69:9, 10, 20; Romans 15:3). Those who are against God will naturally be against the righteous who serve God. David's zeal, like the zeal of Jesus for the House of God and true worship of God, angered those who were more liberal or secular (69:9; John 2:17). Just as David had become a byword and was shunned by his own people and even his family members, so it was with Jesus (69:8; John 1:11; 7:5; Mark 3:21). David spoke poetically in saying he was given vinegar and gall, meaning he was treated with contempt and bitterness, but this was literally fulfilled with Jesus (69:21; Matthew 27:34, 48). David's reaction to his enemies, however, is in sharp contrast to that of Jesus (69:22-28). David himself had confessed that the mercy of God far exceeds the mercy of man (2 Samuel 24:14). David had prayed that his enemies be destroyed without forgiveness, but Jesus prayed for God to forgive His enemies (Luke 23:34).

        With expectancy, David prayed for the Lord's salvation and his own restoration, which would cause others who were righteous to rejoice, just as the righteous, who love the name of Jesus, rejoice at His resurrection and enthronement. The prayers of the meek (poor) shall be heard; their hearts shall live (eternally), and they shall dwell in the heavenly Jerusalem to praise Him forever (69:29-36).

        Originally, Psalm 70 & 71 may have been one single psalm. With the exception of a few minor variations, Psalm 70 is the same as Psalm 40:13-17. The psalmist, David, likely made use of his earlier composition and altered it for a specific occasion and purpose. David is aware of his own inadequacy to help himself out of a desparate situation. He describes himself as "poor and needy" (70:5). As a prosperous king, he certainly did not lack in anything, but he lacked the ability to save himself. All his life he had trusted in God for deliverance and magnified the Lord in all situations, and now is no exception. He has a source of strength that is far greater than himself, so he calls upon God — his only help in trouble.

        In Psalm 71, we read of David's familiar request that he not be put to shame. Why was David always so concerned that he not be ashamed by seeing defeat? It was not so much for himself, but for the sake of God, since, as a righteous king, David was God's representative. If he was put to shame, it would reflect badly upon the Lord, but David sought to always glorify the Lord. Upon being delivered, David would publicly worship God and give God all the credit, as he had done numerous times over the years. In such a way God would be glorified. David also repeatedly prayed for his enemies to be put to shame and suffer in a state of confusion, so that none of their schemes would work against him (70:2; 71:13); for that too would bring glory to God, since they were against God, and it would show that the righteous side was victorious. At the close of this psalm, David joyously praises God for answering his prayers (71:24).

        David was quite old at the time of writing this psalm, and he had known much adversity during his life, yet since his childhood, he maintained a close relationship with God, and now that he is near the end of his life, he is even closer to God. He declares that since his birth God had upheld him (71:6) and taught him (71:17), and all his life he had declared God's wonderous works and goodness. Now that he is old, he resolves to do the same, as well as to praise God more and more and continually hope in Him (71:14). He prays that God would grant him a long enough life to teach the present generation all that God had taught him, and to tell them of God's power, strength, and righteousness (71:18-19). David is determined to make his latter years very productive in God's service, and with faith believing, he proclaims that God will revive him, restore his honour, and give him comfort so that he might continue to sing praises to God and witness to others about God's righteousness all day long (71:20-24).

        Our desire, oh Lord, is to draw closer to You every day and praise You more and more. As Your representatives, may we reflect Your goodness to others and never put You to shame.