But as for me, my prayer is unto Thee, O Lord, in an acceptable time.
The compassionable, commendable, and censurable
I. The compassionable. The representation which the author here gives of his sufferings, appeals strongly to our pity. Those sufferings are--
1. Great. “Deep waters,” “mine,” “pit.”
2. Varied. Involving reproach, torture, depression.
II. The commendable. What does this suffering man do in his suffering?
1. He goes to God in his distress (Psalms 69:18). Who can deliver us but He? What hand but His can lift us from the “mire” into which we are sinking, can arrest the floods that are rushing on us? Science may mitigate some of our sufferings for a brief period; but it cannot remove any of them, and some it cannot touch. Saintly counsel and sympathy may yield us some succour and support, but God alone can deliver us out of all our sufferings.
2. He pleads His goodness for relief (Psalms 69:16).
III. The censurable. His imprecations (Psalms 69:22-28). “Be bravely revenged,” says old Quarles; “he is below himself who is not above an injury.” (Homilist.)
O God, in the multitude of Thy mercy hear me, in the truth of Thy salvation.
The truth of God’s salvation
I. God’s salvation is a great reality. “The truth of Thy salvation.” There is a substance in it; it is not a shadow, it is not a myth, it is not a mere type or figure of speech, it is a substantial thing, there is a truth in it: “The truth of Thy salvation.”
1. View it in reference to the Lord himself. To God, His salvation is in the highest sense full of grace and truth. If I may venture to speak concerning Him of whom we can know nothing except as He reveals Himself, I may say that the truest and deepest thought of God is for the salvation of His people. This lies in the very centre of His heart; and the drift of His other thoughts and acts is all towards this point.
2. God’s salvation is a great reality to ourselves, as well as to Him. That day when I saw Christ as my soul’s salvation, the great sacrifice for sin was to my soul the most real thing I had ever seen.
II. We have proved it to be so--
1. By our experience of a new life.
2. By our sense of sonship.
3. By our ecstatic joy.
4. We have had Divine support in trouble.
5. God has wrought great deliverances for us. (C. H. Spurgeon.)