Psalms 69 - Wesley's Explanatory Notes

Waters — Tribulations.

I restored — For peace sake.

My sins — But O Lord, although I have been innocent to mine enemies, I am guilty of many sins and follies against thee.

For my sake — Because of my sad disappointments. For if they see me forsaken, they will be discouraged by this example.

For thy sake — For my obedience to thy commands, and zeal for thy glory.

Zeal — That fervent love which I have for thy house and service, and glory, and people. Eaten — Exhausted my spirits. Upon me — I have been as deeply affected with thy reproaches, as with mine own. This tho' truly belonging to David, yet was also directed by the spirit of God in him, to represent the disposition and condition of Christ, in whom it was more fully accomplished, to whom therefore it is applied in the New Testament, the first part of it, John 2:17, and the latter, Romans 15:3.

Wept — For their impiety. Reproach — They derided me for it.

Proverb — A proverb of reproach.

That sit — Vain and idle persons, that spend their time in the gates and markets.

In the truth — Or, According to thy saving truth, or faithfulness; grant me that salvation, which thou hast graciously promised.

Gall — Instead of giving me that comfort which my condition required, they added to my afflictions. Vinegar — These things were metaphorically fulfilled in David, but properly in Christ, the description of whose sufferings was principally intended here by the Holy Ghost.

Their table — And this punishment in their table, exactly answers their sin, in giving Christ gall for his meat, Psalms 69:21. A snare — Their table or meat, which is set before them, shall become a snare: the occasion of their destruction.

Eyes — Not the eyes of their bodies, but of their minds: as they that shut their eyes and will not see, so they shall be judicially blinded. To shake — To take away their strength.

For — Which is an act of barbarous cruelty. Talk — Reproaching them, and triumphing in their calamities.

Wilt add — Give them up to their own lusts. Not let them — Partake of thy righteousness, or of thy mercy and goodness.

Living — Of eternal life.

On high — Out of the reach of mine enemies.

This — This hearty sacrifice of praise, is more grateful to God, than the most glorious legal sacrifices. Hath horns — That is both tender and mature, as it is when the horns bud forth, and the hoofs grow hard.

The humble — Those pious persons who are grieved for their calamities, will heartily rejoice in my deliverance. Live — Or, be revived, which were dejected, and in a manner dead with sorrow.

Prisoners — Those who are in prison or affliction for his sake.

Sion — His church and people. They — His servants, as is explained in the following verse. There — In the literal Canaan for a long time, in the heavenly Canaan for ever.