Thou hast known my reproach, and my shame, and my dishonour: mine adversaries are all before thee.
-Again he appeals to God's knowledge of his reproach and suffering from his foes, as the ground on which he rests the following prayer for judgment on them.
Verse 19. Thou hast known my reproach ... - therefore thou canst not but remove all this from me.
Mine adversaries are all before thee - therefore thou canst not but take righteous vengeance on them (Psalms 69:23-29).
Verse 20. Reproach hath broken my heart. Probably the Saviour died of a broken heart. Crucifixion would not by itself have killed Him is so short a time. The pericardium or sac was burst, and the extravasated blood was separated into the crassamentum and the serum. So on the spear being driven into the side of the Saviour, blood and water flowed out. Thus, the rending of "the veil," whereby the Holy of holies was thrown open, answers to the breaking of "His flesh" (Hebrews 10:20), whereby we can enter the heavenly holiest place. Again, the breaking of bread in the Lord's Supper answers to the breaking of His heart. The intensity of the mental agony which broke His heart is revealed in the bloody sweat in Gethsemane, and in the agonized cry on the cross, "Eli, Eli, Lama, Sabacthani."
And I am full of heaviness - literally, 'I am sick' (Psalms 6:2).
Verse 21. They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink. His bitter sufferings might have been expected to soften even His enemies, who had causes these sufferings; but instead of cordials, they gave him gall and vinegar. Twice vinegar was offered to the Saviour on the cross-first vinegar mixed with gall (Matthew 27:34), and myrrh (Mark 15:23); but when he had tasted it, He would not drink it; because He would not meet His suffering in a state of stupefaction, which is the effect of myrrh. As given to criminals, it was a kindness; as given to the righteous Sin-bearer, it was an insult. Next, in order to fulfill this scripture, He cried "I thirst," and vinegar was given Him to drink (John 19:28; Matthew 27:48).