Praying the Psalms with Augustine and Friends

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Praying the Psalms with Augustine and Friends

Psalm 69 with John Calvin – Praying in Distress Save me, O God, for the waters have come up to my neck (v. 1). Under the metaphor of waters, the psalmist represents his condition as so distressing that it brought him to the brink of despair. Yet we know that he often overcame dreadful temptations with extraordinary courage. From that we may infer the bitterness of his distress at that time. We know from biblical history that Saul sent numerous and powerful armies after him. He speaks of the mortal hatred they expressed toward him, when he tells us they were intent upon his destruction, eagerly desiring to have him cut off by a violent death. And yet he vows that he did nothing to deserve such unrelenting persecution. If at any time we experience persecution, let us determine to have the support arising from the testimony of a good conscience, and to be able to protest freely before God, that our enemies’ hatred is without cause. Let us learn from David’s example to prepare ourselves to bear patiently all losses and troubles, even death itself, as well as shame and reproach, if at any time we are loaded with false accusations. But I pray to you, LORD! (v. 13) When the wicked directed their witty and scoffing remarks against him, as if weapons of war, to overthrow his faith, his means of repelling all their assaults was to pour out his heart to God in prayer. He kept silent before others, and driven out from the world, he approached God. Similarly, although the faithful today may be unable to make any impression upon the wicked, they will ultimately triumph if they turn away from the world and directly present their prayers to God. May the table set before them become a snare (v. 22). Here we have a series of serious prayers for harm. We must