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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comTreasury of David - Psalms 69:19 - 69:19
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
19 Thou hast known my reproach, and my shame, and my dishonour: mine adversaries are all before thee.
20 Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none.
21 They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me Vinegar to drink.
Here we have a sad recapitulation of sorrows, with more especial reference to the persons concerned in their infliction.
Psa 69:19
“Thou hast known my reproach, and my shame, and my dishonour.” It is no novelty or secret, it has been long continued: thou, O God, hast seen it; and for thee to see the innocent suffer is an assurance of help. Here are three words piled up to express the Redeemer's keen sense of the contempt poured upon him; and his assurance that every form of malicious despite was observed of the Lord. “Mine adversaries are all before thee.” The whole lewd and loud company is now present to thine eye: Judas and his treachery; Herod and his cunning; Caiaphas and his counsel; Pilate and his vacillation; Jews, priests, people, rulers, all, thou seest and wilt judge.
Psa 69:20
“Reproach hath broken my heart:” There is no hammer like it. Our Lord died of a broken heart, and reproach had done the deed. Intense mental suffering arises from slander; and, in the cage of the sensitive nature of the immaculate Son of Man, it sufficed to lacerate the heart till it broke. “Then burst his mighty heart.” “And I am full of heaviness.” Calumny and insult bowed him to the dust; he was sick at heart. The heaviness of our Lord in the garden is expressed by many and forcible words in the four gospels, and each term goes to show that the agony was beyond measure great; he was filled with misery, like a vessel which is full to the brim. “And I looked for some to take pity, but there was none.” “Deserted in his utmost need by those his former bounty fed.” Not one to say him a kindly word, or drop a sympathetic tear. Amongst ten thousand foes there was not one who was touched by the spectacle of his misery; not one with a heart capable of humane feeling towards him. “And for comforters, but I found none.” His dearest ones had sought their own safety, and left their Lord alone. A sick man needs comforters, and a persecuted man needs sympathy; but our blessed Surety found neither on that dark and doleful night when the powers of darkness had their hour. A spirit like that of our Lord feels acutely desertion by beloved and trusted friends, and yearns for real sympathy. This may be seen in the story of Gethsemane: -
“Backwards and forwards thrice he ran,
As if he sought some help from man;
Or wish'd, at least, they would condole -
'Twas all they could - his tortur'd soul.
Whate'er he sought for, there was none;
Our Captain fought the field alone.
Soon as the chief to battle led,
That moment every soldier fled.”
Psa 69:21
“They gave me also gall for my meat.” This was the sole refreshment cruelty had prepared for him. Others find pleasure in their food, but his taste was made to be an additional path of pain to him. “And in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.” A criminal's draught was offered to our innocent Lord, a bitter portion to our dying Master. Sorry entertainment had earth for her King and Saviour. How often have our sins filled the gall-cup for our Redeemer? While we blame the Jews, let us not excuse ourselves.