Homilist Psalm 69:1-12 Save me, O God; for the waters are come in to my soul.… I. Man's sufferings are SOMETIMES OVERWHELMINGLY GREAT. This shows — 1. The abnormal state of man. Was man made to suffer thus? No; man suffers because he has transgressed. 2. The blessedness of Christ's mission. He came to "heal the broken-hearted," and to "wipe away all tears from off all faces." II. Man's sufferings are OFTEN INFLICTED BY HIS FELLOW-CREATURES. The sufferer here ascribes his sufferings, not to God, or accident, or fate, but to men. 1. To the malice, the multitude, and the might of his enemies. These enemies, he says — (1) Compelled him to restore what he "took not away." They extorted from him by violence that which was his, not theirs. He does not say what it was, whether it was his time, his labour, or his property. Men are often doing this, taking from others that to which they have no right. (2) Persecuted him on account of his religion. "For Thy sake I have borne reproach," etc. How often in the history of the world do we find men inflicting sufferings upon their fellows in consequence of their religious convictions! 2. To the alienation of his most intimate relations and friends. 3. To the contempt he received from all on account of his religious zeal. III. Man's sufferings often REVEAL THE MORAL WEAKNESS OF HIS CHARACTER. If, as here, you find a man parading his sufferings, moaning and groaning about his afflictions, he is not a man of strong moral character. Christ, instead of parading His sufferings, seldom even mentioned them. IV. Man's sufferings OCCASIONALLY LEAD HIM TO GOD. They did so now in the case of David. (Homilist.) Parallel Verses KJV: {To the chief Musician upon Shoshannim, A Psalm of David.} Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul. |
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