Psalm 65, 69, 70, 73

Introduction to Psalm Analysis

Welcome Prayer Song Silence Psalm 65, 69-70 and 73 June 22nd 2025 We are going to read through 65 and explain one verse along the way, spend most of our time in Chapter 69 and then finish with a quick read of chapter 70.

Let go. Verse 1 chapter 69

Psalm 65:1 <<To the chief Musician, A Psalm and Song of David.>> Praise waiteth for thee, O God, in Sion: and unto thee shall the vow be performed. 2 O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come. 3 Iniquities prevail against me: as for our transgressions, thou shalt purge them away. 4 Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple. 5 By terrible things in righteousness wilt thou answer us, O God of our salvation; who art the confidence of all the ends of the earth, and of them that are afar off upon the sea:

Description of God and Nature

6 Which by his strength setteth fast the mountains; being girded with power: 7 Which stilleth the noise of the seas, the noise of their waves, and the tumult of the people. 8 They also that dwell in the uttermost parts are afraid at thy tokens: thou makest the outgoings of the morning and evening to rejoice. 9 Thou visitest the earth, and waterest it: thou greatly enrichest it with the river of God, which is full of water: thou preparest them corn, when thou hast so provided for it. 10 Thou waterest the ridges thereof abundantly: thou settlest the furrows thereof: thou makest it soft with showers: thou blessest the springing thereof. 11 Thou crownest the year with thy goodness; and thy paths drop fatness. 12 They drop upon the pastures of the wilderness: and the little hills rejoice on every side. 13 The pastures are clothed with flocks; the valleys also are covered over with corn; they shout for joy, they also sing.

Okay onto chapter 69 as . . . We are reminded that the Old Testament scripture sometimes has writing that are for that time and those people alone, then passages that are strictly prophetic and then passages that are both – all in the same chapter. I have a general rule of thumb for exegesis which is probably a bad one to biblical scholars but I hold to it for a reason. We recall when Yeshua was talking to the Jews of His day he said,

John 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. To the nation of Israel, Moses said all the way back in Deuteronomy

Deuteronomy 18:15 YAHAVAH thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken. After His resurrection when two men were walking together on a road to Emmaus, Yeshua appeared to them and after some conversation Luke writes,

Lu 24:27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. We know that even from the Fall God speaks to the fact that while Satan won the title deed to earth for a time God said,

Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. That God speaks referentially to Abraham of how He would bless all the nations of the earth through His Son, saying

Genesis 26:4 And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; I mean, these quips are going back thousands and thousands of years, right?

Types and Pictures of Prophetic Significance

Jacob blessed his son Judah, saying, Genesis 49:10-11 The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be. Binding his foal unto the vine, and his ass’s colt unto the choice vine; he washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes: Then there are they types and pictures of Him –

An axe-head that floats on water The serpent raised in the wilderness that healed Jonah in the belly of the whale Moses outstretched arms for victory and dropped arms for defeat The

Messianic Prophecies in Psalms and Isaiah

David, speaking of Yeshua saying,

Psalm 16:9-10 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope. For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Then there is all of Psalm 22 – which we covered recalling the following lines coming from them, like, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” “But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.” “All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.” “Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round.” “They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion.” “I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.” “My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of deathSeparation from God—now overcome. Physical death remains, but it no longer separates us from life with God..” “For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.” “They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.”

Prophetic Verses from Isaiah 53

And Isaiah 53, right? I trust in the application of these twelve prophetic verses: Isaiah 53:1 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed? 2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. 3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. 8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. 9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. 10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sinMissing the mark of faith and love—no punishment, just lost growth or peace., he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. 11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. 12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

Messianic References in Psalms

So, the Psalm we are going to read now was supposed to have been written during the captivity also has lines that appear to speak messianically and may reference his passion, the resurrection, the vocation of the Gentiles, the establishment of the Christian Church, and the reprobation of the Jews. Verse 9, which says 9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. is quoted by John in John 2:17. Verse 22, which says, Psalm 69:22 Let their table become a snare before them: and that which should have

The Prophetic Sufferings of Yeshua

let it become a trap. is quoted by Matthew 27:34,48; Mark 15:23 and John 19:29 and is directly applied to the sufferings of our Lord through the Jews. Then Paul quotes the 22nd verse as a prophecy of the wickedness of the Jews and the punishment they were to receive in the Great Day. Paul also quotes the twenty-third verse in the same way. All of these references plus dozens and dozens more support the claim of Yeshua that the scriptures speak of Him. So, let’s see what chapter 69 brings – may the Spirit reveal the application.

Psalm 69: A Cry for Deliverance

To the chief Musician upon Shoshannim, A Psalm of David.>> Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul. I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me. I am weary of my crying: my throat is dried: mine eyes fail while I wait for my God. They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of mine head: they that would destroy me, being mine enemies wrongfully, are mighty: then I restored that which I took not away. O God, thou knowest my foolishness; and my sins are not hid from thee. Let not them that wait on thee, O Lord GOD of hosts, be ashamed for my sake: let not those that seek thee be confounded for my sake, O God of Israel.

Affliction and Prayer

Because for thy sake I have borne reproach; shame hath covered my face. I am become a stranger unto my brethren, and an alien unto my mother’s children. For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me. When I wept, and chastened my soul with fasting, that was to my reproach. I made sackcloth also my garment; and I became a proverb to them. They that sit in the gate speak against me; and I was the song of the drunkards. But as for me, my prayer is unto thee, O LORD, in an acceptable time: O God, in the multitude of thy mercy hear me, in the truth of thy salvation. Deliver me out of the mire, and let me not sink: let me be delivered from them that hate me, and out of the deep waters. Let not the waterflood overflow me, neither let the deep swallow me up, and let not the pit shut her mouth upon me. Hear me, O LORD; for thy lovingkindness is good: turn unto me according to the multitude of thy tender mercies. And hide not thy face from thy servant; for I am in trouble: hear me speedily. Draw nigh unto my soul, and redeem it: deliver me because of mine enemies. Thou hast known my reproach, and my shame, and my dishonour: mine adversaries are all before thee. 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. They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink. Let their table become a snare before them: and that which should have been for their welfare, let it become a trap. Let their eyes be darkened, that they see not; and make their loins continually to shake. Pour out thine indignation upon them, and let thy wrathful anger take hold of them. Let their habitation be desolate; and let none dwell in their tents. For they persecute him whom thou hast smitten; and they talk to the grief of those whom thou hast wounded. Add iniquity unto their iniquity: and let them not come into thy righteousness. Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous. But I am poor and sorrowful: let thy salvation, O God, set me up on high. I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving. This also shall please the LORD better than an ox or bullock that hath horns and hoofs. The humble shall see this, and be glad: and your heart shall live that seek God. For the LORD heareth the poor, and despiseth not his prisoners. Let the heaven and earth praise him, the seas, and every thing that moveth therein. For God will save Zion,

Trust and Reflection in Faith

and will build the cities of Judah: that they may dwell there, and have it in possession. The seed also of his servants shall inherit it: and they that love his name shall dwell therein. I do not feel inclined to add to it – it speaks to our hearts by itself.

A Cry for Deliverance

Psalm 70:1 <<To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, to bring to remembrance.>> Make haste, O God, to deliver me; make haste to help me, O LORD. Let them be ashamed and confounded that seek after my soul: let them be turned backward, and put to confusion, that desire my hurt. Let them be turned back for a reward of their shame that say, Aha, aha. Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: and let such as love thy salvation say continually, Let God be magnified. But I am poor and needy: make haste unto me, O God: thou art my help and my deliverer; O LORD, make no tarrying.

Okay, We are going to read chapter 73 and sort the content according to the writers descriptions of those of a sound heart and those of the world. The writer appears to write from a place of regret, allowing his heart to lean into the world. Lets read and see the conflict.

The Struggle of the Heart

ONE – Truth statement

Psalm 73:1 <> Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart. God is truly good to Israel even of such as are a clean heart. All of our focus lately has been on the clean heart and here the one who acknowledges it admits its import.

But this writer’s feet began to slip and from verse 2 to 12 he explains what contributed to it saying, But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped. For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. For there are no bands (pains) in their death: but their strength is firm. They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men. Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment. Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish. They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily. They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth. Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them. And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High? Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.

A World Divided

I would maintain at this reading that our world is more and more slipping into two giant groups. One side is God seeking, God honoring and truly after what is good and the other is self and world, not caring nor honoring the notion or thought of Knowing God in spirit and truth. I am of the growing opinion that someday there will be a shifting within both camps toward greater and greater unity of light and of dark, and that the particulars that once kept each group in chaos and disunity will on earth become obvious and clear.

And so with this in mind we teach to help fortify warn and instruct each other in the things that each side genuinely seek and possess and this is how instructions like this from the scripture can help us clearly understand that its normal to look to those having a grand old time in life as enviable – to the point that our feet, our hearts can be moved. This Psalmist takes a moment to reflect here and writes from verse 13-16 his very dark heart, one we can relate to at times in our choice to walk by faith.

And the writer says, Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency. For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning. If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children. When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me;

Do you realize what his heart proclaims here? It proclaims that all of his efforts to follow God have been a waste. Listen to what he says again, Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and

The Psalmist’s Realization

Washed my hands in innocency. 14 For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning. I’ve gone and done all you have asked and the only result is all day long I have been plagued and chastened every morning. 15 If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children. 16 When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me; Meaning, when I confess my present observations they directly confront, even offend the Generation of the Children of Israel, all of their teachings and tales about you and your good hand in their lives, I stand in my present attitude against them completely, and when I got to the place of realizing it it was just too painful to me. I’ve wasted my life, the Psalmist is saying, “what a joke all my ways have been at trying to please you . . . all I see in return is the wicked enjoying everything while I suffer morning to night.

A Turn of Perspective

And then at verse 17 the writer makes a turn through some realizations, and says, This was my view of the wicked and this was my view of my foolish belief (ready) 17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end. 21 Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins. 22 So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee. I have a message for anyone anywhere who has chosen to walk with Him, to seek Him in spirit and truth, and to rise above the choice to live for self – ready? I am going to share it through a story.

I’ve known a man for some twenty years or so. He was deeply involved in drugs and such as a teen, came to know God through Christ and participated in a local church with his wife and kids, got into the scripture and I would sit and talk with he and his wife as they had various trials. For almost 18 years I watched him enter into a walk of faith and love, struggle and then in the last seven years fall back into the world. I’ve talked with him over these years no less than fifty hours – over and over again pretty much about the same thing and about seven years ago watched him take the road of a prodigal.

Several months ago, after rekindling our friendship, we started talking again and for the first six or so meetings I just listened to all he had experienced and really learned from but suffered. Hard lessons. Finally, and when the Spirit was right, I asked him a question. It was the following as I said, Brother, think back over the past twenty years of your life – even to your teens if you want. Tell me, What were the best years, times, period of your life – and why? We had not talked about sin, salvation, the Bible, Church, Yeshua at all in the months prior – that was all I asked and without hesitation he said, “When I was in the word . . . when I was walking with Him.”

Moments of Reflection

Trying to make ends meet as a younger father I worked at FedEx and was assigned a trainer and we were sent out together to deliver. In short order we learned about each other how I had an experience with God on the roadside which caused him to open up and admit to me that he too was a believer. As the day drew on he revealed that it had actually been years since he was walking with God, and how he hadn’t picked up a bible in as long. That he was “back in the world,” he said, with a sad look in his eyes. Before dropping me off at my car he said, “You know, this has been good because I’ve been able to remember what I had once with Him through our conversation.” I leapt out of truck and said, “He’s still there – just waiting for you.”

Conversely, I have also watched as once faithful souls have also chosen to embrace this world instead – and lacking the ability to assess the heart all we are left with is to listen to the mouth, watch the actions and opinions and to try and see what such things present. I encourage all within the sound of my voice, to choose to stay with, to go back, to allow Him in and to reject all that seems.

Understanding Devotion and Idolatry

More valuable in this world. And this is the conclusion the writer of this Psalm seems to have come to as he writes beginning with verse 23:

23 Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand. 24 Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. 25 Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. 26 My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.

My brother and soon to be son-in-law Larry and I talk about idolatry and devotion every now and again and he wonders about the lines and where things lie. I think we can use the last passage to help bring clarity as he admits the following and says,

The Strength of the Heart

26 My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. Who or what is the strength of your heart becomes the question. We have so many ways to fortify our hearts as human beings, don’t we? Looks, Apparel, Education, Knowledge, Money and materialism, Popularity, Status, Stature, Charisma, Entertainments, Pleasure, Creativity, Heroes, Roles and responsibilities. We hear people today refer to such things as their God which helps us realize the magnitude of the power such things have over them. But when God is the strength alone of our heart, I suggest the priorities are set right. And then, coming back to this realization and conclusion, the writer now says,

27 For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee. 28 But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.

Returning to God

The points of the Law drew the Nation back to God and when they found themselves breaking it, they would turn themselves, go back to the tabernacle and offer up sacrifice as a means to help restore their hearts and minds to who He was in the world and what He sought from his Nation. Today, post the total victory of Christ over all things, every one of us are equipped with the Light and Spirit calling for us to turn, to return, to rest, to live in peace and to know that in the face of all the other offerings,

“it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.”

That is what I have seen dawn in the eyes of people who knew and know Him – who have experienced Him then let the ways of the world re-enter and reign. The writer of this Psalm concludes with the following about the worldly in his life in that day, saying,

18 Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction. 19 How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors. 20 As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image.

I believe this description was once accurate but that today the message for the lost, rebellious, alienated from God is more merciful, longsuffering and hope-filled, That today we are looking at the direct God has with all souls and that He patiently awaits for each individual that wanders in a similar way to the prodigal son where we read,

Luke 15:14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. 15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. 17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, 19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. 20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. 21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight.

The Return of the Lost Son

and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

Finding Joy in Reconciliation

All it takes, truly, for anyone lost, misdirectly, or faithless to be merry, for the first time in their life or to return to what was once a reality in their lives, is for them to “come to themselves,” rise up and return – we have a father anxiously looking to run and meet us on our way back.

Reflections

Comments/Questions