The Most Avoided Messianic Psalm (10): The Prayer and Song of the Poor (Psalm 69:29-33) by Rev. Angus Stewart
I. The Sorrowful Poor
II. The Powerful Prayer
III. The Thankful Song
Psalm singing: 142:1-7; 37:8-14; 40:1-5; 69:27-32
Scripture reading: Psalm 69:21-36; 22:16-31

John Phillips: “No doubt the Lord quoted all of Psalm 22 and all of Psalm 69 when hanging on the cross. These closing verses [cf. vv. 29-36] must have greatly encouraged Him and strengthened Him to keep His grip on reality in the face of sufferings which stagger the imagination and which are far beyond our ability to conceive” (Exploring the Psalms, vol. 1: Psalms 1-88, p. 570).
John Gill on Psalm 69:30: “For as it was no lessening of his glory, as Mediator to pray to God when on earth, it is no diminution of it to praise him in our nature in heaven; see Ps. 22:22. This being said to be done with a song agrees with Heb. 2:12, and is an instance of praising God this way, and which could not be prayer-wise: as well as is a confirmation of the practice of New Testament churches, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, by the example of our Lord ... Christ, as man, not only prayed, but gave thanks to his Father when on earth, Matt. 11:25-26, John 11:41; nor is it unsuitable to him, as such now in heaven, to give thanks and praise for being heard and helped in a day of salvation; or at the time when he wrought out the salvation of his people, and glorified all the divine perfections.”
Charles Spurgeon on Psalm 69:31: “Here he puts dishonour upon mere outward offerings by speaking of the horns and hoofs, the offal of the victim. The opus operatum, which our ritualists think so much of, the Lord puffs at. The horning and hoofing are nothing to him, though to Jewish ritualists these were great points, and matters for critical examination; our modern rabbis are just as precise as to the mingling of water with their wine, the baking of their wafers, the cut of their vestments, and the performance of genuflections towards the right quarter of the compass.”

Psalm 142:1-7
1 I WITH my voice cry’d to the Lord,
with it made my request:
2 Pour’d out to him my plaint, to him
my trouble I exprest.
3 When in me was o’erwhelm’d my sp’rit,
then well thou knew’st my way;
Where I did walk a snare for me
they privily did lay.
4 I look’d on my right hand, and view’d,
but none to know me were ;
All refuge failed me, no man
did for my soul take care.
5 I cry’d to thee; I said, Thou art
my refuge, Lord, alone ;
And in the land of those that live
thou art my portion.
6 Because I am brought very low,
attend unto my cry:
Me from my persecutors save,
who stronger are than I.
7 From prison bring my soul, that I
thy name may glorify:
The just shall compass me, when thou
with me deal’st bounteously.

Psalm 37:8-14
8 Do thou from anger cease, and wrath
see thou forsake also :
Fret not thyself in any wise,
that evil thou should’st do.
9 For those that evil-doers are
shall be cut off and fall:
But those that wait upon the Lord
the earth inherit shall.
10 For yet a little while, and then
the wicked shall not be ;
His place thou shalt consider well,
but it thou shalt not see.
11 But by inheritance the earth
the meek ones shall possess :
They also shall delight themselves
in an abundant peace.
12 The wicked plots against the just,
and at him whets his teeth:
13 The Lord shall laugh at him, because
his day he coming seeth.
14 The wicked have drawn out the sword,
and bent their bow, to slay
The poor and needy, and to kill
men of an upright way.

Psalm 40:1-5
1 I WAITED for the Lord my God,
and patiently did bear;
At length to me he did incline
my voice and cry to hear
2 He took me from a fearful pit,
and from the miry clay,
And on a rock he set my feet,
establishing my way.
3 He put a new song in my mouth,
our God to magnify:
Many shall see it, and shall fear,
and on the Lord rely.
4 0 blessed is the man whose trust
upon the Lord relies;
Respecting not the proud, nor such
as turn aside to lies.
5 O Lord my God, full many are
the wonders thou hast done:
Thy gracious thoughts to us-ward far
above all thoughts are gone:
In order none can reckon them
to thee: if them declare,
And speak of them I would, they more
than can be number’d are.

Psalm 69:27-32
27 Add thou iniquity unto
their former wickedness;
And do not let them come at all
into thy righteousness.
28 Out of the book of life let them
be raz’d and blotted quite;
Among the just and righteous
let not their names be writ.
29 But now become exceeding poor
and sorrowful am I:
By thy salvation, O my God,
let me be set on high.
30 The name of God I with a song
most cheerfully will praise;
And I, in giving thanks to him,
his name shall highly raise.
31 This to the Lord a sacrifice
more gracious shall prove
Than bullock, ox, or any beast
that hath both horn and hoof.
32 When this the humble men shall see,
it joy to them shall give:
0 all ye that do seek the Lord,
your hearts shall ever live.