Psalms 69:1-19
Psalms 68:1-35 showed Christ raised to heaven as Victor, receiving glorious gifts (v. 18). Psalms 69:1-36 presents Him as abased, in shame and unspeakable suffering, restoring that which He had not taken away (v. 4). We have already found this order of things in Psalms 21:1-13 preceding as it does Psalms 22:1-31, in order that we may make no mistake as to the greatness of the Person undergoing such suffering. Just as the ark opened up a way for the people through the river Jordan (river of death), Christ goes forward to Calvary taking upon Himself the load of sins, the "foolishness" of His people (v. 5). He sinks in the deep mire of sin, in the depths of the waters of judgment (v. 2); He sees the frightful pit of death threatening to engulf Him (v. 15); but in spite of all that He does not cease to raise His prayer to His God (v. 13).
The quotation of v. 9 in Romans 15:3 invites us to imitate Him, our great Example, who never sought to please Himself, or to dissociate Himself from the insults which men heaped on His Father (Matthew 27:43).
He asks also that this trial may not be a stumbling-block to believers, when they see One so faithful plunged into such distress (v. 6).