Psalms 69:13

Psalm 69:13 . But my prayer is unto thee — While they scoff, I will pray, and not be driven from thee, nor from prayer and other duties, by all their reproaches, or any other discouragements. In an acceptable time — Hebrew, עת רצון , gneet ratzon, in a time of grace, of good will, or good pleasure. These words may be joined, either, 1st, With the following, by way of limitation, thus: Hear me in thy accepted time, that is, I do not limit thee to any time; but when thou seest it will be best, hear and help me. Or rather, with the foregoing, as an argument to enforce his prayer: as if he had said, I pray in a time of grace, or acceptance; I seek thee when thou mayest be found, (see Psalm 32:6 ; Isaiah 55:6 ,) in a good day, as they said, 1 Samuel 25:8 , in the day of grace and mercy: or, in a time of great trouble, which is the proper season for prayer, Psalm 50:15 ; and while I have thee engaged to me by promises, which thy honour and truth oblige thee to perform. I come not too late, and therefore do thou hear me. In the truth of thy salvation — That is, for, or according to, thy saving truth, or faithfulness; whereby thou hast promised to deliver those who trust in thee.

(13) But. —A better arrangement of the clauses of this verse is: But as for me my prayer (is) to Thee Jehovah in a time of grace, God in the abundance of Thy (covenant) mercy Hear me with the faithfulness of Thy help. For the favourable or gracious time comp Isaiah 49:8. Whatever the sin of Psalm 69:5, &c., it had not cut the offender off from the sense of the blessings of the covenant, or he had been by pardon restored to it.

13 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. 14 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. 15 Let not the waterflood overflow me, neither let the deep swallow me up, and let not the pit shut her mouth upon me. 16 Hear me, O Lord; for thy lovingkindness is good: turn unto me according to the multitude of thy tender mercies. 17 And hide not thy face from thy servant; for I am in trouble: hear me speedily. 18 Draw nigh unto my soul, and redeem it: deliver me because of mine enemies. Psalm 69:13 "But as for me, my prayer is unto thee, O Lord." He turned to Jehovah in prayer as being the most natural things for the godly to do in their distress. To whom should a child turn but to his father. He did not answer them; like a sheep before her shearers he was dumb to them, but he opened his mouth unto the Lord his God, for he would hear and deliver. Prayer is never out of season, it stands us in good stead in every evil day. "In an acceptable time." It was a time of rejection with man, but of acceptance with God. Sin ruled on earth, but grace reigned in heaven. There is to each of us an accepted time, and woe be to us if we suffer it to glide away unimproved.

God's time must be our time, or it will come to pass that, when time closes, we shall look in vain for space for repentance, Our Lord's prayers were well-timed, and always met with acceptance. "O God, in the multitude of thy mercy hear me." Even the perfect one makes his appeal to the rich mercy of God, much more should we. To misery no attribute is more sweet than mercy, and when sorrows multiply, the multitude of mercy is much prized. When enemies are more than the hairs of our head, they are yet to be numbered, but God's mercies are altogether innumerable, and let it never be forgotten that: every one of them is an available and powerful argument in the hand of faith. "In the truth of thy salvation." Jehovah's faithfulness is a further mighty plea. His salvation is no fiction, no mockery, no changeable thing, therefore he is asked to manifest it, and make all men see his fidelity to his promise. Our Lord teaches us here the sacred art of wrestling in prayer, and ordering our cause with arguments; and he also indicates to us that the nature of God is the great treasury of strong reasons, which shall be to us most prevalent in supplication. Psalm 69:14 "Deliver me out of the mire, and let me not sink." He turns into prayer the very words of his complaint; and it is well, if, when we complain, we neither feel nor say anything which we should fear to utter before the Lord as a prayer.

Verses 13-21. - The psalmist now betakes himself to earnest prayer - he has sufficiently represented his condition, though he still adds a few words respecting it (vers. 19-21), and the immediate need is relief. He therefore approaches God in what he hopes is "an acceptable time" (ver. 13), and humbly entreats for mercy (vers. 14-18). Verse 13. - But as for me, my prayer is unto thee, O Lord, in an acceptable time (comp. Psalm 32:6 ; Isaiah 49:8 ). Professor Cheyne asks, "How has it been revealed to the psalmist that this is an acceptable time?" We can only answer - Perhaps it has not been revealed; he may express a hope rather than a full assurance. Or it may have been revealed to him in the way that other things were. O God, in the multitude of thy mercy hear me; or, "in the greatness of thy mercy;" i.e. as thy mercy is so great. In the truth of thy salvation. "In the exercise of that fidelity which secures the salvation of all that trust it" (Professor Alexander). Psalm 69:13

But my prayer is unto thee; but whilst they scoff I will pray, and not be driven from God, and from my prayers and other duties, by all their reproaches or other discouragements. In an acceptable time, Heb. in a time of acceptation , or grace , or thy good will , or good pleasure . These words may be joined, either, 1. With the following words, by way of limitation: Hear me in thy accepted time , i.e. I do not limit thee to a day or time, but when thou seest fit hear and help me. Or rather, 2. With the foregoing, as an argument to enforce his prayer: I pray in a time of grace or acceptation ; I seek thee when thou mayest be found, as Psalm 32:6 Isaiah 55:6 ; in a good day , as they said, 1 Samuel 25:8 , in the day of grace and mercy, in a time of great trouble, which is the proper season for prayer, Psalm 50:15 ; and whilst I have thee engaged to me by promises, which thy honour and truth oblige thee to perform, I come not too late, and therefore do thou hear me. In the truth of thy salvation; or, for or according to thy saving truth or faithfulness ; whereby thou art obliged to grant unto me that salvation which thou hast graciously promised.

13 . It is best to divide the clauses somewhat differently: But as for me, my prayer is unto thee, O Jehovah, At the time thou pleasest, O God, in the abundance of thy lovingkindness, Answer me in the truth of thy salvation. In an acceptable time , lit. a time of good pleasure ( Psalm 40:13 ; Psalm 51:18 ) is most naturally connected with answer me , as in Isaiah 49:8 , “In an acceptable time have I answered thee.” He cannot tell that it is yet God’s will to deliver him, but he can be sure that the time will come, for God has revealed Himself to be a God “abundant in lovingkindness and truth” ( Exodus 34:6 ), and if He is true to His character, He must save His servant. Cp. Psalm 51:1 . 13–18 . From the hardheartedness of men he turns to the mercy of God.