Psalm 69:13-18

After the author of Psalm 69 has described his/her many troubles in verses 1b-12, he/she prays fervently for Yahweh to intervene in vss. 13-18:

"But as for me, my prayer is to you, O Lord [Yahweh].
At an acceptable time, O God,
in the abundance of your steadfast love, answer me.
With your faithful help rescue me
from sinking in the mire;
let me be delivered from my enemies
and from the deep waters.
Do not let the flood sweep over me,
or the deep swallow me up,
or the Pit close its mouth over me.
Answer me, O Lord [Yahweh], for your steadfast love is good;
according to your abundant mercy, turn to me.
Do not hide your face from your servant,
for I am in distress--make haste to answer me.
Draw near to me, redeem me,
set me free because of my enemies."

1. Three times in these six verses the psalmist begs Yahweh to ANSWER him/her (verses 13c, 16a, 17b). This would consist of Yahweh delivering the poet from all his/her troubles.
2. Twice the psalmist appeals to Yahweh's STEADFAST LOVE (verses 13c, 16a), which he/she couples with Yahweh's faithfulness (verse 13d; see Exodus 34:6; Psalms 25:10; 40:10-11; 89:1-2, 14; Lamentations 3:22-23) and mercy (verse 16b; see Exodus 34:6; Psalms 86:15; 103:4). It is significant that the composer does not claim his/her own good works or righteousness when pleading to God to intervene, but appeals to Yahweh's steadfast love.
3. This speaker uses powerful verbs in beseeching Yahweh to help him/her: rescue (verse 14a); deliver (verse 14b); redeem (verse 18a); and set free (verse 18b). These are the verbs Exodus 6:2-8 and other biblical texts use to describe the exodus of the Israelites from Egyptian bondage.
4. The expressions "sinking in the mire" (verse 14a), "deep waters" (verse 14c), and "flood" (verse 15a) repeat the language used in the description of the psalmist's distresses in verse 2). "The deep" and "the Pit" are common biblical terms for death and the netherworld or realm of the dea.
5. The plea "Do not hide your face" is an idiom meaning something like: "Do not reject or ignore my prayer" (see Psalms 22:24; 27:9; 102:1).
6. Since the psalmist is completely dependent on Yahweh, he/she refers to himself/herself as Yahweh's "servant" (verse 17a; see especially Psalms 27:9 and 31:16, where God's face and being God's servant are closely connected with each other.
7. In his/her present distressful circumstances, the psalmist feels God is far away; so he/she pleads with God to "draw near" to him/her in order to redeem and set him/her free (verse 18). It is very consoling to know that the Creator and Sustainer of the universe is near those who seek him (see Psalm 148:14; Philippians 4:4-7).

John Willis