By Jeremy Bell
I am going to share my personal study on Psalm 69 using groupings from my motif analysis, further highlighted in my book, Psalms in Motif Visualization. I have taken these groupings of the Psalm and put them together. So, the entirety of the Psalm will be posted, but these groupings will present the text in a different order.
Horatio Spafford
In 1873 Horatio Spafford wrote lyrics to a song that has become as well known as the most favorite of Christmas hymns. Because of the writings he left behind and the way he lived his life, I am sure of his conviction of Jesus as Lord of all, of death, even of the domain of all souls. His first child, a son, died young. He lived with his wife in Chicago and the Lord blessed him in Chicago investments. During this time the Lord blessed him with four daughters. Then, in 1871, the great Chicago fire destroyed his investments.
Horatio Spafford and his wife were supporting a man of great evangelistic gifting, a man named Dwight L. Moody. D.L. Moody was speaking in England of 1873 and the Spafford family was set to see him there for a much-needed vacation. However, his investments had some loose ends to tie up, so Horatio sent everyone ahead of him by ship. That ship sunk, killing his four daughters. Horatio received a telegram from his wife, the first of the three sentences simply said, ‘Saved alone what shall I do’?
Jesus Perspective
Jesus said ‘Don’t be afraid of those who kill the body but are not able to kill the soul. Rather, fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.’ Horatio Spafford knew the body and soul were different things. He knew that all bodies die. He clearly feared the one who is able to destroy both body and soul. Listen how he expresses that fear in adoration. He spent time in relationship with the King of souls. The fear of the Lord may mean many things, but one thing it does not mean is that we be afraid He might break any promise He has made. Horatio Spafford had assurance of things hoped for, proof of things not seen. He had faith and complete confidence that it was well with his soul.
When I arrange for Audio Visualization, my goal is to highlight the patterns and intent over strict translation. I hope it gives fresh encouragement. Please read the Psalm as is for proper understanding.
[ Psalm 69 ]
Save me, God,
for the waters have come up to my neck!
I sink in deep mire, where there is no foothold.
I have come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me.
God, you know my foolishness.
My sins aren’t hidden from you.
Don’t let those who wait for you be shamed through me, Lord Yahweh of Armies.
Don’t let those who seek you be brought to dishonor through me, God of Israel.
But as for me, my prayer is to you, Yahweh, in an acceptable time.
God, in the abundance of your loving kindness, answer me in the truth of your salvation.
Deliver me out of the mire, and don’t let me sink.
Let me be delivered from those who hate me, and out of the deep waters.
Don’t let the flood waters overwhelm me,
neither let the deep swallow me up.
Don’t let the pit shut its mouth on me.
Answer me, Yahweh, for your loving kindness is good.
According to the multitude of your tender mercies, turn to me.
Don’t hide your face from your servant,
for I am in distress.
Answer me speedily!
Draw near to my soul and redeem it.
Ransom me because of my enemies.
You know my reproach, my shame, and my dishonor.
My adversaries are all before you.
But I am in pain and distress.
Let your salvation, God, protect me.
I am weary with my crying.
My throat is dry.
My eyes fail looking for my God.
Because for your sake, I have borne reproach.
Shame has covered my face.
I have become a stranger to my brothers,
an alien to my mother’s children.
Reproach has broken my heart, and I am full of heaviness.
I looked for some to take pity, but there was none;
for comforters, but I found none.
They also gave me poison for my food.
In my thirst, they gave me vinegar to drink.
I will praise the name of God with a song,
and will magnify him with thanksgiving.
It will please Yahweh better than an ox,
or a bull that has horns and hoofs.
Those who hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of my head.
Those who want to cut me off, being my enemies wrongfully, are mighty.
I have to restore what I didn’t take away.
For the zeal of your house consumes me.
The reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me.
When I wept and I fasted,
that was to my reproach.
When I made sackcloth my clothing,
I became a byword to them.
Those who sit in the gate talk about me.
I am the song of the drunkards.
Let their table before them become a snare.
May it become a retribution and a trap.
Let their eyes be darkened, so that they can’t see.
Let their backs be continually bent.
Pour out your indignation on them.
Let the fierceness of your anger overtake them.
Let their habitation be desolate.
Let no one dwell in their tents.
For they persecute him whom you have wounded.
They tell of the sorrow of those whom you have hurt.
Charge them with crime upon crime.
Don’t let them come into your righteousness.
Let them be blotted out of the book of life,
and not be written with the righteous.
The humble have seen it, and are glad.
You who seek after God, let your heart live.
For Yahweh hears the needy,
and doesn’t despise his captive people.
Let heaven and earth praise him;
the seas, and everything that moves therein!
For God will save Zion, and build the cities of Judah.
They shall settle there, and own it.
The children also of his servants shall inherit it.
Those who love his name shall dwell therein.
It is Well With My Soul, Horatio Spafford
When peace like a river attendeth my way,
when sorrows like sea billows roll;
whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say,
“It is well, it is well with my soul.”
Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
let this blest assurance control:
that Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
and has shed his own blood for my soul.
My sin oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
my sin, not in part, but the whole,
is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more;
praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
O Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
the clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
the trump shall resound and the Lord shall descend;
even so, it is well with my soul.
Refrain
It is well with my soul;
it is well, it is well with my soul.
Save me, God,
for the waters have come up to my neck!
I sink in deep mire, where there is no foothold.
I have come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me.
M prayer is to you, Yahweh, in an acceptable time.
God, in the abundance of your loving kindness, answer me in the truth of your salvation.
Don’t let the flood waters overwhelm me,
neither let the deep swallow me up.
I am in distress.
Draw near to my soul and redeem it.
Stay Strong
The ways of God’s salvation are not always what I expect, they are certainly not what I always want in the moment. They are, however, always optimal with greater perspective than I could possibly imagine. Horatio Spafford knew this, and he shared that he was taught this truth. Joy is not defined by me, nor does it originate with me. It is not something I always grasp; joy is not something I find. Joy is revealed by God, it is whole according to His definition, according to who He is. It is always certain and sure. I may feel the waters around me come up to my neck, but Jesus has my soul, He will not let me be swallowed up. It is well with my soul as it rests in The Nature of Joy.
Resources and Notes
All scripture in this article is from the WORLD ENGLISH BIBLE (WEB). The World English Bible (WEB) is a Public Domain (no copyright) Modern English translation of the Holy Bible. The World English Bible is based on the American Standard Version of the Holy Bible first published in 1901, the Biblia Hebraica Stutgartensa Old Testament, and the Greek Majority Text New Testament.
For more related to this blog, check out my post on Truth Basics for Christian Living with Strategic Options.
This is a reliable translation, but it is always good to read other translations as well. Biblegateway.com has a multitude of translations to read from. It is a great resource.
Another great resource is Biblehub.com. There are multiple translations, commentaries, and so much more. Great research can be done on this platform.
One more I use regularly is Gotquestions.org. This is a great site to answer questions and find threads of related questions.
There are many resources. The key is that God wants relationship directly with you, the individual. His primary source for revealing who He is and growing in intimacy is His word, the scriptures. Don’t just read for instruction. Analyze and read for understanding. Explore, ask questions, and be transformed in Jesus every moment you possibly can. There is no dispute this is a key desire of God. People are brough to the Father, in the Son, by the power of the Holy Spirit. This… This is the Nature of Joy.
Jeremy is an author, musician, and business intelligence manager. His mission is to equip and encourage those in Christ, to equip and encourage others in Christ. Jesus, Christ, is the Nature of Joy and melody of the heart. Jeremy unites business analytics (business intelligence), songs, and Scripture for Christian living in the power of the Holy Spirit.