Psalm 69:18-20 "Draw nigh unto my soul, and redeem it: deliver me because of mine enemies. (19) Thou hast known my reproach, and my shame, and my dishonour: mine adversaries are all before thee. (20) Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none."
A closer reading of this Psalm reveals to us that it is a prophecy concerning
our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. The very next verse (verse 21) speaks
of them giving Jesus vinegar to drink as He hung on the cross. I do not
want to discount that at all, but I do want us to think of a practical
application of these verses for us.
David expresses that he was heartbroken. His very soul was heavy because of all
the things that were happening to him. He had been reproached even by the
elders of the city. They had held him in their eyes as a dishonorable man.
David knew his integrity and intentions concerning all his actions. As
far as sinful man can be, David was pure in his intentions toward the Lord and
the Lord's people. But at this point, he seems to be a very lonely king of the
people. He is walking spiritually through "the valley of the shadow of
death." He is committed to seeking the Lord's help and only the
Lord's help.
"Draw nigh unto my soul." The word, soul, has different
meanings depending on the context. The meaning in this passage lends itself to
the soul meaning David's mind. His mind was troubled as was expressed in verse
20, "I am full of heaviness." Where is it manifested if you
feel heavy within yourself? Does it not weigh heavy on your mind when
things are troubling you? David could know that he belonged unto the Lord
in a relational manner. He was a child of God and nothing would take that away
from him. I believe another way David expressed this type heaviness was
back in Psalm 51 when he said, "Restore unto me the JOY (emphasis mine) of
thy salvation." Restore unto me. Draw nigh unto me. Redeem it. Free
my soul, my mind, from this heaviness.
Have you ever felt this type of heaviness? It may be different
circumstances, but most of us have at one time or another experienced this
heaviness of mind. Aren't you glad that our Lord has made Himself fully
available to us to give us release from this mental and spiritual anguish?
"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you
rest. (29) Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek
and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls."
(Matthew 11:28-29)
Tell
It to Jesus by Jeremiah Rankin
Are you weary, are you heavyhearted?
Tell it to Jesus,
Tell it to Jesus;
Are you grieving over joys departed?
Tell it to Jesus alone.
Chorus:
Tell it to Jesus, tell it to Jesus,
He is a friend that's well known;
You have no other such a friend or brother,
Tell it to Jesus alone.