Psalm 69:6
May those who hope in You not be ashamed through me, O Lord GOD of Hosts; may those who seek You not be dishonored through me, O God of Israel.
May those who hope in You
The phrase "hope in You" is rooted in the Hebrew word "yachal," which conveys a sense of waiting with expectation and trust. In the biblical context, hope is not a passive wish but an active trust in God's promises and character. This hope is foundational to the believer's relationship with God, as it reflects a deep-seated confidence in His faithfulness and sovereignty. Historically, the Israelites often found themselves in situations where their only recourse was to hope in God, whether in times of exile, oppression, or personal distress. This hope is a testament to their enduring faith and reliance on God's deliverance.

not be ashamed
The concept of shame in the Hebrew Bible is often linked to public disgrace or dishonor. The Hebrew word "bosh" implies a sense of being confounded or disappointed. In the ancient Near Eastern culture, honor and shame were pivotal societal values. To be ashamed was to experience a loss of status or reputation. The psalmist's plea is that his actions or circumstances would not lead to the disgrace of those who trust in God. This reflects a communal consciousness where one's personal conduct impacts the broader faith community.

through me
This phrase indicates a personal responsibility and awareness of the impact one's life can have on others. The psalmist is acutely aware that his actions, whether righteous or sinful, can influence the faith and perception of others. In a conservative Christian perspective, this underscores the importance of living a life that reflects Christ's teachings, as believers are called to be witnesses to the world. The psalmist's concern is that his life would not become a stumbling block to others' faith.

O Lord GOD of Hosts
The title "LORD GOD of Hosts" (Yahweh Elohim Tseva'ot) emphasizes God's supreme authority and power. "Hosts" refers to the heavenly armies, signifying God's command over all spiritual and earthly realms. This title is a reminder of God's omnipotence and His ability to protect and deliver His people. In the historical context, invoking this name would reassure the Israelites of God's might and His ability to fulfill His promises. For believers today, it serves as a reminder of God's unchanging power and His role as the ultimate protector and leader.

may those who seek You
The act of seeking God, "darash" in Hebrew, implies a diligent and intentional pursuit of His presence and will. It is more than a casual inquiry; it is a wholehearted endeavor to know and understand God. Throughout Scripture, seeking God is associated with receiving His guidance, wisdom, and blessings. This pursuit is a central theme in the life of a believer, reflecting a desire for a deeper relationship with the Creator.

not be dishonored
Similar to the concept of shame, dishonor involves a loss of respect or esteem. The Hebrew word "kalal" can mean to be lightly esteemed or treated with contempt. The psalmist's prayer is that his life would not cause others to lose respect for God or His followers. In a conservative Christian context, this highlights the importance of living a life that honors God and upholds His reputation in the world.

through me
Reiterating the personal responsibility mentioned earlier, this phrase emphasizes the psalmist's concern for his influence on others. It is a humble acknowledgment of the interconnectedness of the faith community and the impact of individual actions on the collective witness of God's people.

O God of Israel
This title, "Elohim Yisrael," reaffirms God's covenant relationship with His chosen people, Israel. It is a reminder of the unique bond and promises God made to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. For the Israelites, this was a source of identity and assurance of God's faithfulness. In the broader Christian context, it signifies the continuity of God's redemptive plan through history, culminating in the person and work of Jesus Christ. It is a call to remember God's faithfulness and His ongoing relationship with His people.

Persons / Places / Events
1. David
Traditionally attributed as the author of Psalm 69, David is expressing a deep personal lament and plea for God's intervention.

2. Lord GOD of Hosts
A title for God emphasizing His sovereignty and command over the heavenly armies, highlighting His power and authority.

3. God of Israel
This title underscores God's covenant relationship with Israel, His chosen people, and His faithfulness to them.

4. Those who hope in You
Refers to the faithful believers who place their trust and expectation in God.

5. Those who seek You
Represents individuals actively pursuing a relationship with God, seeking His presence and guidance.
Teaching Points
The Responsibility of Witness
As believers, our actions and words should not cause others to stumble or lose faith. We are called to live in a way that honors God and supports the faith of others.

The Power of Hope
Placing hope in God is a source of strength and assurance. This hope should be evident in our lives, encouraging others to trust in God as well.

Seeking God Actively
Our relationship with God requires active pursuit. Seeking God involves prayer, study, and obedience, which in turn strengthens our faith and witness.

God's Faithfulness to His People
God is faithful to those who seek Him. Understanding His covenant relationship with Israel can deepen our appreciation of His promises to us.

Avoiding Shame and Dishonor
Living a life aligned with God's will helps prevent bringing shame or dishonor to His name and to the community of believers.
Bible Study Questions
1. How can we ensure that our actions do not cause others to be ashamed or dishonored in their faith journey?

2. In what ways can we actively seek God in our daily lives, and how does this impact our relationship with Him?

3. How does understanding God as the "Lord GOD of Hosts" and "God of Israel" influence our trust in His power and faithfulness?

4. What are some practical ways to demonstrate the hope we have in God to those around us?

5. How can we draw strength from the assurance that those who trust in God will not be put to shame, especially in challenging times?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Romans 10:11
This verse echoes the theme of not being put to shame for trusting in God, reinforcing the assurance found in faith.

Isaiah 45:17
Speaks of Israel's salvation and the absence of shame, connecting to the hope and honor found in God.

1 Peter 2:6
Refers to Christ as the cornerstone, where belief in Him ensures that one will not be put to shame, linking to the theme of trust and honor in God.
Esprit De CorpsJ. Parker, D. D.Psalm 69:6
Human SufferingHomilistPsalm 69:1-12
The Good Man's FoesJoseph S. Exell, M. A.Psalm 69:1-12
The Psalmist in Three AspectsW. Forsyth Psalm 69:1-13
Suffering and PrayerC. Short Psalm 69:1-18
People
David, Psalmist
Places
Jerusalem
Topics
Almighty, Armies, Ashamed, Blush, Confounded, Confusion, Disgraced, Dishonor, Dishonored, Hope, Hosts, Low, O, Sake, Seek, Seeking, Shame, Shamed, Wait, Waiting
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Psalm 69:6

     1235   God, the LORD

Psalm 69:6-7

     5947   shame

Psalm 69:6-21

     5951   slander

Library
Messiah Unpitied, and Without a Comforter
Reproach [Rebuke] 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. T he greatness of suffering cannot be certainly estimated by the single consideration of the immediate, apparent cause; the impression it actually makes upon the mind of the sufferer, must likewise be taken into the account. That which is a heavy trial to one person, may be much lighter to another, and, perhaps, no trial at all. And a state
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 1

Out of the Deep of Suffering and Sorrow.
Save me, O God, for the waters are come in even unto my soul: I am come into deep waters; so that the floods run over me.--Ps. lxix. 1, 2. I am brought into so great trouble and misery: that I go mourning all the day long.--Ps. xxxviii. 6. The sorrows of my heart are enlarged: Oh! bring Thou me out of my distress.--Ps. xxv. 17. The Lord hath heard the voice of my weeping: the Lord will receive my prayer.--Ps. vi. 8. In the multitude of the sorrows which I had in my heart, Thy comforts have refreshed
Charles Kingsley—Out of the Deep

Religious Zeal.
Dedication Festival Ps. lxix., 9. "The zeal of Thine house hath eaten me up." INTRODUCTION.--David spoke the truth. The one great desire of his heart was the glorification of God by the erection of a temple befitting His worship at Jerusalem. Although he had plenty of cares to distract him, yet he never had this out of his heart. "I will not come within the tabernacle of mine house; nor climb up into my bed; I will not suffer mine eyes to sleep, nor mine eyelids to slumber; neither the temples
S. Baring-Gould—The Village Pulpit, Volume II. Trinity to Advent

Letter xxxix (A. D. 1137) to the Same.
To the Same. He expresses his regret at his very long absence from his beloved Clairvaux, and his desire to return to his dear sons. He tells them of the consolations that he feels nevertheless in his great labours for the Church. 1. My soul is sorrowful until I return, and it refuses to be comforted till it see you. For what is my consolation in the hour of evil, and in the place of my pilgrimage? Are not you in the Lord? Wherever I go, the sweet memory of you never leaves me; but the sweeter the
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux—Some Letters of Saint Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux

Music for Forty Hours' Adoration Musical Programme
Musical Programme AT THE EXPOSITION 1. MASS, after which the Blessed Sacrament is incensed. 2 .* PROCESSION during which the "Pange Lingua" is sung; after the procession the 3. "TANTUM ERGO" is sung, and the Blessed Sacrament is incensed. The "Panem de coelo, etc.," is omitted 4. THE LITANY OF THE SAINTS is chanted. 224 5. PSALM LXIX, "Deus in adjutorium etc.," is intoned, then sung alternately by the clergy or choir, after which the celebrant, still kneeling, sings the versicles "Salvos fac, etc."
Various—The St. Gregory Hymnal and Catholic Choir Book

The Golden Calf
'And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him. 2. And Aaron said unto them, Break off the golden earrings, which are in the ears of your wives, of your sons, and of your daughters, and bring them unto me. 3. And all the people brake off the golden
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

An Eye-Witness's Account of the Crucifixion
'And He bearing His cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha: Where they crucified Him, and two other with Him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst. And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS. This title then read many of the Jews: for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city: and it was written in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin. Then said the chief priests
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: St. John Chaps. XV to XXI

The Shortest of the Seven Cries
As these seven sayings were so faithfully recorded, we do not wonder that they have frequently been the subject of devout meditation. Fathers and confessors, preachers and divines have delighted to dwell upon every syllable of these matchless cries. These solemn sentences have shone like the seven golden candlesticks or the seven stars of the Apocalypse, and have lighted multitudes of men to him who spake them. Thoughtful men have drawn a wealth of meaning from them, and in so doing have arranged
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 24: 1878

The Mystery
Of the Woman dwelling in the Wilderness. The woman delivered of a child, when the dragon was overcome, from thenceforth dwelt in the wilderness, by which is figured the state of the Church, liberated from Pagan tyranny, to the time of the seventh trumpet, and the second Advent of Christ, by the type, not of a latent, invisible, but, as it were, an intermediate condition, like that of the lsraelitish Church journeying in the wilderness, from its departure from Egypt, to its entrance into the land
Joseph Mede—A Key to the Apocalypse

Letter L to Geoffrey, of Lisieux
To Geoffrey, of Lisieux [80] He grieves at his having abandoned his purpose to enter the religious life and returned to the world. He exhorts him to be wise again. I. I am grieved for you, my son Geoffrey, I am grieved for you. And not without reason. For who would not grieve that the flower of your youth, which, amid the joy of angels, you offered unimpaired to God for the odour of a sweet smell (Phil. iv. 18), should now be trampled under the feet of devils, stained by the filthiness of vice and
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux—Some Letters of Saint Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux

Fate of the Enemies of Jesus.
According to the calculation we adopt, the death of Jesus happened in the year 33 of our era.[1] It could not, at all events, be either before the year 29, the preaching of John and Jesus having commenced in the year 28,[2] or after the year 35, since in the year 36, and probably before the passover, Pilate and Kaiapha both lost their offices.[3] The death of Jesus appears, moreover, to have had no connection whatever with these two removals.[4] In his retirement, Pilate probably never dreamt for
Ernest Renan—The Life of Jesus

Christ's Resurrection Song.
WHEN the blessed Lord appeared in the midst of His disciples and they beheld the risen One in His glorified body of flesh and bones and He ate before them, He told them that all things which were written in the Law of Moses, and the Prophets and in the Psalms concerning Him, had to be fulfilled (Luke xxiv:44). While on the way to Emmaus He said to the two sorrowing and perplexed disciples "Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into His glory? And beginning at Moses and all
Arno Gaebelein—The Lord of Glory

Aron, Brother of Moses, 486, 487.
Abba, same as Father, [3]381; St. Paul uses both words, [4]532. Abel, [5]31, [6]252, [7]268, [8]450. Abimelech, [9]72, [10]197. Abraham, seed of, faithful Christians also, [11]148, [12]149, [13]627; servant's hand under his thigh, [14]149, [15]334; poor in midst of riches, [16]410. Absalom, David's son, [17]4, [18]5; type of Judas the traitor, [19]4, [20]20. Absolution granted by the Church, [21]500. Abyss, or deep, of God's judgments, [22]88; of man's heart, [23]136. Accuser, the devil the great,
St. Augustine—Exposition on the Book of Psalms

Epistle xviii. To John, Bishop.
To John, Bishop. Gregory to John, Bishop of Constantinople [1586] . At the time when your Fraternity was advanced to Sacerdotal dignity, you remember what peace and concord of the churches you found. But, with what daring or with what swelling of pride I know not, you have attempted to seize upon a new name, whereby the hearts of all your brethren might have come to take offence. I wonder exceedingly at this, since I remember how thou wouldest fain have fled from the episcopal office rather than
Saint Gregory the Great—the Epistles of Saint Gregory the Great

The Purpose in the Coming of Jesus.
God Spelling Himself out in Jesus: change in the original language--bother in spelling Jesus out--sticklers for the old forms--Jesus' new spelling of old words. Jesus is God following us up: God heart-broken--man's native air--bad choice affected man's will--the wrong lane--God following us up. The Early Eden Picture, Genesis 1:26-31. 2:7-25: unfallen man--like God--the breath of God in man--a spirit, infinite, eternal--love--holy--wise--sovereign over creation, Psalm 8:5-8--in his own will--summary--God's
S. D. Gordon—Quiet Talks about Jesus

The Johannine Writings
BY the Johannine writings are meant the Apocalypse and the fourth gospel, as well as the three catholic epistles to which the name of John is traditionally attached. It is not possible to enter here into a review of the critical questions connected with them, and especially into the question of their authorship. The most recent criticism, while it seems to bring the traditional authorship into greater uncertainty, approaches more nearly than was once common to the position of tradition in another
James Denney—The Death of Christ

Of the Lord's Supper, and the Benefits Conferred by It.
1. Why the Holy Supper was instituted by Christ. The knowledge of the sacrament, how necessary. The signs used. Why there are no others appointed. 2. The manifold uses and advantages of this sacrament to the pious. 3. The Lord's Supper exhibits the great blessings of redemption, and even Christ himself. This even evident from the words of the institution. The thing specially to be considered in them. Congruity of the signs and the things signified. 4. The chief parts of this sacrament. 5. How Christ,
John Calvin—The Institutes of the Christian Religion

Jesus Attends the First Passover of his Ministry.
(Jerusalem, April 9, a.d. 27.) Subdivision A. Jesus Cleanses the Temple. ^D John II. 13-25. ^d 13 And the passover of the Jews was at hand [We get our information as to the length of our Lord's ministry from John's Gospel. He groups his narrative around six Jewish festivals: 1, He here mentions the first passover; 2, another feast, which we take to have been also a passover (v. 1); 3, another passover (vi. 4); 4, the feast of tabernacles (vii. 2); 5, dedication (x. 22); 6, passover (xi. 55). This
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

The Manifestation of the Messiah
(JOHN I. 31.) "Before me, as in darkening glass, Some glorious outlines pass, Of love, and truth, and holiness, and power-- I own them thine, O Christ, And bless Thee in this hour." F. R. HAVERGAL. The Herald's Proclamation--The Meeting of John and Jesus--Christ's Baptism--"It Becometh Us."--"My Beloved Son." John's life, at this period, was an extraordinary one. By day he preached to the teeming crowds, or baptized them; by night he would sleep in some slight booth, or darksome cave. But the
F. B. Meyer—John the Baptist

Death of Jesus.
Although the real motive for the death of Jesus was entirely religious, his enemies had succeeded, in the judgment-hall, in representing him as guilty of treason against the state; they could not have obtained from the sceptical Pilate a condemnation simply on the ground of heterodoxy. Consistently with this idea, the priests demanded, through the people, the crucifixion of Jesus. This punishment was not Jewish in its origin; if the condemnation of Jesus had been purely Mosaic, he would have been
Ernest Renan—The Life of Jesus

Purity and Peace in the Present Lord
PHILIPPIANS iv. 1-9 Euodia and Syntyche--Conditions to unanimity--Great uses of small occasions--Connexion to the paragraphs--The fortress and the sentinel--A golden chain of truths--Joy in the Lord--Yieldingness--Prayer in everything--Activities of a heart at rest Ver. 1. +So, my brethren beloved and longed for+, missed indeed, at this long distance from you, +my joy and crown+ of victory (stephanos), +thus+, as having such certainties and such aims, with such a Saviour, and looking for such
Handley C. G. Moule—Philippian Studies

Concerning Persecution
Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:10 We are now come to the last beatitude: Blessed are they which are persecuted . . '. Our Lord Christ would have us reckon the cost. Which of you intending to build a tower sitteth not down first and counteth the cost, whether he have enough to finish it?' (Luke 14:28). Religion will cost us the tears of repentance and the blood of persecution. But we see here a great encouragement that may
Thomas Watson—The Beatitudes: An Exposition of Matthew 5:1-12

The Resemblance Between the Old Testament and the New.
1. Introduction, showing the necessity of proving the similarity of both dispensations in opposition to Servetus and the Anabaptists. 2. This similarity in general. Both covenants truly one, though differently administered. Three things in which they entirely agree. 3. First general similarity, or agreement--viz. that the Old Testament, equally with the New, extended its promises beyond the present life, and held out a sure hope of immortality. Reason for this resemblance. Objection answered. 4.
John Calvin—The Institutes of the Christian Religion

I Will Pray with the Spirit and with the Understanding Also-
OR, A DISCOURSE TOUCHING PRAYER; WHEREIN IS BRIEFLY DISCOVERED, 1. WHAT PRAYER IS. 2. WHAT IT IS TO PRAY WITH THE SPIRIT. 3. WHAT IT IS TO PRAY WITH THE SPIRIT AND WITH THE UNDERSTANDING ALSO. WRITTEN IN PRISON, 1662. PUBLISHED, 1663. "For we know not what we should pray for as we ought:--the Spirit--helpeth our infirmities" (Rom 8:26). ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. There is no subject of more solemn importance to human happiness than prayer. It is the only medium of intercourse with heaven. "It is
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

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