Psalms 69:29
But I am poor and sorrowful: let thy salvation, O God, set me up on high.
Original Language Analysis
Cross References
Historical Context
The transition from imprecation to personal lament reflects ancient Near Eastern lament psalm structure, where the sufferer describes enemies, appeals for judgment, then returns to personal petition. This isn't schizophrenic but theologically coherent: God's justice requires judging wickedness and delivering righteousness. The two petitions complement rather than contradict.
David's self-description as "poor and sorrowful" echoes the Psalter's consistent theme of the anawim—the poor, humble, afflicted ones who trust God while being oppressed by the wicked (Psalm 9:18, 10:2, 12:5, 14:6, 25:16, 34:6, 37:14, 40:17). This became central to biblical piety: God sides with the downtrodden against oppressors, hears the cry of the afflicted, and vindicates the humble.
Jesus embodied this perfectly, becoming "poor" though He was rich (2 Corinthians 8:9), a "man of sorrows" (Isaiah 53:3), yet exalted to the highest place (Philippians 2:9-11).
Questions for Reflection
- How does acknowledging your spiritual poverty and sorrow position you to receive God's salvation?
- What is the relationship between present humiliation and future exaltation in Christian experience?
- How does Christ's example of being 'poor and sorrowful' yet ultimately exalted provide hope in present suffering?
Analysis & Commentary
But I am poor and sorrowful: let thy salvation, O God, set me up on high. After intense imprecations (verses 22-28), David returns to personal lament and petition, creating striking contrast between his condition and enemies'. "I am poor" (עָנִי/ani) means afflicted, humble, brought low—not merely financially poor but comprehensively crushed and vulnerable. "Sorrowful" (כּוֹאֵב/ko'ev) indicates physical and emotional pain, the kind of deep anguish that affects the whole person.
The "but" (וַאֲנִי/va'ani) creates deliberate contrast: while enemies prosper temporarily, David suffers; yet while he prays judgment on them, he prays salvation for himself. The difference isn't merit but trust. David casts himself on God's mercy despite his poverty and pain. "Let thy salvation" (יְשׁוּעָתְךָ/yeshu'atekha) uses the root that gives us Jesus's Hebrew name (Yeshua/Joshua)—salvation, deliverance, rescue.
"Set me up on high" (תְּשַׂגְּבֵנִי/tesaggveini) prays for exaltation—lifting from the pit to heights, from despair to hope, from death to life. This anticipates Christ, who through poverty and sorrow was exalted to God's right hand (Philippians 2:5-11). It also reflects biblical pattern: God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6, 1 Peter 5:6).