Psalms 69 and 70 from my new book:

A NEW LOOK AT THE OLD PSALMS

Praying the Psalms: a modern interpretation

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I present here a new perspective on the psalms. I have rewritten them from a New 
Testament Christ-centered point of view. I did not try to capture the poetry of the 
psalms – I leave that to more gifted writers – but I attempted to capture their message
with a more modern interpretation.

God bless,

John

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Psalm 69

(Jesus prays for sinners during his torture and crucifixion.)

" C

ome to my rescue, Father, for I am overwhelmed by the wicked who torment me unjustly. I suffer for sins I did not commit. Let my death and resurrection be a sign to my followers that death is not the end, for they are ashamed that the one they thought was the Son of God should die such an ignominious death.  

I am disgraced, but it is for this that you sent me. I am humiliated; my disciples and believers have abandoned me. Yet nothing could divert me from my mission: to teach people how to live a godly life, to conquer death, and create a new covenant between God and man. I fasted and prayed for man’s sake, but they rejected me. I am now just a topic of conversation, someone to be remembered only in a song.

So I turn to you, Father, and beg for your mercy. Save me from this horror, from the evil that surrounds me. I am drowning in a sea of suffering and death. Do not abandon your child, Father. Come quickly and end this misery. Free me from my persecutors and rid me of my disgrace. You see how low they have brought me. I knew this moment would come. I looked for sympathy, but found none. Instead, they gave me the vinegar of torture and the gall of death. But they will be caught in their own trap. The satisfaction they seek will leave them without pleasure. Blind them, Father, to the things of this world, so they may see the glories of the next. Chastise them so they may see the error of their ways. Otherwise, they will not be able to enter into your presence. They will be stricken from the book of life.

I am suffering, Father, but I know the time of my salvation is at hand. Then I will sing a song of praise to your name for having accepted my sacrifice, a sacrifice more pleasing and more necessary than a burnt offering. Let the world see what has been accomplished for them, and they will rejoice, for the Lord has heard the cries of his people and set them free. Death has been destroyed, good has prevailed over evil, and God’s grace flows like a river again.”

Come one and all to praise God, for he has saved his people for all generations to come. Amen.28

Psalm 70

F

ather, come quickly to my aid. Protect me from the wicked who seek to shame me and ruin my soul with their evil plans. Drive them away and let them be the ones who are disgraced. Lord, I need your help now. I am in a very difficult situation. You have always been there for me in times of trouble. Hurry, Father, for my need is urgent. Count me among the righteous who are filled with joy because you saved them. May your name be exalted. Amen. 

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Cover image: Christ the Saviour (Pantokrator)." Web. 25 Sept 2016.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Spas_vsederzhitel_sinay.jpg
"Creative Commons License." Web. 18 May 2016.
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²⁸The Orthodox Study Bible. (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2008), 726.

This book and other books I have written are posted for your reading pleasure at Booksie.

Scriptural quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, 

copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois
60189. All rights reserved.

Copyright © 2016 by John P. Gross. All rights reserved. Reproduction of this material must 

be done in its entirety with the copyright notice intact. This book is not for sale, but is 

offered to the public free of charge for the glory of God.