What does Psalm 69:26 reveal about God's response to human suffering? The Verse “For they persecute the one You struck and recount the pain of those You wounded.” (Psalm 69:26) What the Words Tell Us about God • God notices who is afflicted—“the one You struck” is still under His eye. • He hears the conversations of oppressors—“they recount the pain.” • He counts persecution against the sufferer as persecution against Himself (cf. Acts 9:4). • He will act: the surrounding verses (vv. 22-28) move quickly from lament to imprecation, underscoring divine justice. God’s Compassion in Suffering • Exodus 3:7 – “I have surely seen the affliction… and have heard their cry.” • Psalm 34:18 – “The LORD is near to the brokenhearted.” • Isaiah 63:9 – “In all their distress, He too was distressed.” • Hebrews 4:15 – Our High Priest “sympathizes with our weaknesses.” These passages echo Psalm 69:26: the Lord is never detached; He is emotionally present and responsive. God’s Commitment to Justice • Psalm 69:27-28 pronounces judgment on the persecutors; God’s justice is not abstract—it is personal and precise. • Revelation 6:10 shows martyrs crying, “How long… until You avenge our blood?”—and heaven answers. • Proverbs 14:31 links oppression of the poor with contempt for their Maker; God takes it personally when people suffer at others’ hands. Why Suffering Sometimes Comes from God’s Own Hand • The verse acknowledges God “struck” and “wounded” the sufferer. Scripture affirms: – He may discipline His people (Hebrews 12:6) without forsaking them (Deuteronomy 31:8). – Even when discipline hurts, He forbids others to gloat or exploit that pain (Obadiah 10-12). – He reserves the right to vindicate His afflicted ones (Romans 12:19). Encouragement for Today • Your pain is not invisible; God tracks every detail (Psalm 56:8). • Any person or system that deepens your wound invites God’s direct response. • Christ’s suffering fulfills the pattern of Psalm 69 (see John 15:25; 19:28-30), proving that God ultimately turns suffering into salvation. |
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