How does Psalm 69:2 illustrate the feeling of being overwhelmed by troubles? Text of Psalm 69:2 “I sink in the miry depths, where there is no foothold; I have come into deep waters; the flood sweeps over me.” Word Picture of Overwhelming Trouble • “Sink in the miry depths” — a vivid image of being sucked downward by thick mud, emphasizing helplessness. • “No foothold” — total loss of stability; nothing solid to stand on. • “Deep waters” — circumstances so weighty that they rise above head level. • “The flood sweeps over me” — relentless forces rolling in faster than one can respond. Layers of Desperation in the Imagery 1. Progressive intensity – Mire: slow, suffocating draw downward. – Deep waters: sudden engulfing danger. – Flood: unstoppable, crushing power. 2. Sensory overload – Physical: slipping, drowning, unable to breathe. – Emotional: panic, isolation, exhaustion. 3. Spiritual acknowledgment – The psalmist names the reality without minimizing it, inviting honest confession of need before God. Connecting the Psalm to Our Experiences • Times when responsibilities pile up and we “have no foothold.” • Seasons where grief or illness feels like “deep waters.” • Moments when bad news comes wave after wave, a “flood” that “sweeps over” all sense of control. Echoes Elsewhere in Scripture • Psalm 40:2 — “He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay.” • Jonah 2:3–5 — waves passing over Jonah, yet God hears. • Isaiah 43:2 — “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you.” • Matthew 14:30 — Peter begins to sink, cries out, and Jesus immediately grasps him. • 2 Corinthians 1:8-9 — Paul “burdened beyond measure,” learning to rely on God who raises the dead. Looking to the Deliverer Psalm 69 will move from drowning imagery to confident expectation of rescue (v. 13, v. 16). The literal water language underscores genuine peril, making God’s salvation all the more tangible. Because Scripture is fully trustworthy, these pictures are not exaggerations; they are inspired reminders that the Lord sees, hears, and acts when His people are overwhelmed. |
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