God is faithful to rescue His people and provide hope in the midst of overwhelming burdens.
“Deliver me from the mire and do not let me sink; May I be delivered from my foes and from the deep waters.” (v.14) In this heartfelt plea, David, traditionally understood as the author of Psalm 69, reveals his deep desperation for God’s intervention. David was Israel’s second king, who reigned from approximately 1010 to 970 BC. He often poured out his petitions in the form of poems and songs, expressing both faith and fear before the LORD. Here, his vivid language of “mire” and “deep waters” conveys the sense of being overwhelmed by external threats and internal turmoil. The mire suggests a swampy pit that threatens to swallow him whole, symbolizing how he feels trapped without God’s help.
“Deliver me from the mire and do not let me sink; May I be delivered from my foes and from the deep waters.” (v.14) also highlights David’s recognition that his ultimate rescue comes from the LORD. He knows that without divine intervention, the hostility of his enemies and the weight of his own burdens could easily overtake him. He likens these pressures to deep waters, an Old Testament metaphor that often represents chaos or severe distress (Psalm 18:16). In the same way that Jesus calmed the raging sea, bringing order and peace (Matthew 8:26), God’s deliverance can bring stability and hope to His people who feel as though they are drowning in adversity.
In this verse, the psalmist’s dependence on God calls to mind the larger biblical theme of deliverance. Throughout Scripture, God acts to rescue those who call on Him with genuine faith. The apostle Paul echoed the confidence in deliverance when he wrote that in all challenges, we can overwhelmingly conquer through Christ (Romans 8:37). David’s prayerful plea exemplifies that God is near to the brokenhearted and will provide a way out of desperation for those who earnestly seek Him.
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Psalms 69:14 meaning
“Deliver me from the mire and do not let me sink; May I be delivered from my foes and from the deep waters.” (v.14) In this heartfelt plea, David, traditionally understood as the author of Psalm 69, reveals his deep desperation for God’s intervention. David was Israel’s second king, who reigned from approximately 1010 to 970 BC. He often poured out his petitions in the form of poems and songs, expressing both faith and fear before the LORD. Here, his vivid language of “mire” and “deep waters” conveys the sense of being overwhelmed by external threats and internal turmoil. The mire suggests a swampy pit that threatens to swallow him whole, symbolizing how he feels trapped without God’s help.
“Deliver me from the mire and do not let me sink; May I be delivered from my foes and from the deep waters.” (v.14) also highlights David’s recognition that his ultimate rescue comes from the LORD. He knows that without divine intervention, the hostility of his enemies and the weight of his own burdens could easily overtake him. He likens these pressures to deep waters, an Old Testament metaphor that often represents chaos or severe distress (Psalm 18:16). In the same way that Jesus calmed the raging sea, bringing order and peace (Matthew 8:26), God’s deliverance can bring stability and hope to His people who feel as though they are drowning in adversity.
In this verse, the psalmist’s dependence on God calls to mind the larger biblical theme of deliverance. Throughout Scripture, God acts to rescue those who call on Him with genuine faith. The apostle Paul echoed the confidence in deliverance when he wrote that in all challenges, we can overwhelmingly conquer through Christ (Romans 8:37). David’s prayerful plea exemplifies that God is near to the brokenhearted and will provide a way out of desperation for those who earnestly seek Him.