Psalms 68-70; Hebrews 8

But as for me, my prayer is to you, O Lord.
At an acceptable time, O God,
in the abundance of your steadfast love answer me in your saving faithfulness.
Deliver me
from sinking in the mire;
let me be delivered from my enemies
and from the deep waters.
Let not the flood sweep over me,
or the deep swallow me up,
or the pit close its mouth over me (Psalm 69:13-15).

Have you been here? Desperate? Overwhelmed? Psalm 69 is the lament of a man who has sinned against God – his sin alone could drive him to despair, but to make matters worse, his adversaries are heaping reproach upon him. He is surrounded by both the spiritual enemy of his own sin and the physical enemy of his adversaries. He needs help! Where does he turn in such a desperate situation?

I will praise the name of God with a song;
I will magnify him with thanksgiving.
This will please the Lord more than an ox
or a bull with horns and hoofs (Psalm 69:30).

Does he look to burnt offerings to satisfy his soul? No. He depends on the steadfast love of His heavenly Father…

Answer me, O Lord, for your steadfast love is good;
according to your abundant mercy, turn to me.
Hide not your face from your servant;
for I am in distress; make haste to answer me.
Draw near to my soul, redeem me;
ransom me because of my enemies! (Psalm 69:16-18).

This is the beauty of the New Covenant…it is a gracious covenant rooted in the promises of the gospel – That Jesus lived, died and rose again to intercede on our behalf to the Father.

As we are pressed in from every side by our enemies…whether from our own sin or the sin of others, we must remember that we have a Great High Priest, Jesus the Son of God!

…we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, a minister in the holy places, in the true tent that the Lord set up, not man (Hebrews 8:1-2).