Reproach has broken my heart, and I am full of heaviness; I looked for someone to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none. They also gave me gall for my food, and for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink. (Psalm 69:20-21)

As has been mentioned previously, not only was David a king but he was also a prophet. Many of his compositions were clearly written under the inspiration of the Spirit of prophecy, this being one of them. Consequently, Jewish commentators consider this psalm to be a prayer in regard to the suffering that Israel would endure while in exile and living under the heel of oppressive nations. Therefore, these verses have been interpreted to mean that, as a suffering people, Israel would find no pity from the nations. To the contrary, the nations would look on their plight with glee and say, “They are desolate; they are given to us to consume” (Ezekiel 35:12). 

David’s words suggest that, not only would the nations relish in Israel’s desperation, but would look for opportunities to add insult to injury — “they gave me gall for food and vinegar to drink.” There is a midrashic tale that underscores this notion. As Jewish captives were being led through the land of the Ishmaelites, they were seemingly greeted with kindness but given heavily salted food to eat. Then they were given leather bags that appeared to be filled with water but were, in fact, filled with nothing but air. Having no water to quench their thirst, they soon expired.

The point Jewish commentators strive to make is that Israel, being God’s people, should not expect to find support, much less sympathy and consideration, from the nations who oppose Israel’s God. Because they hate Him, they will also hate those who love Him. Likewise, we who love and serve the Messiah should remember what He said to us: “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. … The world loves its own. Yet because you are not of the world … therefore the world hates you” (John 15:18-19).

To put it simply, if the world likes us, then we’re doing it wrong. If we are following the Messiah’s example then we should not expect kindness and comfort from the world; we should expect they will give us gall for food and vinegar to drink. And if that be the case, perhaps we should take comfort in that!

Blessings and Shalom,  

Bill 

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