Ps. 69.3 (from water to thirst)

I am weary / from calling out
my throat / is dry
my eyes / are failing
from waiting / for God. 

From the ‘watery depths’ the psalmist now exists is arid dryness. In a physical manner, the previous reflection revealed that while the body was surrounded by water, the head still had enough freedom that it could speak its petition for salvation. Here, that remainder is now brought into view with the understanding that even the eyes and mouth are dying. Yet, importantly, the first portion focused on the ‘water’ surrounding the body, which the psalm clearly identifies with the wicked. Here, the ‘head’ of the eyes and mouth are associated with God. There, the body was surrounded by an imposing presence. Here, the eyes and mouth are withering precisely because of God’s absence. The images are completely reversed except for the fact that everything is working against the psalmist’s life. In the first section, the life was being drained because he had no support; here, the life of the mouth is draining because it is full of ‘crying out’ but no answer. The mouth is become ‘dry’ with despair. This will only become compounded in verse 21 where his enemies will, in order to assuage this thirst, offer him ‘vinegar to drink’. The eyes, on the other hand, are also failing; could it be a lack of water? Has he spent all of his tears? Or, is this simply a description of a life that is edging closer to death? Finally, it is important to note that in the first section (vs. 1-2) God is addressed directly. Here, when God’s absence is specifically made the point the psalmist does not address God but speaks about him: “…my eyes are failing, from waiting for God” (not, “for you”).