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Psalm 70: Make haste!
This brief Psalm is very similar to part of Psalm 40 – it’s a quick and urgent cry for helpfor the Psalmist and all who seek the Lord. Nothing is known about the circumstancesunder which David wrote it. Matthew Henry divided it this way, very simply: (1) help tohimself; (2) shames to his enemies; and, (3) joy to his friends.
(1) To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, to bring to remembrance.Make haste, O God, to deliver me; make haste to help me, O LORD. (2) Letthem be ashamed and confounded who seek after my soul; let those beturned backward, and put to confusion, who desire my hurt. (3) Let those be turned back for a reward of their shame that say, “Aha! Aha!” (4) Let allthose who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; and let those who love yoursalvation say continually, “Let God be magnified.” (5) But I am poor andneedy; make haste to me, O God; you are my help and my deliverer; OLORD, do not delay.
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The psalm is meant to remind David – perhaps of the victory that came his way.Oftentimes we destroy reminders of the difficult times when perhaps we shouldkeep them to remind us of God’s kindnesses toward us.
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In Hebrew the first verse is very dramatic, even to the point of beingungrammatical, as the words “make haste” are not present but have beensupplied by our English translators. He is in trouble and so must pray a prayer ina series of short bursts… perhaps he is literally on the run.
Psalms Bible Study Psalms 70-71
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He is being mocked and asks that God would turn the tables, causing his enemiesto be ashamed.
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By contrast, he asks that those who seek God would rejoice. He recommendspraise as the appropriate attitude for the believer. Paul said we should rejoice inthe Lord always, and David gives us many fine examples of that behavior.
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A commonly-expressed prayer in David’s time as well as ours: that God would notdelay. God’s timing isn’t our timing, but is perfect nonetheless.
Psalm 71: You are my hope!
Psalm 71 is not attributed to any writer but is certainly reminiscent of David’s life, beingone of a mixture of great trials and great mercies. It is the song of an older person who wishes to see the grace of God come down to the next generation.
(1) In you, O LORD, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed. (2) Deliverme in your righteousness, and cause me to escape; incline your ear to meand save me. (3) Be my rock of refuge, where I may continually come; youhave given commandment to save me; for you are my stronghold and my fortress. (4) Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, out of thehand of the unrighteous and cruel man.
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A common mode of prayer was to ask God to consider that since His people hadplaced themselves under His care it would be unjust for Him to let them beashamed. God must deliver David “in His righteousness.”
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Psalms Bible Study Psalms 70-71
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Again there are the commonly-used pictures from military conflict and forts. Apparently in this story there is one particular evildoer from whom he is fleeing.It may also be an endtimes picture.
(5) For you are my hope, O Lord GOD, my place of trust from my youth. (6)By you I have been held up from the womb; you are he who took me out of my mother's womb; my praise shall be of you continually. (7) I am as a wonder unto many, but you are my strong refuge. (8) Let my mouth befilled with your praise and with your honor all day.
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He has experiencing the delivering power of God since he was born. Somethinghas occurred in his circumstances which has caused him to be an object of surprise to onlookers, and so he wishes instead to praise God constantly.
(9) Do not cast me off in the time of old age; do not forsake me when my strength fails. (10) For my enemies speak against me; and those who lie in wait for my soul take counsel together, (11) Saying, “God has forsaken him.Persecute and take him; for there is no one to deliver him.”
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David is now old and can no longer deal with his foes on the battlefield – he mustcast himself on the Lord’s mercies more than ever before.
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Despite his years David is still the victim of several things that have plagued hisentire life: slander; plotting against him; and, conspiracies against him. All of these ultimately stemmed from misreading the dealings of God in his life. Peoplelooked at David’s life and misinterpreted certain events to mean that God hadforsaken him.
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