Read Psalm 70
For the director of music. Of David. A petition.
1 Hasten, O God, to save me;
come quickly, Lord, to help me.
2 May those who want to take my life
be put to shame and confusion;
may all who desire my ruin
be turned back in disgrace.
3 May those who say to me, “Aha! Aha!”
turn back because of their shame.
4 But may all who seek you
rejoice and be glad in you;
may those who long for your saving help always say,
“The Lord is great!”
5 But as for me, I am poor and needy;
come quickly to me, O God.
You are my help and my deliverer;
Lord, do not delay.
Go Deeper
If these five verses sound familiar, it’s because they are. Psalm 70 is almost a word-for-word repetition of Psalm 40:13-17. It is unknown what the time difference is between the writing of these two Psalms, but regardless, we can learn from the fact that at the time David wrote Psalm 70, he had unanswered prayers. So what was his response? He prayed them again.
The commentator Matthew Henry reminds us that “it may be of use sometimes to pray over the prayers we have formerly made to God upon similar occasions, which may be done with new affections.” So in these short five verses, David makes ten urgent pleas that he has formerly made to God. He asks for deliverance for himself and retribution for his enemies coupled with the reminder that there is great joy found in the Lord!
David also pleads to God with a tremendous note of urgency. In verse one, the phrase “make haste” is repeated twice. The same phrase is repeated again at the beginning of verse 5, and the chapter closes by saying “do not delay!” One commentary describes David as “short on time, but long on need.” We can learn from both the earnestness and honesty of David’s dire prayer. David is being honest with God that he longs for God to act quickly on his behalf. He fervently asks the Lord to help him and to please do it quickly!
Psalm 70 is an encouragement to our prayer lives as believers. It helps us understand we can communicate the deep yearnings of our hearts to God over and over again. In addition to that, we can be specific in asking God to answer us! It doesn’t necessarily mean that God will answer in our timing, but it is a reminder to us that God is sovereign over time, and we will begin to see the goodness of God’s timing. Pray that we may be a group of believers who learn to humbly and earnestly ask God to hurry, but for His Glory and our good.
Questions
- Is there a specific prayer that you find yourself repeating to God? Spend some time praying specifically for that prayer you feel has gone unanswered.
- Would you describe your prayers as honest and earnest?
- Do you feel like God delays in answering your prayers? Communicate a specific request to God that you want Him to answer quickly…and take note of how He answers.
Try This
One way that you can keep track of prayers you have made to God that have been answered (or not) is by keeping a prayer journal. Read this info from gotquestions.org about journaling prayers. Start writing out your earnest pleas to God and then anticipate how He will answer!
Leave a Comment below
Join the Team
Interested in writing for the Bible Reading Plan? Email [email protected].
3 responses to “Psalm 70”
God is just so amazing in His detail, it truly is mind blowing to read His word and find more, deeper understanding every time you read it.
I go to several sites that that teach the Torah. So with that in mind this is the site https://torahtodayministries.org/lesson/psalm-70-study/
It is very interesting in understanding the meaning of the names Adonai and Elohim. Also he discusses how Psalm 40 was David fleeing from Saul and 70 is David fleeing from his own son.
BUT GOD is there for us and will come to our rescue in times of need. Sometimes quickly and sometimes with a wait. God is in the waiting, we just keep praying, seeking, knocking and He will answer.
God thank You for continuing to open Your word up to my eyes of understanding. I am so thankful for Your hesed love for me!! God thank You for this season of waiting. God help me to continue to search Your word, to seek Your face, to hear Your voice. God continue to help me breath one breath of You at a time and know that You are God and all will be done with my best interest at heart. God today in these minutes of this day let my words and actions glorify and honor You. God help me to literally show others who You are by the way I live and conduct myself minute by minute. God help me to stand firm in my convictions and surrender to You what I should not control. God thank You beyond words of all gratitude for what an amazing Father You are. I love You God and am so overjoyed deep in my knower of who and what You have done for me, in the past, as well as yesterday, and in these minutes of this day in Jesus name amen.
WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
“ But as for me, I am poor and needy;
come quickly to me, O God.
You are my help and my deliverer;
Lord, do not delay” (v5).
What a comfort to know that God is never weary of our requests. He welcomes and delights in our pleas and petitions, therefore it’s a privilege to take all to him in prayer.
1 Hasten, O God, to save me; come quickly, Lord, to help me.
Interesting points about repetition and urgency! I will follow David’s example!