Psalm 70

Psalms 70 Devotions
by Pastor Mark Hudson

         

          If this Psalm looks familiar, your may be harkening back to Ps 40:13-17.  There is considerable question about which came first.  But you may also notice similarities with Ps 22, 35, 38, 60, 71, and 102 (Craigie, p. 204).  It also may appear that Ps 70 and 71 were meant to be read together since there is no heading or superscript in Ps 71.  This lack of heading or superscription is similar to these Psalms: 10, 33. 43, etc. 

          God is usually the one to counsel patience and to wait on God (Ps 25:21; 27:14; 31:24; 37:7, 34; 38:15) and yet here the Psalmist is in a big hurry for God to act.  The Psalmist fears for his life (v. 2 “who seek my life!).  This is not a casual prayer for he begins with, “Make haste, O God to deliver me!  O Lord, make haste to help me!”  These are people who seek his life, delight in his hurt, and enjoy his shame (vs. 2-4). 

          There is no resolution in this Psalm but in v. 4, he anticipates all the good that will come from his answered prayer.  He is appealing to God almost saying, “If you help me by answering my prayer, godly people will rejoice and be glad in you.  They will praise you by saying God is great.”

          Then this Psalm concludes with how he began the Psalm.  In v. 1, “Make haste, O God . . . make haste to help me!  Then v. 5, “. . . O Lord, do not delay.”  There are times in our lives when we need God’s help quickly.  As long as we do not demand we can make these prayers since the prayer is to God, not our servant.  We may humbly ask but we do not make demands on God.

          This is a prayer from someone who needs help from God.  He says that he is “poor and needy” v. 5.  He needs help v. 1.  God is the only one who can help and deliver Him (v. 5).  Don’t you love how God-centered the Psalms are?   While others can help the Psalmist, his prayer is to God primarily.  God often answers prayers through people.  It is not the David does not recognize that.  Yet, his first move is to pray to God.  This first move does not necessarily mean one cannot ask a person for help. 

          As you read a Psalm like this you may not need this kind of help.  Remember that millions of our brother and sisters suffer all over the world.  We will never meet them this side of heaven.  Yet they suffer for their sincere and risky faith.  If you can’t pray the prayer for yourself, pray it for them.  There are close to 260 million persecuted brethren in countries like North Korea, Pakistan, India, Chad, etc.  Wives and children need their fathers out of prison now.  Families who lost a mother need help now.  Their plight is urgent.

          Father, my life is not under attack like the Psalmist.  But I wonder if my life and my circumstances are an aberration compared with other believers throughout the world.  I know many millions of believers around the world suffer various threats and endure violent oppression.  May You hasten to give them help and be their Deliverer.  Prepare me so that if this type of persecution ever happens here I will be prepared and others will also because of my words and actions.  Come Lord Jesus, Amen.