Psalms 70

Psalms 70:1-5

“ My Help and My Deliverer” Psalms 70:1-5 This psalm repeats the closing verses of Psa 40:1-17. It is a song of remembrance to remind Jehovah of His suffering ones. See Isaiah 43:26; Isaiah 62:6-7. Psalms 70:1 God’ s help is often delayed till the morning-watch, but it is never too late. He is hastening on the wings of the wind and walking across the waves to the tossing boat. Psalms 70:2-3. Wicked spirits, as well as evil men, seek after our soul to destroy it. But our shame would be God’ s dishonor. We may therefore plead for His Name’ s sake. Psalms 70:4 Before we actually find God, we are blessed in the act of seeking Him. If you are only a seeker, you may rejoice. If only we had Mary’ s heart of love, we could join in her “ Magnificat,” Luke 1:46-55, and add similar songs of our own. Psalms 70:5. Happy are they who have learned to glory in their infirmities and to use them as arguments with God. Are you poor and needy? Turn to Psalms 72:4, and learn that a Helper and Deliverer is provided. The more helpless you are, the better your suit with God in prayer.

I am poor and needy This Psalm reminds us of Psa 40:1-17. Indeed, it is a repetition of its closing verses. It was composed as a Psalm to put God in remembrance of his suffering ones. “When God seems to forget us, we must not forget to put Him in remembrance” (Isaiah 43:26; Isaiah 62:1-12; Isaiah 62:6-7, marg.).

Psalms 70:1. Make haste to deliver! God often delays to come to our help and tarries till the fourth watch of the morning or the night before the execution. But He is never too late. Yet we often chafe at the delay.

Psalms 70:2-3. Put to confusion Wicked spirits as well as men seek after our soul. But God shall turn them backward and disappoint their designs.

Psalms 70:4. Let God be magnified How much better to say: “Let God be magnified,” than, “Aha, Aha.” The godly man boasts in God and is only eager that his name should be exalted (Philippians 1:20). Let it be our one aim to do and suffer all with this one purpose to make all men think better of the great God.

Psalms 70:5. Poor and needy Happy are. They who have learned to glory in their infirmities and to use them as arguments with God. There is a beautiful answer to this plea in that description of the Messiah which is given in a following (Psalms 82:4): Helper in good works; Deliverer from all the power of the adversary.

The prayer closes with one further plea for urgency.