# Overview #Psalm 70 is a brief yet powerful plea for divine assistance, attributed to #David. This chapter serves as a direct call to #God for help and deliverance in times of distress, reflecting a deep sense of urgency and dependence on the Lord. David begins by beseeching God to hasten to his aid, emphasizing the immediacy of his need. The psalmist seeks protection against those who seek his life, praying for their shame and confusion as they plot against him. This reflects the ongoing theme throughout the #Psalms of seeking God's justice against adversaries. The chapter then transitions to a call for joy and celebration among those who seek God, expressing a desire for all who love God's salvation to continually proclaim, "God is great!" Despite the pressing nature of his predicament, David reaffirms his trust in God's deliverance and acknowledges his own poverty and neediness. The psalm closes with a reiterated plea for God to come quickly to his rescue, underscoring the psalmist's unwavering faith in God's ability to save and his reliance on God's timely intervention. This psalm beautifully encapsulates the tension between human desperation and divine faithfulness, encouraging believers to turn to God in moments of crisis. ## Theological Insights Psalm 70, attributed to #David, serves as an urgent plea for divine assistance, reflecting the psalmist's deep reliance on #God in times of distress. This short psalm is a call for God's swift intervention against adversaries, illustrating a profound trust in God's power to save and deliver. 1. **Urgency in Prayer**: The psalm opens with a cry for God to hasten to the psalmist's aid, emphasizing the immediacy of the need for divine help. This reflects the human condition of desperation and the recognition that God is the ultimate source of deliverance. The phrase "O God, make haste to help me" (Psalm 70:1) is a repeated theme in other Psalms, such as [[Psalms/Psalms Chapter 40]] and [[Psalms/Psalms Chapter 71]], highlighting the ongoing reliance on God's timely intervention. 2. **God as Deliverer**: The psalmist identifies God as the one who saves, reinforcing the theme of #salvation. In verse 4, those who seek God and love His salvation are encouraged to continually proclaim, "Let God be magnified." This not only underscores God's role as a deliverer but also invites a community of believers to join in the acknowledgment of God's saving acts. 3. **Contrast between the Righteous and the Wicked**: The psalm contrasts the fate of the wicked and the righteous. While the psalmist prays for the shame and confusion of enemies (verses 2-3), those who seek God are depicted as joyful and glad (verse 4). This dichotomy reflects a common theme in #Wisdom literature, where the righteous are ultimately vindicated, and the wicked face judgment, resonating with passages like [[Proverbs/Proverbs Chapter 10]]. 4. **Dependence on God in Humility**: In verse 5, David acknowledges his state of poverty and need, highlighting a humble reliance on God. This humility is a recurring theme in the #Psalms, where the psalmists often present themselves as utterly dependent on the Lord's mercy and intervention. The recognition of one's own insufficiency and God’s sufficiency is a central tenet of biblical faith, seen throughout the #OldTestament and into the teachings of the #NewTestament, such as in [[Matthew/Matthew Chapter 5]] where Jesus speaks of the blessedness of the poor in spirit. Overall, Psalm 70 calls believers to a posture of urgent prayer, confident in God’s ability to rescue and vindicate. It encourages a community of faith to join in magnifying God, reinforcing the importance of communal worship and the shared acknowledgment of God’s saving power. ## Thematic Connections ### Urgency in Prayer Psalm 70 highlights a theme of urgency in prayer, with the psalmist pleading for God to "hasten" to rescue and deliver him. This immediate appeal to God for help reflects a deep reliance on divine intervention in times of distress. Similar urgent prayers can be seen throughout the #Psalms, such as in [[Psalms/Psalms Chapter 40|Psalm 40]], which shares some language with this chapter, emphasizing the psalmist's continual need for God's swift response. ### Divine Deliverance The theme of divine deliverance is central to Psalm 70, with the psalmist seeking God's salvation from enemies and adversities. This echoes the broader biblical narrative of God as a deliverer, seen in stories like the Exodus, where God delivers the Israelites from #Egyptian bondage ([[Exodus/Exodus Chapter 14|Exodus 14]]), and in the deliverance of individuals like #Daniel from the lions' den ([[Daniel/Daniel Chapter 6|Daniel 6]]). ### Shame and Vindication A recurring theme in Psalm 70 is the desire for the shame of the psalmist's enemies and the vindication of the righteous. The psalmist asks for those who seek his life to be put to shame and confusion, a theme that resonates with other biblical passages where God acts to vindicate His people. For instance, in the story of #Esther, Haman's plans to destroy the Jews are thwarted, and he is put to shame while the Jews are vindicated ([[Esther/Esther Chapter 7|Esther 7]]). ### Joy in Seeking God The psalmist calls for those who seek God to rejoice and be glad in Him, highlighting a theme of joy in relationship with God. This joy is a common theme in the Psalms, as seen in [[Psalms/Psalms Chapter 16|Psalm 16]]: "In your presence there is fullness of joy." The relationship with God as a source of joy and fulfillment is a central tenet of the faith experience throughout the Scriptures. ### God as Helper and Deliverer The closing verses of Psalm 70 reiterate the theme of God as both helper and deliverer. This dual role underscores God's active involvement in the lives of His people, not just as a distant deity, but as a personal and present help in times of trouble. This theme is echoed in the Psalms, such as in [[Psalms/Psalms Chapter 46|Psalm 46]], which declares God as "a very present help in trouble." ## Prophetic Fulfillments ### The Cry for Deliverance Psalm 70 reflects a common prophetic theme of seeking deliverance from enemies, as seen in the cries of the psalmist. This theme resonates with the prophetic declarations of God’s deliverance and salvation found throughout the #OldTestament. In particular, the plea for hastened help and salvation in Psalm 70 aligns with the promises of divine intervention and deliverance seen in passages like [[Isaiah/Isaiah Chapter 35|Isaiah 35:4]], where God’s coming salvation is assured for those who are oppressed and in need. ### The Vindication of the Righteous The plea for God to vindicate and deliver the psalmist from those who seek his harm echoes the prophetic assurance of God's justice for the righteous. This fulfillment aligns with the prophetic declarations in books like [[Isaiah/Isaiah Chapter 54|Isaiah 54:17]], where it is promised that no weapon formed against the servants of the Lord will prosper. The psalmist’s confidence that God will turn back and shame those who seek his downfall is a reflection of the prophetic assurance of God's protection and vindication of His faithful. ### The Joy and Praise of the Redeemed Psalm 70 ends with a call for all who seek God to rejoice and be glad in Him, declaring “God is great.” This theme of joy and praise among the redeemed is a prophetic fulfillment seen in passages like [[Isaiah/Isaiah Chapter 12|Isaiah 12:1-6]], where the redeemed sing with joy for the salvation and deeds of the Lord. The psalmist’s expression of joy and assurance in God’s deliverance reflects the prophetic vision of a redeemed community that glorifies God for His mighty acts of salvation. ### The Expectation of God's Swift Intervention The urgent plea for God to hasten to deliver reflects the prophetic expectation of God's swift action to rescue His people. This mirrors the prophetic urgency seen in passages like [[Habakkuk/Habakkuk Chapter 2|Habakkuk 2:3]], which speaks of the vision that will not delay but will surely come at the appointed time. The psalmist’s appeal for God’s immediate intervention resonates with the prophetic assurance that God’s timing is perfect and His deliverance is certain for those who call upon Him. ## Verses - **Psalm 70:1** - "Please, God, rescue me! Come quickly, Lord, and help me." - Notes: This verse is a call for immediate help from #God, an echo of urgency found in [[Psalms/Psalms Chapter 40]]. - **Psalm 70:2** - "May those who try to kill me be humiliated and put to shame. May those who take delight in my trouble be turned back in disgrace." - Notes: This plea for the downfall of enemies is reminiscent of the prayers for deliverance in [[Psalms/Psalms Chapter 35]]. - **Psalm 70:3** - "Let them be horrified by their shame, for they said, 'Aha! We’ve got him now!'" - Notes: The expression "Aha!" is also seen in [[Psalms/Psalms Chapter 35]] as a taunt from adversaries. - **Psalm 70:4** - "But may all who search for you be filled with joy and gladness in you. May those who love your salvation repeatedly shout, 'God is great!'" - Notes: This verse celebrates those who seek #God and echoes the joy found in #salvation, as seen in [[Psalms/Psalms Chapter 40]]. - **Psalm 70:5** - "But as for me, I am poor and needy; please hurry to my aid, O God. You are my helper and my savior; O Lord, do not delay." - Notes: The acknowledgment of personal need and reliance on #God is a recurring theme, similar to sentiments expressed in [[Psalms/Psalms Chapter 40]].