Psalm 70 - A Prayer for Help Against Persecutors

 

Psalm 70 KJV – A Psalm of David - Comments by Dennis Edwards

Psalm 70:1 Make haste, o God, to deliver me; make haste to help me, O Lord.

We are often in predicaments where we need God to respond speedily. He doesn’t always respond as speedily as we would wish. But respond He does. He says, “No good thing will He withhold to them that walk uprightly,” Psalm 84:11. He tells us to “ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavers is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he will receive anything of the Lord. A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways,” James 1:6-8.

God, also, tells us, “Ye ask and receive not because you ask amiss, that you might consume it upon your lusts,” James 4:3. Apostle John wrote, “Whatsoever we ask, we receive of Him, because we keep His commandments, and do those things which are pleasing in His sight,” 1 John 3:22. David in Psalm 34:15 & 17 has also written, “The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and His ears are open unto their cry. The righteous cry and the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles.”

Therefore, God expects an element of obedience, if we want Him to respond to our cries. Like the blind man who had been healed expressed to the Pharisees when pressed as to whether Jesus was of God. He responded, “Why herein is a marvellous thing, that you know not from whence He is, and yet He has opened my eyes. Now we know that God hears not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and does His will, him He hears. Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind. If this man were not of God, he could do nothing,” John 9:30-33.

The author of Hebrews tells us to “come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need,” Hebrews 4:16. We should come boldly, because “we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we, yet without sin,” Hebrews 4:15.

However, God does not always answer speedily. He does answer. Even when it seems He doesn’t answer, He does in some way enable us to bear the situation. Apostle Paul wrote, “There is no temptation taken you, that is not common to man; but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it,” 1 Corinthians 10:13. God promises to in some way, “comfort us in all our tribulations,” 2 Corinthians 1:4a.

Whether it is yes, no, or wait; God answers. Trust Him even if it seems He is not listening.

 Psalm 70:2-3 Let them be ashamed and confounded that seek after my soul: let them be turned backward, and put to confusion, that desire my hurt. Let them be turned back for a reward of their shame that say, Aha, aha.

Here we see the reason for David’s anguish. He is being persecuted or sought out by his enemies. Perhaps he is referring to King Saul who sought to kill David. At one point, David and his men were surrounded by King Saul and His men. Suddenly, King Saul receives a message that the Philistines have attacked a part of the kingdom. Immediately, just when it seemed David and his men would be captured, King Saul abandons his pursuit of David and goes back to respond to the threat of the Philistines, 1 Samuel 23:25-29. Had God inspired the Philistines to attack so that David would be saved?

Psalm 70:4 Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: and let such as love thy salvation say continually, Let God be magnified.

Amen. “O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together. I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears,” Psalm 34:3-4. “This is the day that the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it,” Psalm 118:24. “Rejoice in the Lord always: and again, I say, Rejoice,” Philippians 4:4.

Psalm 70:5 But I am poor and needy: make haste unto me, O God: You are my help and my deliverer; O Lord, make no tarrying.

In Isaiah 66:2 we find, “but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembles at My word.”

In Psalm 34, we find some other gems. “This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all of his troubles,” verse 6. “The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saves such as be of a contrite spirit,” verse 18.

Do you want God to answer your prayers? Keep a humble and contrite spirit. “God resists the proud, but gives grace unto the humble,” James 4:6b. “Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you doubled minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up,” James 4:8-10.

“Though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry,” Habakkuk 2:3b. “Wait on the Lord: and be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thy heart; wait, I say, on the Lord,” Psalm 27:14.