Psalms 70 - A Plea for Deliverance
Old TestamentBook II

Psalms 70: A Plea for Deliverance

Psalm 70 is a brief yet fervent cry for God's swift help in the face of enemies who seek the psalmist's harm. Attributed to David, this psalm encapsulates the urgency of divine intervention and the be...

5

Verses

~1 min

Read Time

David and others

Author

Timeline

c. 1000 BC - Reign of King David in Israel

Overview

Psalm 70 is a brief yet fervent cry for God's swift help in the face of enemies who seek the psalmist's harm. Attributed to David, this psalm encapsulates the urgency of divine intervention and the believer's dependence on God as both helper and deliverer. It contrasts the shame and confusion destined for the adversaries with the joy and praise that belong to those who seek and love God's salvation. Positioned near the end of the Psalter, Psalm 70 serves as a poignant reminder of the believer’s continual need for God’s immediate aid and the assurance that God magnifies and saves His people.

Structure & Organization

Verses 1-3: The Urgent Plea for Deliverance. The psalmist implores God to hasten His help and deliverance, calling for shame and confusion upon those who seek to harm him. This section sets the tone of desperation and trust in God’s justice.

Verse 4: The Call for Joy and Praise. A shift occurs as the psalmist invites all who seek God to rejoice and magnify Him continually, highlighting the communal response to God’s salvation.

Verse 5: The Personal Declaration of Need. The psalmist concludes by affirming his own poverty and neediness, reiterating the urgency of God’s help and identifying God as his helper and deliverer, pleading for no delay.

Characters, Events & Symbols

D

David

The attributed author of this psalm, David is portrayed as a faithful servant of God who urgently seeks divine help against his enemies. His role is that of a supplicant expressing deep need and trust in God's salvation.

G

God (the LORD)

The central figure addressed in the psalm, God is invoked as the swift deliverer and helper. He is the one who brings shame upon the enemies and joy to those who seek Him, embodying both justice and salvation.

E

Enemies

Those who seek to harm the psalmist, representing opposition and danger. They are depicted as deserving shame and confusion as a consequence of their malicious intentions.

Key Terms

Make haste
An urgent plea meaning to act quickly or without delay.
Confounded
To be put to shame, confused, or brought to dishonor.
Put to confusion
To be dismayed or distressed, often publicly embarrassed or defeated.
Magnified
To exalt or praise God highly, acknowledging His greatness.
Poor and needy
A biblical expression denoting spiritual and material dependence on God.

Chapter Outline

Urgent Plea for Deliverance

Psalms 70:1-3

The psalmist urgently calls on God to hasten His help and bring shame upon those who seek to harm him, emphasizing the need for immediate divine intervention.

Call to Praise and Rejoicing

Psalms 70:4

An invitation to all who seek God to rejoice and continually magnify Him, highlighting the communal response to God’s salvation.

Personal Declaration of Need

Psalms 70:5

The psalmist concludes by expressing his own poverty and neediness, reaffirming God as his helper and deliverer and pleading for no delay in His aid.

Key Verses

Make haste, O God, to deliver me; make haste to help me, O LORD.
Psalms 70:1
This opening verse captures the psalmist’s urgent cry for God’s swift intervention, emphasizing the immediacy of divine help in times of distress. It sets the tone for the entire psalm as a prayer of desperate dependence on God.Study this verse →
Let them be ashamed and confounded that seek after my soul: let them be turned backward, and put to confusion, that desire my hurt.
Psalms 70:2
This verse expresses a plea for God’s justice against enemies, reflecting the biblical theme that God protects His people and brings shame upon those who oppose them.Study this verse →
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.
Psalms 70:4
Here, the psalmist broadens the focus to the community of believers, encouraging continual praise and joy in God’s salvation, underscoring the communal aspect of worship and trust in God.Study this verse →
But I am poor and needy: make haste unto me, O God: thou art my help and my deliverer; O LORD, make no tarrying.
Psalms 70:5
This concluding verse personalizes the psalmist’s plea, highlighting his vulnerability and absolute reliance on God as his helper and deliverer, reinforcing the theme of urgent trust in God’s timely aid.Study this verse →

How well do you know Psalms 70?

Take the Quiz

Practical Application

  • 1

    In times of distress, believers should pray earnestly and without delay, trusting God to hear and respond swiftly.

  • 2

    Christians can find comfort in knowing that God defends His people and brings shame upon those who seek to harm them.

  • 3

    Believers are encouraged to join in communal praise, magnifying God continually as an expression of faith and gratitude.

  • 4

    Recognize and confess personal spiritual poverty and neediness, relying fully on God’s help and deliverance.

  • 5

    Maintain hope and patience, trusting that God’s timing is perfect even when deliverance seems delayed.

  • 6

    Use this psalm as a model for praying with urgency and confidence, knowing God is both just and merciful.

Main Themes

Urgent Prayer

The psalm emphasizes the believer’s need to call upon God quickly and earnestly in times of trouble, reflecting the biblical principle that God hears and responds to sincere, immediate prayer.

Divine Deliverance

God’s role as helper and deliverer is central, showing that salvation comes from Him alone. This theme connects to the broader biblical narrative of God rescuing His people from enemies and distress.

Justice Against Enemies

The psalmist’s request for shame and confusion upon adversaries highlights God’s righteous judgment, affirming that God defends His people and punishes the wicked.

Communal Praise

The call for all who seek God to rejoice and magnify Him illustrates the corporate nature of worship and the shared joy found in God’s salvation.

Human Neediness

The psalmist’s self-description as poor and needy underscores human dependence on God’s grace, a recurring biblical theme that points to the necessity of divine mercy.

Historical & Cultural Context

Psalm 70 is traditionally attributed to King David, placing its composition in the early monarchy period of Israel’s history, around the 10th century BC. During this time, Israel faced various internal and external threats, including hostile neighbors and political instability. The psalm reflects the common ancient Near Eastern practice of invoking divine aid against enemies, a practice deeply rooted in Israel’s covenantal relationship with Yahweh. The geographical setting would have been in the land of Israel, where the temple worship and Levitical musicianship were central to religious life, as indicated by the heading "To the chief Musician." The political situation was often precarious, with David himself experiencing persecution and danger, which may have inspired such urgent prayers for deliverance.

Theological Interpretations

Reformed View

Reformed theology emphasizes God’s sovereignty and faithfulness in answering the prayers of His elect. This psalm is seen as a model of earnest prayer and reliance on God’s providence, highlighting the believer’s total dependence on divine grace for deliverance.

Dispensational View

Dispensationalists often interpret this psalm as a personal lament of David that also foreshadows the Messiah’s sufferings and the believer’s need for God’s timely intervention in all dispensations. The call for haste reflects the urgency of God’s kingdom work.

Church Fathers

Early Church Fathers like Augustine viewed this psalm as both a literal prayer of David and a prophetic foreshadowing of Christ’s intercession. They emphasized the spiritual application of seeking God’s help against sin and spiritual enemies.

Cross-References

Psalm 40:13

Both Psalms express a plea for God’s swift deliverance from enemies, highlighting the theme of urgent prayer for salvation.

Isaiah 41:10

God’s promise to help and uphold His people parallels the psalmist’s trust in God as helper and deliverer.

Romans 12:19

Paul’s teaching to leave vengeance to God echoes the psalmist’s request for God to bring shame upon his enemies.

Hebrews 4:16

The encouragement to approach God’s throne of grace with confidence relates to the psalmist’s bold plea for immediate help.

1 Peter 5:7

Casting all anxieties on God aligns with the psalmist’s expression of neediness and dependence on God’s timely aid.

Conclusion

Psalm 70 remains a powerful expression of urgent dependence on God amid adversity. It teaches believers to cry out for swift deliverance, trust in God’s justice against enemies, and rejoice in His salvation. The psalm’s brevity belies its depth, encapsulating themes of human neediness, divine help, and communal praise that resonate throughout Scripture. For believers today, it serves as a timeless reminder to approach God boldly and expectantly, confident that He hears and acts on behalf of His people.

Test Your Knowledge

You just read the summary of Psalms 70. See how much you retained with our free quiz.

Related Chapters

More on Psalms

Explore Related Content