Psalm 70

Hasten, O God, to save me;
    come quickly, Lord, to help me.
May those who want to take my life
    be put to shame and confusion;
may all who desire my ruin
    be turned back in disgrace.
May those who say to me, “Aha! Aha!”
    turn back because of their shame.
But may all who seek you
    rejoice and be glad in you;
may those who long for your saving help always say,
    “The Lord is great!”
But as for me, I am poor and needy;
    come quickly to me, O God.
You are my help and my deliverer;
    Lord, do not delay.

• Psalm 70:1-5

Type of Psalm

Psalms of Affliction: Psalms where the psalmist is crying out in pain or distress, asking God where He is in the psalmist’s time of need.  But no matter how dire the circumstances or how long the lament, there seems to always be a word of praise.  Otherwise, why do we go to God in such times, other than to recognize Him as the only one who can help us?

Imprecatory psalms: Asking for vengeance against enemies.  From the two examples above, these requests for vengeance are usually not specific in how God does it.  I have written about this type of psalm or prayer in that they are legitimate requests to God.  We know that God will eventually stamp out all evil in the world.  Praying that God would do as He promises that He will eventually do is legitimate, but when a face is applied to that evil, our first reaction should be one of forgiveness and mercy.

Matthew Henry’s Summary

“This psalm is adapted to a state of affliction; it is copied almost word for word from the fortieth, and, some think for that reason, is entitled, “a psalm to bring to remembrance;” for it may be of use sometimes to pray over the prayers we have formerly made to God upon similar occasions, which may be done with new affections. David here prays that God would send, I. Help to himself, ver. 1, 5. II. Shame to his enemies, ver. 2, 3. III. Joy to his friends, ver. 4. These five verses were the last five verses of Ps. 40. He seems to have intended this short prayer to be both for himself and us a salve for every sore, and therefore to be always in mind; and in singing we may apply it to our particular troubles, whatever they are.”

• Matthew Henry, Matthew Henry’s Commentary

Noted Biblical Scholars, Teachers, and Preachers Comments

Psalm 70:1-5 “This prayer for deliverance from one’s enemies is nearly identical to Ps. 40:13–17. It substitutes ‘God’ for ‘LORD’ in vv. 1, 4, 5.”

• John MacArthur, John MacArthur Commentary (quoted Scripture without bold/italics)

My Thoughts

David begs for God to come to him.

He recognizes that he is poor and needy, but David was a great king…

In comparison to God, we are all needy.

The imprecatory verses (in bold) ask only for his enemies to be shamed and confused.  In not knowing God, as the Bible definition of Fool, would that at least mean confusion?  And if they do not accept Jesus, there will be shame to follow.

Psalm 71

In you, Lord, I have taken refuge;
    let me never be put to shame.
In your righteousness, rescue me and deliver me;
    turn your ear to me and save me.
Be my rock of refuge,
    to which I can always go;
give the command to save me,
    for you are my rock and my fortress.
Deliver me, my God, from the hand of the wicked,
    from the grasp of those who are evil and cruel.
For you have been my hope, Sovereign Lord,
    my confidence since my youth.
From birth I have relied on you;
    you brought me forth from my mother’s womb.
    I will ever praise you.
I have become a sign to many;
    you are my strong refuge.
My mouth is filled with your praise,
    declaring your splendor all day long.
Do not cast me away when I am old;
    do not forsake me when my strength is gone.
For my enemies speak against me;
    those who wait to kill me conspire together.
They say, “God has forsaken him;
    pursue him and seize him,
    for no one will rescue him.”
Do not be far from me, my God;
    come quickly, God, to help me.
May my accusers perish in shame;
    may those who want to harm me
    be covered with scorn and disgrace.
As for me, I will always have hope;
    I will praise you more and more.
My mouth will tell of your righteous deeds,
    of your saving acts all day long—
    though I know not how to relate them all.
I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, Sovereign Lord;
    I will proclaim your righteous deeds, yours alone.
Since my youth, God, you have taught me,
    and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds.
Even when I am old and gray,
    do not forsake me, my God,
till I declare your power to the next generation,
    your mighty acts to all who are to come.
Your righteousness, God, reaches to the heavens,
    you who have done great things.
    Who is like you, God?
Though you have made me see troubles,
    many and bitter,
    you will restore my life again;
from the depths of the earth
    you will again bring me up.
You will increase my honor
    and comfort me once more.
I will praise you with the harp
    for your faithfulness, my God;
I will sing praise to you with the lyre,
    Holy One of Israel.
My lips will shout for joy
    when I sing praise to you—
    I whom you have delivered.
My tongue will tell of your righteous acts
    all day long,
for those who wanted to harm me
    have been put to shame and confusion.

• Psalm 71:1-24

Type of Psalm

Psalms of Affliction: Psalms where the psalmist is crying out in pain or distress, asking God where He is in the psalmist’s time of need.  But no matter how dire the circumstances or how long the lament, there seems to always be a word of praise.  Otherwise, why do we go to God in such times, other than to recognize Him as the only one who can help us?

Imprecatory psalms: Asking for vengeance against enemies.  From the two examples above, these requests for vengeance are usually not specific in how God does it.  I have written about this type of psalm or prayer in that they are legitimate requests to God.  We know that God will eventually stamp out all evil in the world.  Praying that God would do as He promises that He will eventually do is legitimate, but when a face is applied to that evil, our first reaction should be one of forgiveness and mercy.

Matthew Henry’s Summary

“David penned this psalm in his old age, as appears by several passages in it, which makes many think that it was penned at the time of Absalom’s rebellion; for that was the great trouble of his later days. It might be occasioned by Sheba’s insurrection, or some trouble that happened to him in that part of his life of which it was foretold that the sword should not depart from his house. But he is not over-particular in representing his case, because he intended it for the general use of God’s people in their afflictions, especially those they meet with in their declining years; for this psalm, above any other, is fitted for the use of the old disciples of Jesus Christ. I. He begins the psalm with believing prayers, with prayers that God would deliver him and save him (ver.2, 4), and not cast him off (ver. 9) or be far from him (ver. 12), and that his enemies might be put to shame, ver. 13. He pleads his confidence in God (ver. 1, 3, 5, 7), the experience he had had of help from God (ver. 6), and the malice of his enemies against him, ver. 10, 11. II. He concludes the psalm with believing praises (ver. 14). Never was his hope more established, ver. 16, 18, 20, 21. Never were his joys and thanksgivings more enlarged, ver. 15, 19, 22-24. He is in an ecstasy of joyful praise; and, in the singing of it, we too should have our faith in God encouraged and our hearts raised in blessing his holy name.”

• Matthew Henry, Matthew Henry’s Commentary

Noted Biblical Scholars, Teachers, and Preachers Comments

Psalm 71:5 : ”The cause of disillusionment is putting one’s complete hope and trust in people. Putting people on a pedestal, focusing on them, finding our security in them. Being so horizontally locked in that the person takes the place of God, even becomes God. Your complete hope can rest in one person. It can be your child. It can be your parent. It can be a business partner, a friend, a pastor, a coach, a mate. And when the feet of clay crumble (as surely they will), total disillusionment sets in. What’s the cure? Putting our complete hope and trust in the living Lord.”

• Charles R. Swindoll, Bedside Blessings

My Thoughts

As Matthew Henry states, this psalm, if written late in David’s life, gives an account of how God had been there for him in all his troubles.

And David asks for his accusers to be shamed and disgraced, similar to the imprecatory verses in Psalm 70.

But the focus is in God’s deeds.  David was a great king, but he focuses totally on God’s great deeds.

He hints that in old age, he has become weak.  In a battle, David tired and it was noticed that he had lost a step.  His men told him to stay behind.  This could be the inspiration of this psalm.  To ask God to protect him.

Psalm 72

Endow the king with your justice, O God,
    the royal son with your righteousness.
May he judge your people in righteousness,
    your afflicted ones with justice.
May the mountains bring prosperity to the people,
    the hills the fruit of righteousness.
May he defend the afflicted among the people
    and save the children of the needy;
    may he crush the oppressor.
May he endure as long as the sun,
    as long as the moon, through all generations.
May he be like rain falling on a mown field,
    like showers watering the earth.
In his days may the righteous flourish
    and prosperity abound till the moon is no more.
May he rule from sea to sea
    and from the River to the ends of the earth.
May the desert tribes bow before him
    and his enemies lick the dust.
May the kings of Tarshish and of distant shores
    bring tribute to him.
May the kings of Sheba and Seba
    present him gifts.
May all kings bow down to him
    and all nations serve him.
For he will deliver the needy who cry out,
    the afflicted who have no one to help.
He will take pity on the weak and the needy
    and save the needy from death.
He will rescue them from oppression and violence,
    for precious is their blood in his sight.
Long may he live!
    May gold from Sheba be given him.
May people ever pray for him
    and bless him all day long.
May grain abound throughout the land;
    on the tops of the hills may it sway.
May the crops flourish like Lebanon
    and thrive like the grass of the field.
May his name endure forever;
    may it continue as long as the sun.
Then all nations will be blessed through him,
    and they will call him blessed.
Praise be to the Lord God, the God of Israel,
    who alone does marvelous deeds.
Praise be to his glorious name forever;
    may the whole earth be filled with his glory.
Amen and Amen.
This concludes the prayers of David son of Jesse.

• Psalm 72:1-20

Type of Psalm

Messianic psalms: These psalms can be shown as being prophetic (or verses within the psalm) and the prophecy relates to the coming Messiah.  Oddly in the lists that follow, Psalm 22 is listed as a psalm of affliction and a prophetic psalm, but not as a Messianic psalm.  Yet, Jesus quotes from this psalm from the cross, the first verse, and there is language within the psalm that could relate to Christ’s suffering, but maybe the person creating the list thought the connection to Messianic prophecy was not strong enough.

Prophetic psalms: Prophetic psalms are those psalms containing prophecy that is not specifically Messianic prophecy.

Matthew Henry’s Summary

“The foregoing psalm was penned by David when he was old, and, it should seem, so was this too; for Solomon was now standing fair for the crown; that was his prayer for himself, this for his son and successor, and with these two the prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended, as we find in the close of this psalm. If we have but God’s presence with us while we live, and good hopes concerning those that shall come after us that they shall be praising God on earth when we are praising him in heaven, it is enough. This is entitled ‘a psalm for Solomon:’ it is probable that David dictated it, or, rather, that it was by the blessed Spirit dictated to him, when, a little before he died, by divine direction he settled the succession, and gave orders to proclaim Solomon king, 1 Ki 1:30, etc. But, though Solomon’s name is here made use of, Christ’s kingdom is here prophesied of under the type and figure of Solomon’s. David knew what the divine oracle was, That “of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne,” Acts 2:30. To him he here bears witness, and with the prospect of the glories of his kingdom he comforted himself in his dying moments when he foresaw that his house would not be so with God, not so great not so good, as he wished. David, in spirit, I. Begins with a short prayer for his successor, ver. 1. II. He passes immediately into a long prediction of the glories of his reign, ver. 2-17. And, III. He concludes with praise to the God of Israel, ver. 18-20. In singing this psalm we must have an eye to Christ, praising him as a King, and pleasing ourselves with our happiness as his subjects.”

• Matthew Henry, Matthew Henry’s Commentary

Noted Biblical Scholars, Teachers, and Preachers Comments

Psalm 72:3 “When the king rules with justice and compassion, the earth itself radiates well-being.”

• John MacArthur, John MacArthur Commentary (quoted Scripture without bold/italics)

My Thoughts

This psalm is interesting.  It is titled as a psalm of Solomon, but it starts with the anointing of his son, Solomon.  As Matthew Henry surmises, it is quite possible that King David dictated this psalm to his son.

The psalm ends with this concluding the prayers of David son of Jesse.  Thus, more evidence that David may have dictated the psalm.  Also, it does not say songs or psalms.  It says prayers.  On Sunday afternoon at this time, I am going through Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s book on the psalms, but the subtitle is The Prayer Book in the Bible.  We are taught to adore God in our prayers, to confess, to thank God, and all before we ask for anything, supplication, the ACTS model.  But any psalm can be a prayer.  To pray, we do not have to go by a formula.  And when there are so many psalms that are praises, praising and thanking God need to dominate our prayers.

But this psalm is considered a Messianic psalm in its entirety.  Many of these things were granted to Solomon, but they could also apply to Jesus, either in His ministry or in the future in the millennial reign.  Solomon’s gold came from Ophir, but some think that Ophir and Sheba are opposite sides of the Red Sea.

And the parts of this prophetic psalm that do not fit Solomon is that the request is for the king to reign forever, to outlast the sun and moon.  This might apply to Jesus, but not Solomon.

And what earthly splendor the reign of Solomon was, it will be nothing in comparison to the reign of Jesus upon His return.

Some Serendipitous Reflections

Psalm 70

“1. What prayers of yours are marked ‘rush order’? Why? Is God obliging you? If not, do you yet exalt him, or do you grow impatient, even spiteful?”

• Lyman Coleman, et al, The NIV Serendipity Bible for Study Groups

Psalm 71

“1. What do you fear most about growing older: (a) Failing health? (b) Failing mind? (c) Becoming dependent? (d) Death of family members? (e) Your own death?
“2. Were you raised a Christian, or come to faith later in life? What are the advantages and disadvantages of either experience?
“3. What experience with God in the past gives you confidence now that he will.be with you in the future?
“4. What would you like to declare to the next generation’? Why not start this week?
“5. What elderly Christian in your church can you seek out to learn from? What would you hope to learn?
“6. From this psalmist’s experience and faith, what do you still need to work on so that others may learn from you when you are elderly?”

Psalm 72

“1. This psalm is regarded in Jewish and Christian tradition as ‘messianic’. Given only this psalm to work with, how would you explain the Messiah to someone else? Can you see why Jews from Jesus’ time to the present fail to see it fulfilled in Jesus? How does it fit your view of Jesus?
“2. How do you feel about nationalism? Who rules you? Why have human government? Does God approve of all world leaders and their actions?
“3. Could you honestly say that God is your ruler? If not, who is? If so, what about your life reveals God’s rule? What does it mean to have God as King?”

There is one set of questions for each of these psalms.

Substitute whatever group for any reference to a small group or ask who could come to your aid.

Soli Deo Gloria.  Only to God be the Glory.