March 7, 2018 (Wednesday)
This short Psalm repeats verses 13-17 of Psalm 40. The liturgical use of the Psalm must have arisen in days of national distress and persecution, and implies the application of the Psalm to the nation. A hint of this national application is given in the Targum of Psalm 70:1 a, “O God make haste to deliver us.” (Cambridge Bible).
What Psalm 70 means (Notes from Easy English Translation):
Verse 1: David asks God for help soon, because (verse 2) an enemy is going to kill him.
Verse 3: The enemy thinks that he has beaten David, so the enemy says, “*Aha! Aha!” These are not really words, but sounds that people make when they think, “I have won the fight!”
Verse 5: David remembers again that he needs help from God.
Psalm 70 (NIV)
For the director of music.
Of David. A petition.
1 Hasten, O God, to save me;
come quickly, Lord, to help me.
2 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.
3 May those who say to me, “Aha! Aha!”
turn back because of their shame.
4 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!”
5 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.
For the director of music.
Of David. A petition.
1 Hasten, O God, to save me;
come quickly, Lord, to help me.
2 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.
3 May those who say to me, “Aha! Aha!”
turn back because of their shame.
4 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!”
5 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.