Psalm Chapter 70

What is the meaning of Psalm 70?

Introduction to Psalm 70

Psalm 70 stands as an urgent cry for divine intervention, mirroring the raw emotions and desperate circumstances that believers often face. This brief but powerful psalm, attributed to King David, serves as a template for how to approach God in times of extreme distress while maintaining unwavering faith. Its concise nature and emotional intensity make it particularly relevant for modern readers who find themselves in situations requiring immediate divine assistance.

The psalm’s placement in the Psalter is significant, appearing as a near-duplicate of the conclusion of Psalm 40:13-17, suggesting its importance as a “quick prayer” that could be memorized and utilized in moments of crisis. Its brevity and urgency speak to the reality that sometimes our most authentic prayers are our shortest and most desperate.

Context of Psalm 70

Within the broader context of the Psalter, Psalm 70 belongs to Book II of the Psalms (Psalms 42-72), which predominantly features Davidic compositions focusing on personal lament and petition. This psalm appears at a crucial juncture, serving as a bridge between the more extensive psalms surrounding it and offering a concentrated form of supplication that encapsulates the essence of many longer laments.

The immediate literary context shows fascinating connections to both Psalm 69 and Psalm 71. While Psalm 69 expands on similar themes of persecution and divine deliverance, Psalm 71 continues the thread of seeking God’s protection in times of distress. Together, these three psalms form a powerful triptych of faithful persistence in prayer during times of trouble.

This psalm also fits within the larger Biblical narrative of righteous suffering and divine deliverance, a theme that runs throughout Scripture and finds its ultimate fulfillment in the Messiah. Its placement in the Psalter suggests it was likely used in Temple worship, providing worshippers with a model prayer for times of urgent need.

Ancient Key Word Study

• מַהֵר (maher) – “Make haste”: This urgent plea appears twice in the psalm, derived from the root meaning “to be quick” or “to hurry.” Its repetition emphasizes the psalmist’s desperate need for immediate divine intervention, reflecting both the severity of the situation and the psalmist’s confidence in God’s ability to respond swiftly.
• לְהַצִּילֵנִי (lehatzileni) – “To deliver me”: This word comes from the root נצל (natsal), which carries the idea of snatching away or rescuing from danger. Its usage here implies not just simple help but dramatic rescue from imminent threat, painting a picture of divine intervention that physically removes the believer from harm’s way.
• יֵבֹשׁוּ (yevoshu) – “Let them be put to shame”: This term goes beyond mere embarrassment, suggesting a complete reversal of fortune and public vindication of the righteous. In ancient Near Eastern culture, shame was a powerful social force that could fundamentally alter one’s standing in the community.
• יִסֹּגוּ (yissogu) – “Let them be turned back”: This military term implies not just retreat but a routing of the enemy. Its usage here suggests the complete defeat and reversal of the wicked’s plans against the righteous.
• שְׂמֵחִים (semechim) – “Be glad”: This word conveys deep, abiding joy rather than temporary happiness. Its placement near the end of the psalm shows the anticipated transformation from distress to celebration that faith in God’s deliverance brings.
• יִשְׂמְחוּ (yismechu) – “Let them rejoice”: Related to the previous term but in different form, this word emphasizes communal joy and celebration. Its usage here points to the corporate nature of worship and the shared experience of God’s deliverance.
• מְבַקְשֶׁיךָ (mevakshecha) – “Those who seek You”: This participle form describes not just occasional seekers but those who consistently and habitually seek God. It implies an ongoing relationship rather than a one-time encounter.
• אֱלֹהִים (Elohim) – “God”: Used instead of the divine name יהוה, this title emphasizes God’s supreme power and authority over creation, particularly appropriate in a psalm seeking divine intervention.
• תּוֹשָׁעָה (toshiah) – “Help”: This term implies both immediate assistance and longer-term salvation, connecting the immediate need for help with God’s broader salvific purposes.
• עֶזְרִי (ezri) – “My help”: This personal term emphasizes the intimate relationship between the psalmist and God, suggesting both dependence and confidence in God’s character as a helper.

Compare & Contrast

• Verse 1: “Make haste, O God, to deliver me!” The choice of אֱלֹהִים (Elohim) rather than יהוה (Yahweh) emphasizes divine power over covenantal relationship in this moment of crisis, suggesting that raw power for deliverance is the primary need.
• Verse 2: “Let them be put to shame and confusion who seek my life!” The use of יֵבֹשׁוּ (yevoshu) rather than a simpler term for defeat suggests a complete moral and social reversal, not just physical defeat.
• Verse 2b: “Let them be turned back” employs יִסֹּגוּ (yissogu), a military term, rather than a more general word for retreat, emphasizing the total routing of enemies.
• Verse 3: “Let them be appalled” uses יָשֹׁמּוּ (yashomu) rather than a simpler term for shame, suggesting psychological devastation rather than mere embarrassment.
• Verse 4: “Let all who seek You rejoice” employs יִשְׂמְחוּ (yismechu) in the plural, emphasizing communal joy rather than individual celebration.
• Verse 5: “But I am poor and needy” uses the combination עָנִי וְאֶבְיוֹן (ani v’evyon), a hendiadys emphasizing complete dependence on God rather than just material poverty.
• The psalm’s conclusion with “Make haste to me” forms an inclusio with its opening, but uses a slightly different grammatical construction, emphasizing the urgency while providing closure.

Psalm 70 Unique Insights

The structure of Psalm 70 reveals a fascinating chiastic pattern that points to its deeper spiritual significance. The outer framework of urgent plea (“Make haste”) encloses alternating sections of judgment on enemies and blessing for the faithful, creating a literary temple structure that mirrors the actual Temple’s layout – moving from outer court (distress) to inner sanctuary (communion with God).

Rabbi David Kimchi (Radak) noted that this psalm’s placement immediately following Psalm 69’s extensive suffering motif suggests it serves as a “quick prayer” version of longer laments. This insight is particularly relevant for understanding how the ancient Jewish community used these prayers in both liturgical and personal settings. The condensed nature of the psalm makes it ideal for memorization and immediate use in crisis situations.

Early Messianic Jewish interpreters saw in this psalm’s pattern of suffering followed by vindication a prophetic foreshadowing of the Messiah’s experience. The combination of personal distress and communal hope particularly resonates with Yeshua’s experience of bearing individual suffering for communal redemption. The Midrash Tehillim connects the phrase “poor and needy” to the Messiah’s voluntary humiliation for the sake of His people, a concept that found its fulfillment in Yeshua’s incarnation and suffering.

The repetition of “Make haste” (מַהֵר) at the beginning and end creates what Jewish scholars call a “sealed structure,” suggesting both urgency and completeness. This literary device implies that while the prayer is urgent, it is also carefully crafted to express complete trust in God’s timing and provision.

Psalm 70 Connections to Yeshua

The cry for deliverance in Psalm 70 finds its deepest fulfillment in Yeshua’s experience on the cross. Just as the psalmist calls for God to “make haste,” Yeshua experienced the ultimate moment of crisis during His crucifixion, crying out “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Matthew 27:46). Yet in both cases, the apparent delay in divine response served a greater redemptive purpose.

The psalm’s contrast between those who seek to harm and those who seek God parallels the two responses to Yeshua’s ministry – rejection by religious authorities versus acceptance by those who truly sought God. This pattern continues in the life of believers today, as noted in John 15:20: “If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you.” The psalm thus provides a framework for understanding both Messiah’s suffering and the believer’s participation in it.

Psalm 70 Scriptural Echoes

This psalm’s themes resonate throughout Scripture, finding particular harmony with several key passages. The urgent cry for divine help echoes Moses’s prayer at the Red Sea (Exodus 14:15), while the contrast between the righteous and wicked mirrors the wisdom literature, particularly Proverbs 28:1.

The phrase “poor and needy” connects to Isaiah 61:1, which Yeshua quoted at the beginning of His ministry (Luke 4:18). The psalm’s emphasis on seeking God finds fulfillment in Yeshua’s teaching to “seek first the kingdom of God” (Matthew 6:33).

New Testament parallels include Paul’s experience of persecution and deliverance (2 Corinthians 1:8-10), and the early church’s prayer for boldness in the face of opposition (Acts 4:23-31).

Psalm 70 Devotional

In our fast-paced world of instant gratification, Psalm 70 teaches us the profound truth that it’s acceptable – even appropriate – to pray for urgent divine intervention. Yet it also demonstrates that such prayers should be accompanied by trust in God’s character and timing. When we find ourselves in crisis, we can follow this psalm’s pattern: honest expression of need, trust in God’s justice, and anticipation of future praise.

The psalm challenges us to examine our own spiritual priorities. Are we among those who “seek God” and “love His salvation”? Or do we only turn to Him in crisis? It encourages us to develop a lifestyle of seeking God before crises arise, so that when troubles come, we’re already positioned in a place of trust and dependence.

Consider journaling your own “Psalm 70 moments” – times when you needed God’s immediate intervention. Reflect on how He responded, whether quickly or after delay, and what you learned about His character through the experience. Use this psalm as a template for your own prayers in times of urgency, while maintaining an attitude of trust and praise.

Did You Know

• The Hebrew superscription “להזכיר” (lehazkir – “to bring to remembrance”) suggests this psalm was used in the Temple service as a memorial offering, connecting prayer with sacrifice.
• This psalm appears twice in the Psalter (here and in Psalm 40:13-17), making it one of the few repeated texts in Scripture, emphasizing its importance for memorization and urgent use.
• The term “make haste” (מַהֵר) appears exactly 22 times in the Hebrew Bible, corresponding to the number of letters in the Hebrew alphabet, suggesting completeness in seeking God’s help.
• Ancient Jewish tradition associated this psalm with David’s flight from Absalom, though it was also used more generally in times of communal crisis.
• The absence of the divine name יהוה (Yahweh) and exclusive use of אֱלֹהִים (Elohim) places this psalm in the Elohistic collection of the Psalter (Psalms 42-83).
• The phrase “poor and needy” appears exactly 14 times in the Psalms, a number representing completion in biblical numerology.
• Early Jewish communities used this psalm as part of their morning prayers, considering it essential for starting the day with proper spiritual perspective.
• The structural similarity to martial prayers in other ancient Near Eastern literature suggests its possible use in military contexts.
• The psalm contains exactly 50 words in Hebrew, a number associated with jubilee and liberation in biblical tradition.
• Archaeological evidence from Qumran shows this psalm was particularly treasured by the Dead Sea community, appearing in multiple scroll fragments.