Psalm 70

 Psalm 70

This little song and the last 5 verses of Psalm 40 are virtually identical. Perhaps this emotional expression prompted the rest of the story in Psalm 40. Perhaps the final verses in Psalm 40 were used for a different circumstance and so were written separately here. Whatever the relationship, the emotions are still as powerful.

There comes a point when we realize the only help and hope is God. In verse one we see that time is almost up. God is eternal and not constrained by time, but we live in and with time; deadlines are a part of our everyday lives. God is never late, but he rarely comes early. He is aware of the timelines that we face, and we can be sure that God will not be too late with too little when it comes time for our help.

This does not change the reality that there are terrible people who will, in the meantime, put us through terrible times. The psalmist identifies three behaviors of his wicked opponent. First they want him dead. While most of us will not face this kind of pressure in many places in the world today, this is the daily reality for Christians. Second, the opponent delights in hurting the psalmist. This may include physical harm, but it's by no means limited to that behavior. They may hurt us in jobs, in relationships, in reputation, and in any other form of personal distress. If not sticks and stones and if not a sword, then the opponent is active in insulting. In our culture “Aha” is an interjection of discovery. But in the psalmist's world, this was an expression of contempt at a guttural level. This was a wordless but clearly audible expression of contempt and insult. In every culture we have ways of expressing our feelings of someone's inferiority without words.

The psalmist finds encouragement and praise to God and that he is not the only person who is turning to God. In times of trouble is when we most need to be a part of a community of faith. Suffering is hard; suffering alone is almost impossible. The song ends much as it began, with a plea that God will move quickly. God has never failed one of His own, but at times it feels like if He doesn't hurry, we will be the first. When we feel that it is good to recall, “Thou art my help and my deliverer.”.

“Lord help me to remember that You are my help and my deliverer. AMEN”