Bible Commentaries
Psalms 70

Verse 1

David needed and cried out for God’s immediate help (cf. Psalms 31:2).

Verses 1-3

1. A plea for immediate help 70:1-3

Verses 1-5

Psalms 70

The superscription of this psalm, a "memorial" or "petition," literally means, "to bring to remembrance" (cf. Psalms 38).

"Perhaps this was a note that the psalm was to be used in connection with the offerings (cf. 1 Chronicles 16:4), which would help ’remind’ the Lord of the petitioner’s request." [Note: Ross, p. 845.]

The subject matter of this psalm is very similar to that of Psalms 69, though the treatment is much shorter. It is almost identical to Psalms 40:13-17 except for the absence of the divine name (a characteristic of the "Elohistic Psalter," i.e., Psalms 42-72) and the addition of "hasten" at the beginning (Psalms 70:1).

Verses 2-3

He needed help quickly because enemies were trying to ruin him. He prayed that God would bring shame on those who sought to shame David. His enemies were evidently trying to kill him.

Verses 4-5

2. A prayer for God’s glory 70:4-5

As a result of God’s deliverance, other righteous people would glorify God and rejoice in Him. The psalm ends as it began: with a request for fast relief. David was stressing how desperately he needed God’s assistance by beginning and ending the psalm with these petitions.

Sometimes, when believers are under attack by others who oppose God’s will, all they can do is cry out to God for help (cf. Nehemiah 2:4-5). Even in brief prayers such as this, we should base our petitions on God’s glory, as this psalmist did.