February 8, 2016
1 Make haste, O God, to deliver me!
O Lord, make haste to help me!
2 Let them be put to shame and confusion
who seek my life!
Let them be turned back and brought to dishonor
who delight in my hurt!
3 Let them turn back because of their shame
who say, “Aha, Aha!”
4 May all who seek you
rejoice and be glad in you!
May those who love your salvation
say evermore, “God is great!”
5 But I am poor and needy;
hasten to me, O God!
You are my help and my deliverer;
O Lord, do not delay!
Psalm 70 is almost verbatim, the last 5 verses of Psalm 40. I can’t help but wonder if this was a “shortcut” plea to God. Perhaps by quoting the last verses of a previous prayer it was the same in his mind as saying all that God has done - without actually saying it. Whatever was behind this Psalm we’ll never know, but it’s fun to speculate.
What I appreciate about the Psalms is that it shows a man’s walk with God. One that isn’t perfect, full of strife and heartache. Cries to God for both mercy and help and praise for His goodness. It is teaching us how to worship and how to pray. It is teaching us to be real and vulnerable with God.
A lot of the time, I hear people say you shouldn’t ask for things from God first thing when praying, God isn’t a genie and deserves our praise. I myself say it quite often! We say we need to praise and worship him first, and only then give our requests. This passage is quite the opposite. Right off the bat, something is being asked of God. It’s not even until halfway through that God is actually praised. What I see in this Psalm, is a mature relationship with God that doesn’t seem to miss a beat. One that is not afraid to urgently ask for God’s help. I see a man so in tune with God’s heart, that he just goes straight into asking. I see unwavering trust in the character of God. David isn't worried about offending God for asking right off the bat, but he knows that God will answer.
I want a prayer life like this. I’m not saying I want to be able to treat God like my personal genie. I want to trust God with the same fervor as David. I want to be so in-tune with God’s heart that I don't miss a beat. I don’t want to worry about offending God, because I am continually praising and worshiping.
Lord, help us to trust in you fully. Grow and stretch our prayer life. Help us to be unashamed to ask for your help. Let us hear your voice with clarity, igniting in us a fervor. Teach us to be continually praying. Help us be like David.