¹O God, hasten to deliver me; O Lord, hasten to my help!

This psalm is virtually identical to Psalm 40:13-17. Besides minor differences, the references to Yahweh in the earlier psalm are sometimes replaced with God (Elohim) in Psalm 70 and vice versa. Scholars suggest the later psalm was excerpted from the earlier to be used for individual or communal prayer in times of need and oppression, although we can’t know for sure. Its place in the Psalter certainly does follow the theme from Psalm 69. Lifting verses from one part of Scripture and including them in another is not unusual, as we see many quotes in the NT from the OT. But this psalm is unique in that the entire psalm is duplicated from another. Is it unnecessarily redundant? Why does God repeat Himself like this?

Hymn writers often put sections of Scripture to music for communal worship. And musicians will sometimes use a portion of a hymn in congregational singing to emphasize a specific theme from the hymn, but only part of the composition. Likewise, God wants us to single out these five verses as a memorable repetition in our daily or communal worship. This psalm encourages us to see these five verses as a complete thought and model for prayer.

Like Psalm 40, this one is authored by David, though it was probably scribes or worshipers who later separated the verses into their own psalm. The inscription (verse 0) indicates that it was to be sung for the purpose of reminding us to call on and trust the Lord when we feel overwhelmed by our circumstances.

The psalm has a sense of urgency; three times he asks God to “hasten” the deliverance (vs. 1, 5). The godly man doesn’t always sit back patiently and passively; David wants a solution right now! That is the honesty of his heart showing through. Yes, there are times when we need to develop patience, as we read in the NT:

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (James 1:2–4)

David certainly understood the value of patience as he writes about it in other psalms, but this psalm addresses times that require immediate attention. David’s life was on the line, and so his need was not for patience but survival!

Similar to the previous chapter (Ps. 69), David calls on God to put his oppressors to humiliating shame for their arrogance (“who say, ‘Aha, aha!’”). While he is certainly motivated, at least initially, by self-defense, there is also a sense of justice that comes into his mind. The comparison in verse 4 to desiring the well-being of those who rejoice in the Lord raises this prayer to the level of loyalty, a call for God to honor those who are loyal to Him. The implied truth is that God will be faithful to those loyal for His glory.

It is inconceivable to someone who knows and loves God that He would turn a deaf ear to those who say, “Let God be magnified” (vs. 4). It’s not just an intonation of a liturgical line of dictation, but a lifestyle of continually glorifying God in their life. Put another way, it is impossible for us to glorify God out of purely altruistic motivation. We are eternally indebted to God, and that permeates through our souls and results in continual praise because all that we have and are is due to Him being gracious towards us. In this vein, David gives us words for our prayer when others are oppressing us.

In light of this, David repeats the request in verse 5 that God would hasten to answer his prayer for help. In faith, then, we can call out like David. Though our circumstances are overwhelming, and we feel out of control, we can pray in the honesty of our souls …

But I am afflicted and needy; hasten to me, O God! You are my help and my deliverer; O Lord, do not delay. (Ps. 70:5)