Psalm 70:1-5
Make Haste, O God
Read the passage
1For the choirmaster. Of David. To bring remembrance. Make haste, O God, to deliver me! Hurry, O LORD, to help me!
2May those who seek my life be ashamed and confounded; may those who wish me harm be repelled and humiliated.
3May those who say, “Aha, aha!” retreat because of their shame.
4May all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; may those who love Your salvation always say, “Let God be magnified!”
5But I am poor and needy; hurry to me, O God. You are my help and my deliverer; O LORD, do not delay.
Berean Standard Bible
Read aloud
The entire psalm is an urgent request: make haste, O God, to save me; hurry to help me. David's enemies seek his life and delight in his harm. He brings the danger directly to God, asking Him to act quickly.
He asks that those who mock him be turned back and that everyone who seeks God rejoice. The contrast is not between people who have no problems and people who do. It is between those who seek destruction and those who love God's salvation.
David ends by saying he is poor and needy and asking God to hurry to him. God is his help and deliverer; He must not delay. Urgency and faith stand in the same five verses.
Questions
1 What does David ask first?
AnswerHe asks God to hurry to save him and help him.
2 What do the enemies want?
AnswerThey want David's life and delight in the harm and shame he is facing.
3 Who should rejoice?
AnswerEveryone who seeks God and loves His salvation should rejoice in Him.
4 How does David describe himself?
AnswerHe is poor and needy, and he calls God his help and deliverer.
What This Means for Us
Not every prayer needs to be expansive. In an emergency, a faithful prayer may be only “Help.” God is not measuring eloquence before offering attention.
David names God as his helper even while asking Him not to delay. We can bring urgent need with that same trust. When someone near us calls for help, take their urgency seriously instead of assuming it can wait.
Prayer
Make haste, O God, to help people in immediate danger. Hear short and frightened prayers, turn back those who seek harm, and make us responsive to urgent need. Amen.