Bible Commentaries

Psalms 70:1 « To the chief Musician, [A Psalm] of David, to bring to remembrance. » [Make haste], O God, to deliver me; make haste to help me, O LORD.

A Psalm of David] Made, likely, or rather made use of from Psalms 40:14-15, &c., when Sheba, the son of Bichri, was up in rebellion after Absalom’s death, 2 Samuel 20:1, &c. See Psalms 69:1, title.

To briny to remembrance] Worthy to be remembered, and followed as a pattern of prayer. Some make this psalm an appendix to the former, as Psalms 43:1-5., is to Psalms 42:1-11. Others make it a part of the next psalm; which is, therefore, say they, without a title.

Ver. 1. Make haste, O God, to deliver me] As a father runs without legs when his child is hazarded.

Psalms 70:2 Let them be ashamed and confounded that seek after my soul: let them be turned backward, and put to confusion, that desire my hurt.

Ver. 2. Let them be ashamed] See Psalms 40:14; Psalms 35:26-27.

Psalms 70:3 Let them be turned back for a reward of their shame that say, Aha, aha.

Ver. 3. Let them be turned back for a reward] Vel sicut per insidias vel supplantationem, more athletarum, a עקב, Let them be supplanted, defeated.

That say, Aha, aha] Augustine rendereth it, Euge, Euge, that is, Well done; and giveth this note upon it, Plus persequitur lingua adulatoris quam manus interfectoris, The tongue of a flatterer may mischief a man more than the hand of a murderer. The apostle, Hebrews 11:37, ranketh their tempting and flattering promises among their bloody deeds, their rising tongues with their terrifying jaws.

Psalms 70:4 Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: and let such as love thy salvation say continually, Let God be magnified.

Ver. 4. Let all those that seek thee, &c.] Piorum characteres, saith one, a godly man characterized, by his search after God, his joy in him, his love to him, his praises of him.

Let God be magnified] In illo quicquid ego; ille, non ego, saith Augustine.

Psalms 70:5 But I [am] poor and needy: make haste unto me, O God: thou [art] my help and my deliverer; O LORD, make no tarrying.

Ver. 5. But I am poor and needy] See Psalms 69:29, {See Trapp on "Psalms 69:29"}