Psalm 70 — Get help, quick

For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David; to bring to remembrance.

1 Make haste, O God, to deliver me;
Make haste to help me, O LORD.
2 Let them be ashamed and confounded
That seek after my soul:
Let them be turned backward and brought to dishonour
That delight in my hurt.
3 Let them be turned back by reason of their shame
That say, Aha, Aha.
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.
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.

What a perfect lament over the ills and wrong that we suffer. Short and direct, this psalm voices the complaint we have of those who lean over into our way to wreak havoc. Large or small, be it disaster or mere annoyance, when others choose to make difficulties in our lives, what should a child of God do? We should cry to God for his help.

I need God's deliverance and help. People rise up before me with criticism or scorn and I feel helpless to defend myself. Sure, I could argue and rage, but that is to give in to the temptation of flesh and pride. But if I call on God for help, how could I do wrong? It is then God who works, he who does no wrong.

Those who try to create shame in others will themselves be ashamed. This is a promise from God - do I believe him? Indeed, when viewed from the other way around, those who hurt others are often hurting themselves.

It is best to trust in God's help and in the congregation of the righteous for comfort. Forging our own comfort out of rage and vengeance is merely returning evil for evil, breeding evil still greater. Instead, let us join with the congregation which rejoices in the Lord. In this will we be heard, loved and helped.