Psalm LXX

To the chief Musician. A Psalm of David, to bring to rcmemlirance.

1 Make haste, O God, to deliver me; make haste to help me, 0 Lord.

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.

3 Let them be turned back for a reward of their shame that say. Aha! aha!

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.

It has been said by some that this Psalm is a prayer upon the ()9th. It may be so taken. The title seems to mean, a Psalm “to put God in mind’ — Messiah himself being the chief of God’s Remembrancers. Compare this “T’DTH/ with Isa. lxii. 6, where they who pray unceasingly are called iviTV Jlhi Dpptn-The words are adopted from Psalm xl. 13.

We have in verse 1, the cry; in verses 2, 3, a reason for the cry being heard, viz. the guilt of his foes; in verse 4, another reason for the same, viz. the benefit of those that love the Lord; in verse 5, a third reason, viz. his own claims on God for deliver- 21 0 PSALM LXXI. — THE RIGHTEOUS ONE’s

ance from this state of humiliation and sorrow. And thus the cry rises up to heaven on the wings of three strong arguments certain to be answered in “The Glory that was to follow,” implied in the “help.”

It is such a Psalm as every member of the Church has often had occasion to use, in sjrmpathy with David, and in which he is sympathised with by the Son of David, whether asking present help or hastening to the day of his Coming, which brings full help and deliverance — “Tarry not!” But still, it is most of all Messiah whose voice is heard here. It might be called, in reference to Heb. v, 7,

One of the Righteous One’s strong cries for speedy help.