Sunday, October 3, 2010 pm
Make Haste to Help Me, O Lord
Psalm 70
Tonight we continue our study of the psalms.
The words to this psalm all deal with familiar, and previously
delivered themes. In fact,
the words are a repetition of Psalm 40:13-17, with few variations. Some
believe that it was not actually written by prayer, but for some reason
isolated from the rest of the 40th psalm, perhaps to be used
in service to God. BUT there
are enough changes in this psalm, that in my mind it is unique.
For example: The first phrase is different (“Be pleased, O Lord,
to deliver me” – 40:13, “Make haste, O God, to deliver me…” (70:1).
In addition to the phrase, the word LORD (Jehovah) in 40 is
translated God (Elohim) in 70:1 and the change is found elsewhere in the
psalm as well.
The psalm is attributed to
David, as was the 40th psalm.
The superscription ascribes it to the chief musician.
And says of it, “To bring to remembrance”, NASU “for a memorial”.
In that description I believe we have some occasion, after the
writing of the 40th psalm when David recalls it and repeats
the words with slight variation, much as we would paraphrase a verse of
text. One note of worth:
When we studied the 40th psalm we noted it was a Messianic
psalm and thus applied in many ways to our Lord.
This psalm addresses a portion that could be exclusively Davidic.
The message is still relevant and we shall note some lessons from
these verses with more detail than when we noted them earlier.
We shall address some of the
things David prayed for and how they should apply to our prayers as
well.
a.
Hasten
– a word of request that something be tended to quickly or in a hurry.
In this we find an earnest prayer – David is facing an occasion
where there is some urgency in desiring its fulfillment (at least in his
eyes).
We will talk more about such requests later, but for now I want us to
notice the fervency with which David is praying.
We are often reminded of the need for frequent prayers (1 Thess. 5:17,
Eph. 6:18, etc.), but what about fervent prayers – Jas 5:16 speaks of
the effective, fervent prayer of the righteous.
The idea of being fervent is intense and sincere.
Such was obviously David’s demeanor as this prayer was made and
these words were penned.
Let us never forget the need for fervency in our prayers – Jas 5:17,
Col. 4:2, Luke 22:44, in the Garden, Jesus “prayed more earnestly.”
Need we say that such ought to be our disposition at ALL times in
prayer. Don’t wait for
calamity before you bow before God with requests and praise.
Go to Him in the good times and ALL the time as well.
Be like Daniel, who when His life was threatened, didn’t change
his habits but kept praying as he always had – FERVENTLY!
b.
Deliver
me – it is a prayer of help
and expectation. David
wants God’s help and he expects His deliverance.
That does not mean David is making unreasonable demands of God,
rather He BELIEVES God is able to deliver him.
A prayer of faith – Jas. 1:6 reminds us of the importance of faith in
our prayers.
1 Timothy 2:8 also tells us, “I desire therefore that the men pray
everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.
WILL God deliver us?
If we are faithful, we KNOW that He can and will deliver us.
The only question is how!
It may not be in this life, but He can and will be with us. 2
Peter 2:9 tells us that He knows how to deliver us out of temptation and
to avenge us as well.
2 Tim. 4:18 finds Paul noting that while he was alone the Lord was with
him and that he would deliver him from every evil work and preserve him
for His heavenly kingdom
2 Cor. 1:9-10 speaks of Paul noting that God had delivered him from
death and looked forward to MORE deliverance.
NOTE that this was written as Paul was preparing to die.
Even in death, he still expected deliverance.
Do we?
c.
Help me
– when we think of that expression, often what we are asking is that
someone else do for us what we need done.
That is not a good attitude.
While it is not wrong to ask for help, it ought to be with the
caveat that we will do what we can do ourselves.
That is the actual idea.
David was willing to do his
part – he demonstrated this throughout his life – in confronting
Goliath, in various battles he engaged in, as he prepared for his son to
build the temple, as he offered sacrifices to God, etc.
II.
Overcome the wicked (v. 2-3)
a.
Typical of
David, he requests God’s help in cofounding and exposing his enemies.
His request that they be ashamed and confounded to me indicates
he knew he was innocent concerning whatever charges he faced.
Nevertheless, typical of David – he leaves it to God to defeat them
according to HIS will.
b.
Let us
consider here Luke 6:27-28 (cf. Matt. 5:44).
In that text Jesus told us to pray for those who spitefully use
us. I ask, is David praying for
his enemies here? Is this in
the spirit that Jesus meant?
We need to THINK about what it means to pray for our enemies.
We pray for their well being spiritually – that something will be
said or done to save them (cf. Psa. 35:13-14, Rom. 12:14).
BUT, in a sense we are also praying FOR THEM when we ask that
they be defeated in their evil as such things are NEVER good for them or
for God’s cause.
III.
Lift up the righteous (4)
a.
Also
typical of David, he prayed for God’s followers as well, that they
rejoice and be glad AND that they be able to continually says, ‘Let God
be magnified.’
We often consider the need to pray for one another, the godly – Col.
1:9, 1 Thess. 5:25, Jas. 5:16, Heb. 10:24 – consider one another, etc.
Let us not forget to pray for them as we face our difficult times,
especially those that affect them as well.
The point being that even in our
own troubles we shouldn’t be self-absorbed.
Think about brethren.
As we are suffering, thank God for the blessings of your brethren.
While Paul was in prison, he rejoiced for his brethren (in
Philippi) and thanked God for them.
Such an attitude helps us to deal with our own troubles with a
proper attitude.
b.
Let those
who love Your salvation say continually, ‘Let God be magnified’.
This is descriptive of the true believer.
It is descriptive of the one who like David, grieved at the
pursuits of the wicked and wished what was RIGHT for the nation of
Israel. There are so
many applications of this for us in this verse.
The godly:
i.
Seek Him
– they realize that any real solution to whatever problems they face or
see (such as a corrupt nation, prosperity of their enemies, etc.) find
their ultimate solution in Him and His ways.
There may be a solution contrary to the will of God, but they
will not accept it because they love God.
Psalm 119:15, “I will
meditate on Your precepts, and contemplate Your ways.”
Prov. 3:6 speaking of wisdom, “In
all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”
ii.
Love God
– along with faith, it is at the foundation of our relationship with
Him.
1 John 4:19, Matthew 10:37-39.
iii.
Love His salvation
– His ways will be their delight.
Psalm 25:4, “Show me Your ways, O Lord; teach me Your paths.”
Psalm 119:104 says, “Through Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false
way.”
iv.
Say continually, ‘Let God be magnified.’
The idea of being magnified means that He is made greater or more
important, to be promoted.
(cf. BDB)
In both desires and actions they look toward promoting Him.
One way that He is magnified in our lives is by our continued growth.
The stronger our faith (and love, knowledge, hope, etc.) the
greater our ability to promote Him.
Therefore if we truly seek Him first, we will seek to increase in
all things. As Paul said
concerning the Thessalonians, that their love “increase more and more”
(1 Thess. 4:1, 10)
IV.
Humility in supplications (5)
a.
I am poor
and needy – was he? We have
discussed this in times past.
We are all poor in one way or another.
May our “poverty” be of haughtiness and self-sufficiency (cf.
Luke 18:10-14). May we be
“poor in Spirit” – Matt. 5:3, Psalm 51:17 – a broken spirit, a contrite
heart are not despised by God.
b.
Asking God
to make haste in prayers. David
began and he concludes this psalm with a request that God make haste in
delivering him. David’s
request is that God tend to his needs NOW!
Is such an acceptable request?
i.
If our
attitude is what it ought to be, such a request would not be wrong.
We must ensure that our request is not a demand, selfish or
without faith. Then, after you
have made your request let God answer as He sees fit.
ii.
KNOW that
God knows what He is doing.
1.
He DOES
answer speedily – Luke 18:7-8.
But it is according to His timeframe.
His time is NOT measured as our time is (2 Peter 3:8).
2.
Consider
that whatever dilemma we are going through, God has seen it all before.
In fact, in the 10,000+ years of humanity God has seen
everything. He has seen the
harm disease, iniquity and false religion can do.
He has seen hateful behavior and ungodliness.
But He has also seen faith, goodness and compassion.
He knows what He is doing.
3.
Our
responsibility is to wait! Let Him accomplish His will in His time.
Isaiah 40:31 says, “But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall
mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they
shall walk and not faint.”
4.
The worst
thing we can do is NOT to wait for Him.
Sometimes people take matters into their own hands to no avail.
In desperation they do things that are not right or unwise and
make matters worse. They
face consequences as a result of their actions.
Recall how King Saul offered to God an unlawful sacrifice because Samuel
did not arrive soon enough (1 Sam. 13:7-10).
As a result, he was told his kingdom would not continue. (13-14)
Recall how in Jeremiah’s time, the remnant in Jerusalem were told to
stay and trust God. Instead
they went to Egypt and were never heard from again (Jer. 42-44).
5.
He knows
what is best. But know that
sometimes the kindest answer He can give us is no.
So whatever His answer might be, accept it.
And thus we see another psalm of David.
And we are again reminded of the value of praising Him, trusting
Him and beseeching Him. Let
prayer be a part of our lives.