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Psalms 70:1

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¶ 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.

To the chief Musician {H5329}{H8764)}, A Psalm of David {H1732}, to bring to remembrance {H2142}{H8687)}. Make haste, O God {H430}, to deliver {H5337}{H8687)} me; make haste {H2363}{H8798)} to help {H5833} me, O LORD {H3068}.

For the leader. By David. As a reminder: God, rescue me! ADONAI, hurry and help me!

Make haste, O God, to deliver me! Hurry, O LORD, to help me!

Make haste, O God, to deliver me; Make haste to help me, O Jehovah.

Commentary

Psalm 70:1 is a fervent plea from King David, expressing an urgent cry for divine intervention. This verse sets the tone for the entire psalm, which is a concise and intense prayer for deliverance from adversaries and swift divine aid.

Context and Superscription

The superscription, "To the chief Musician, [A Psalm] of David, to bring to remembrance," provides crucial insights. "Chief Musician" indicates this psalm was intended for public worship and musical performance, suggesting its communal significance beyond David's personal distress. The phrase "to bring to remembrance" (Hebrew: lehazkir) implies a prayer designed to remind God of His covenant promises and the suppliant's dire need, or perhaps to remind the worshippers of God's readiness to hear and respond. Notably, Psalm 70 is nearly identical to Psalm 40:13-17, suggesting it may have been a specific prayer formula used in times of great distress, or a condensed version for a particular occasion.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Urgency and Desperation: The repeated phrase "Make haste" (Hebrew: chush) underscores David's immediate and pressing need. It's not a casual request but a desperate cry for God to act swiftly and decisively. This reflects a profound sense of vulnerability and danger in his situation.
  • Reliance on God Alone: David turns exclusively to God for help, acknowledging that true deliverance comes only from the divine. He addresses God by two significant names: "O God" (Elohim), the general term for the Almighty Creator, and "O LORD" (Yahweh), God's personal covenant name, emphasizing His faithfulness to His people. This dual address highlights both God's omnipotence and His personal relationship with His servant.
  • Prayer for Deliverance and Help: The core request is for God "to deliver me" and "to help me." This encompasses protection from enemies, rescue from overwhelming circumstances, and strength to endure or overcome. It's a fundamental prayer for rescue when all other options seem exhausted.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "make haste," chush (חוּשׁ), conveys a strong sense of urgency, speed, and immediate action. It's an imperative, reflecting the psalmist's deep distress and the critical nature of his situation. The use of both Elohim (God) and Yahweh (LORD) in the same verse is significant, appealing to both God's universal power and His specific covenant faithfulness to His people.

Practical Application

Psalm 70:1 offers a powerful model for prayer in times of crisis. It reminds believers that it is appropriate, and even necessary, to cry out to God with urgency when facing overwhelming difficulties. Like David, we can boldly approach God with our desperate pleas, trusting in His character as both the all-powerful Creator and our faithful covenant LORD. This verse encourages us to cast our anxieties upon Him, knowing that He cares for us and is capable of swift divine deliverance. It teaches us to pray with directness, honesty, and an unwavering belief in God's ability and willingness to help.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Psalms 40:13 (12 votes)

    Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me: O LORD, make haste to help me.

  • Psalms 40:17 (12 votes)

    But I [am] poor and needy; [yet] the Lord thinketh upon me: thou [art] my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God.

  • Psalms 71:12 (8 votes)

    O God, be not far from me: O my God, make haste for my help.

  • Psalms 143:7 (8 votes)

    ¶ Hear me speedily, O LORD: my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit.

  • Psalms 38:1 (7 votes)

    ¶ A Psalm of David, to bring to remembrance. O LORD, rebuke me not in thy wrath: neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.

  • Psalms 69:18 (6 votes)

    Draw nigh unto my soul, [and] redeem it: deliver me because of mine enemies.

  • 2 Samuel 17:1 (5 votes)

    ¶ Moreover Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Let me now choose out twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David this night: