Psalm 70:1 kjv
MAKE HASTE, O GOD, TO DELIVER ME; MAKE HASTE TO HELP ME, O LORD.
Psalm 70:1 nkjv
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!
Psalm 70:1 niv
For the director of music. Of David. A petition. Hasten, O God, to save me; come quickly, LORD, to help me.
Psalm 70:1 esv
Make haste, O God, to deliver me! O LORD, make haste to help me!
Psalm 70:1 nlt
Please, God, rescue me!
Come quickly, LORD, and help me.
Psalm 70 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Psa 40:13 | Make haste to help me, O LORD. | Nearly identical plea for aid |
| Psa 71:12 | O God, be not far from me: O my God, make haste for my help. | Echoes urgent cry for swift divine help |
| Psa 22:19 | Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help. | Urgent plea in deep distress |
| Psa 38:22 | Make haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation. | Direct request for swift salvation/help |
| Psa 143:7 | Hear me speedily, O LORD: my spirit faileth. | Cries out for quick response |
| Psa 31:2 | Incline Thine ear to me; deliver me speedily. | Calls for rapid rescue |
| Psa 6:4 | Return, O LORD, deliver my soul: Oh save me for thy mercies' sake. | Plea for deliverance, implicitly urgent |
| Psa 18:2 | The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer... | God as the ultimate deliverer |
| Psa 54:4 | Behold, God is mine helper: the Lord is with them that uphold my soul. | Acknowledges God as the faithful helper |
| Isa 41:10 | Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee... | God's promise to help and strengthen |
| Heb 13:6 | So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear... | New Testament affirmation of God as helper |
| Deut 4:7 | For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the LORD our God is in all things that we call upon Him for? | God is near and responsive to His people's calls |
| Lam 3:55-58 | I called upon Thy name, O LORD, out of the low dungeon...Thou drewest near in the day that I called upon Thee... | Cry of desperation heard by God |
| Jon 2:2 | And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the LORD, and He heard me... | Distress leads to answered prayer |
| Matt 7:7-8 | Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. | Encourages earnest prayer for needs |
| Phil 4:6-7 | Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. | Call to bring all urgent needs to God in prayer |
| Rom 8:26 | Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought... | The Spirit aids believers in prayer when weak |
| Luke 18:7-8 | And shall not God avenge His own elect, which cry day and night unto Him... He will avenge them speedily. | God acts swiftly for those who cry out to Him |
| 2 Tim 4:17-18 | Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me... And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work... | God's past and future deliverance assured |
| Jer 33:3 | Call unto Me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not. | God's invitation and promise to answer prayer |
Psalm 70 verses
Psalm 70 1 Meaning
Psalm 70:1 is a fervent and urgent cry to God for immediate divine intervention, deliverance, and help in a time of intense distress or attack. The Psalmist pleads with a double imperative, "Make haste," emphasizing the desperate need for God's swift action, appealing to Him first as the powerful Sovereign (Elohim) and then as the faithful, covenant-keeping God (Yahweh). It signifies a recognition of absolute dependence on God’s readiness and power to rescue.
Psalm 70 1 Context
Psalm 70 is primarily a psalm of lament and petition, identified as "A Psalm of David; to bring to remembrance." Its structure is nearly identical to Psalm 40:13-17, indicating that it might have been extracted and presented as a distinct, focused prayer for immediate deliverance. This highlights its central theme: an urgent appeal for divine aid in a time of great affliction, persecution, or imminent danger. The surrounding context implies a situation where the Psalmist's enemies are seeking his life and gloating over his distress, prompting this fervent prayer for rescue and for their confusion. The phrase "to bring to remembrance" suggests a liturgical use, perhaps as a prayer to remind God of His covenant faithfulness or to bring the supplicant's dire need to mind.
Psalm 70 1 Word analysis
- Make haste (חוּשָׁה - chushah): This is a strong imperative, an urgent command, not a mere request. It signifies desperation and immediate need, often associated with a fleeing from danger. It conveys an extreme urgency, as if the Psalmist's very survival depends on God's speed.
- O God (אֱלֹהִים - Elohim): This is a general Hebrew name for God, emphasizing His transcendent power, majesty, and universal sovereignty. Appealing to "Elohim" acknowledges God as the mighty creator and ruler over all, capable of immediate and decisive action in any circumstance.
- to deliver me (לְהַצִּילֵנִי - lehatzileni): Derived from the root נָצַל (natsal), meaning "to snatch away," "to pluck out," or "to rescue." This implies the Psalmist is caught in a snare, danger, or deep trouble from which only God can extricate him. It is a cry for active intervention and removal from peril.
- make haste to help me (וְלָעֶזְרָתִי יְהוָה - velaczerati Yahweh): This phrase contains the second urgent plea for haste, directly linking it to "my help." The doubling of "make haste" intensifies the fervent appeal, underlining the critical nature of the situation and the desire for swift intervention. "To help me" comes from עֵזֶר (`ezer), which means "aid," "succour," or "assistance," often denoting effective, practical support.
- O LORD (יְהוָה - Yahweh): This is the personal, covenantal name of God, revealing His faithfulness to His promises and His intimate relationship with His people. Calling upon "Yahweh" expresses a trust in God's specific, personal care and His unbreakable covenant commitments. The use of both "Elohim" and "Yahweh" within one short verse underscores a complete reliance on God's omnipotent power and His faithful, covenant-keeping character.
Psalm 70 1 Bonus section
The almost verbatim repetition of Psalm 40:13 as Psalm 70:1 signifies its particular importance as a focused, standalone prayer for urgent deliverance. This excerpting highlights the intense and singular emphasis on the immediate need for divine intervention, distinct from the broader themes of praise and instruction in Psalm 40. Scholars suggest this intentional repetition or extraction may reflect a particular season of urgent distress for David or the community, serving as a distinct litany of appeal. The plea "to remember" in the superscription implies God might need to be 'reminded' to act swiftly, a reflection of human urgency placed before the eternally aware God, conveying profound desperation.
Psalm 70 1 Commentary
Psalm 70:1 is a poignant expression of profound human distress coupled with unwavering faith in divine intervention. It is not a suggestion, but an impassioned plea, a "get-God-working-on-it" prayer. The doubling of the "make haste" (chushah) underscores the critical, desperate nature of the situation. The Psalmist is trapped and in danger, requiring not just rescue, but rapid rescue. His appeal to "Elohim" signifies a belief in God's overarching power and ability to intervene decisively, while the immediate subsequent call to "Yahweh" reminds the petitioner—and appeals to God based on—the deep, covenantal relationship God has with His people. It demonstrates a bold yet humble reliance on God's character and capacity for swift deliverance. This verse provides a timeless model for urgent prayer in times of extreme personal need, guiding believers to turn directly to God with boldness, trust, and intense yearning for His immediate aid.
- Example: When facing overwhelming pressure at work and sensing failure is imminent, one might cry out: "O God, make haste to deliver me from this crisis; make haste to help me, O Lord, to overcome!"
- Example: If a loved one is in sudden, critical danger, a believer might instinctively pray: "Lord, hurry! Deliver them now; help them speedily, O God!"