Grasp the Gospel — Bible Comprehension Quizzes

Psalm 70 Devotional

A Prayer in a Hurry

“But I am poor and needy; hurry to me, O God. You are my help and my deliverer; O LORD, do not delay.”Psalm 70:5 (BSB)

Psalm 70 is one of the shortest prayers in the book, and one of the most urgent. It opens and closes with the same plea: come quickly, God, and help (70:1, 70:5). There is no long introduction. David asks that those who want him harmed be turned back in disgrace (70:2-3), and that everyone who seeks God would rejoice in him and keep saying how great God is (70:4).

These verses closely repeat the end of Psalm 40, which suggests that a prayer can be prayed more than once. The final verse is the heart of it. David admits that he is poor and needy, then calls God his help and his deliverer, and asks him not to delay (70:5). He has nothing to offer but his need, and he brings it anyway. That is enough, because the one he calls on is a helper by nature. Not every prayer needs many words. Sometimes the most honest prayer is short and urgent, from someone who knows exactly where help comes from.

To think about: What short, honest prayer for help could you bring to God today, without waiting until you can find better words?

About Psalm 70: An Urgent Prayer for Help

A brief, urgent prayer of David asking God to hurry to his rescue. He asks that those seeking his life be turned back in disgrace and that all who seek God rejoice in Him, and he ends by confessing his need and God's help. It closely matches the end of Psalm 40.

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