Psalm 70:2 - Hurry, O LORD, to Help Me

Audio Bible

Context

Hurry, O LORD, to Help Me
1For the choirmaster. Of David. To bring remembrance. Make haste, O God, to deliver me! Hurry, O LORD, to help me! 2May those who seek my life be ashamed and confounded; may those who wish me harm be repelled and humiliated. 3May those who say, “Aha, aha!” retreat because of their shame.…

Cross References

Psalm 35:4
May those who seek my life be disgraced and put to shame; may those who plan to harm me be driven back and confounded.Psalm 40:14
May those who seek my life be ashamed and confounded; may those who wish me harm be repelled and humiliated.Psalm 71:13
May the accusers of my soul be ashamed and consumed; may those who seek my harm be covered with scorn and disgrace.Psalm 83:17
May they be ever ashamed and terrified; may they perish in disgrace.Psalm 35:26
May those who gloat in my distress be ashamed and confounded; may those who exalt themselves over me be clothed in shame and reproach.Psalm 109:29
May my accusers be clothed with disgrace; may they wear their shame like a robe.Psalm 6:10
All my enemies will be ashamed and dismayed; they will turn back in sudden disgrace.Psalm 25:3
Surely none who wait for You will be put to shame; but those who engage in treachery without cause will be disgraced.Psalm 31:17
O LORD, let me not be ashamed, for I have called on You. Let the wicked be put to shame; let them lie silent in Sheol.Isaiah 41:11
Behold, all who rage against you will be ashamed and disgraced; those who contend with you will be reduced to nothing and will perish.Isaiah 45:24
Surely they will say of Me, ‘In the LORD alone are righteousness and strength.’” All who rage against Him will come to Him and be put to shame.Jeremiah 17:18
Let my persecutors be put to shame, but do not let me be put to shame. Let them be terrified, but do not let me be terrified. Bring upon them the day of disaster and shatter them with double destruction.Job 8:22
Your enemies will be clothed in shame, and the tent of the wicked will be no more.”Luke 1:51-52
He has performed mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who are proud in the thoughts of their hearts. / He has brought down rulers from their thrones, but has exalted the humble.Matthew 5:11-12
Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. / Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets before you.

Psalm 6:10
Let all mine enemies be ashamed and sore vexed: let them return and be ashamed suddenly.

Psalm 35:4,26
Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek after my soul: let them be turned back and brought to confusion that devise my hurt…

Psalm 71:13
Let them be confounded and consumed that are adversaries to my soul; let them be covered with reproach and dishonour that seek my hurt.

my soul.

be turned

Isaiah 28:13
But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.

John 18:6
As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground.

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Psalm 70

May those who seek my life be ashamed and confounded;
This phrase reflects a plea for divine intervention against adversaries. In the historical context, David often faced threats from enemies, including King Saul and foreign nations. The request for enemies to be "ashamed and confounded" is a call for God to thwart their plans and expose their intentions. Biblically, shame and confusion are often associated with divine judgment (Isaiah 41:11). Theologically, this can be seen as a type of Christ, who also faced opposition and betrayal, yet triumphed over His enemies through His resurrection, bringing ultimate shame and confusion to the forces of evil (Colossians 2:15).

may those who wish me harm be repelled and humiliated.
This part of the verse continues the theme of seeking God's protection and justice. The desire for enemies to be "repelled and humiliated" suggests a reversal of fortunes, where those who plot evil are instead defeated and disgraced. In the cultural context of ancient Israel, honor and shame were significant social values, and public humiliation was a severe consequence. This plea aligns with the broader biblical narrative of God as a defender of the righteous (Psalm 35:4). It also foreshadows the ultimate victory of Christ over sin and death, where His resurrection repels and humiliates the powers of darkness (1 Corinthians 15:54-57).

Persons / Places / Events

1. David
Traditionally attributed as the author of this Psalm, David often found himself in situations where he was pursued by enemies, seeking God's deliverance.

2. Enemies of David
These are the individuals or groups who sought to harm David, representing broader spiritual adversaries in the life of a believer.

3. God
The ultimate deliverer and protector whom David calls upon for help and vindication.

Teaching Points

Dependence on God for Deliverance
Just as David relied on God to protect him from his enemies, believers today are called to trust in God's power and sovereignty in the face of adversity.

The Reality of Spiritual Warfare
David's plea for his enemies to be confounded and turned back reflects the spiritual battles Christians face. We must be vigilant and prayerful, recognizing that our struggle is not against flesh and blood.

The Power of Prayer in Times of Trouble
David's example teaches us the importance of turning to God in prayer when we are in distress. Prayer is a powerful tool for seeking God's intervention and peace.

The Assurance of God's Justice
The request for enemies to be ashamed and humiliated underscores the belief in God's ultimate justice. Believers can find comfort in knowing that God will right wrongs in His perfect timing.

(2) There are two omissions here from Psalm 40:14, "together" and "to destroy it."

Verse 2. - Let them be ashamed and confounded. Psalm 40:14 adds, "together." That seek after my soul. Psalm 40 adds, "to destroy it." Let them be turned backward, and put to confusion, that desire my hurt. Identical with Psalm 40:14, and translated more literally. Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

May those who seek
מְבַקְשֵׁ֪י (mə·ḇaq·šê)
Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1245: To search out, to strive after

my life
נַ֫פְשִׁ֥י (nap̄·šî)
Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 5315: A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion

be ashamed
יֵבֹ֣שׁוּ (yê·ḇō·šū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 954: To pale, to be ashamed, to be disappointed, delayed

and confounded;
וְיַחְפְּרוּ֮ (wə·yaḥ·pə·rū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 2659: To blush, to be ashamed, disappointed, to shame, reproach

may those who wish
חֲ֝פֵצֵ֗י (ḥă·p̄ê·ṣê)
Adjective - masculine plural construct
Strong's 2655: Delighting in, having pleasure in

me harm
רָעָתִֽי׃ (rā·‘ā·ṯî)
Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 7451: Bad, evil

be repelled
יִסֹּ֣גוּ (yis·sō·ḡū)
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 5472: To move away, backslide

and humiliated.
וְיִכָּלְמ֑וּ (wə·yik·kā·lə·mū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 3637: To wound, to taunt, insult

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