This is a very short Psalm consisting of two stanzas (1-3; 4-5). It is very close to the wording of Psalm 40:14-16. The title directs it to the choirmaster, so it was meant to be sung. And it is for the “memorial offering”.
The memorial offering was a portion of the grain offering. It was to be of fine flour with oil poured on it and with frankincense sprinkled on it. Most of the grain offering was given to the priests to eat, but the memorial portion was burned on the altar and produced an aroma pleasing to the Lord. The thought seems to that it was to remind the Lord to act with favor toward the one who brought the offering.
So, it is possible that the words to those three verses of Psalm 40 were used to write a short song to sing to the Lord while the memorial offering was presented and burned on the altar.
70:1-3
The Cry for Deliverance
The psalm starts with the please of the Psalmist to hurry and come to deliver him from his enemies, to help him.
The Psalmist goes on to describe how he wants the Lord to help him by dealing with those who want to hurt him. He wants God to put them to shame and confusion. He asks God to turn them back and into dishonor. This is the Psalmist asking God to do to his enemies what they seek to do to him: to hurt him and shame him into dishonor.
The Psalmist describes these people as those who say “aha. Aha!”. We have all had these people in our lives. They live to say “aha” when they catch us slipping us or some other Christian making a mistake or falling into sin. They point they finger and say “aha”, you are no better than me or anyone else, whether you have ever claimed that or not.
Certainly, we are to live so that we do not bring shame on the gospel or the Lord. Ephesians 4:1 says “I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called…”. It goes on to say we do this by having humility and gentleness, bearing with each other in love and maintaining the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Colossians 1:10 says “…walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him…”. Paul said we do this by bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.
But we all make mistakes and some want to use them against us. And when someone who claims to be a Christian does something terrible, or renounces the faith, they broadcast it loudly. Those are the kind of people to which the Psalmist refers.
70:4-5
Rejoicing
The Psalmist calls all who seek God to rejoice and be glad in him. You know, we study God’s attributes and we praise him for them. But, we are also to have joy and gladness in him.
I have to say that many of the Christians I have known in my life were not joyful. Many were dutiful. Others were angry or mean. Only a few were joyful.
But we can have joy because of who God is and that we have a relationship with him. We take joy in who God is. He is perfect, holy, forgiving and loving. We want to be in his presence and to know him intimately. David wrote “One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the home of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple”. (Psalm 27:4)
He also write “in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”. (Psalm 16:11)
Our relationship with God should bring us joy. The Bible tells us to delight ourselves in the Lord. (Psalm 37:4) In fact, one of the fruits produced in us by the Holy Spirit is joy. (Galatians 5:22) And we are commanded to be joyful. Philippians 4:4 says “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice”.
Paul preached this and he lived it. Despite his beatings and betrayals, even in prison, he experienced joy. In Philippi, Paul and Silas were attacked by a crowd, stripped by the magistrates and beaten with rods. Finally, they were put in prison, bound by stocks on their feet. The next thing we see is Paul and Silas praying and singing hymns to God. (Acts 16:25) They could only do that because they had a deep joy in their relationship with the Lord.
Many of you today could use some joy. It has been a difficult week of tragedy, rebellion and sin on full display. Many of you have been confined to your homes for months because of the pandemic. You may find yourself depressed, anxious, and unhappy.
In these times and with these feelings, it is tempting to fall into apathy, or anger, or indulgence. But none of these things will provide lasting relief or satisfaction. The only one who will is the Lord. He is there and he is waiting to fellowship with you. Revelation 3:20 is a verse often misused. It was written to believers who were apathetic. Jesus said “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me”. It is the picture of you and the Lord sitting together in communion with each other, enjoying each other’s company, experiencing joy.
John Piper put it this way: “God is most glorified in you when you are most satisfied in him”. When you find your satisfaction in God, you find joy. You have no problem saying with this psalmist “God is great”.
The last verse is a cry of humility. The Psalmist asks God to help him because he is poor and needy. He is helpless to help himself. We are the same. We cannot satisfy ourselves or deliver ourselves. But God can and will for those who believe in him and seek him.
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