Studies in the Psalms - Psalm 70

Everyone is in a hurry these days. The age we live in is an instant one and we have lost the ability to slow down and wait. Just get in your car and get on the road and you will experience the rush of the American culture. Going the speed limit will get you killed or at least cursed at. Psalm 70 is a prayer and a reminder to let God take control. In it the psalmist wants God to hurry.

Psalm 70:1

O God, hasten to deliver me; O LORD, hasten to my help!

There is a time to hurry.

Psalm 70:2-3
Let those be ashamed and humiliated Who seek my life; Let those be turned back and dishonored Who delight in my hurt.  Let those be turned back because of their shame Who say, "Aha, aha!"

When we are in desperate need of help, we should, no we must, hurry to God in prayer.

Psalm 70:4
Let all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; And let those who love Your salvation say continually, "Let God be magnified."

In all situations, good and bad, easy and hard, we must hurry to offer our praise to God. We must go immediately and without pause, to offer our worship.

Psalm 70:5
But I am afflicted and needy; Hasten to me, O God! You are my help and my deliverer; O LORD, do not delay.

We need God to be our help. We need God to be our deliverer. We must rush to our knees in desperate prayer.

But then, we must wait on Him.

Psalm 27:14
Wait for the LORD; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the LORD.

Abraham had to wait on the Lord. When he took matters into his own hands and rushed into trying to have the promised child, it didn’t go so way. The consequences of that move still troubles Israel today.

When Lazarus was sick and they needed Jesus to come, He took two days to get there. By then Lazarus was dead. Mary and Martha blamed Jesus for not rushing to get there. But Jesus said this in response, "This sickness is not to end in death, but for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it." - John 11:4

Jesus explained further in John 11:14-15, "Lazarus is dead, and I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, so that you may believe; but let us go to him."

The purposes of God cannot be rushed. We must learn to wait on God. This is what faith is.

Psalm 33:20-21
Our soul waits for the LORD; He is our help and our shield.  For our heart rejoices in Him, Because we trust in His holy name.

Do you trust in His Holy Name? Then rush to Him in prayer and cry out to Him in your need and your fears. Then wait on Him. He is coming. And when He comes? Just as He raised Lazarus from the dead, He will lift you up to new life. He will be your help and your deliverer.

Hurry to Him. Then wait upon Him.