ScriptureDepth's study of Psalm 70
“Hurry, God, to deliver me. Come quickly to help me, Yahweh.”
Psalms 70:1
The psalmist calls urgently to Yahweh for quick deliverance, invoking God's name as he seeks help in his vulnerable state in verse 1.
What Psalm 70 is about
The psalmist starts with an urgent plea for help from God, saying, 'Hurry, God, to deliver me' (v. 1). He desires justice against those who seek his ruin. He wants those enemies to be disappointed and shamed (vv. 2-3). Next, he calls for joy among those who seek God. He hopes they will rejoice and continually say, 'Let God be exalted!' (v. 4). Finally, he states that he is poor and needy. He asks God to come quickly to help him, naming God as his deliverer (v. 5).
The psalm states a deep need for God's swift help and the hope for vindication against foes.
Psalm 70 at a glance
- Psalm 70:1Urgent Plea for Help
- Psalm 70:2–3Desire for Justice Against Adversaries
- Psalm 70:4Joy of the Righteous
- Psalm 70:5Final Plea and Declaration of Need
Key verse: Psalms 70:1
Summary and study helps: AI-drafted (September 2026), checked by automated Scripture gates. Spotted an error? Report it. Fixes are listed on the corrections page.
Chapter text
Read Psalm 70 (WEB)
Urgent Plea for Help Psalm 70:1
1Verse 1. Hurry, God, to deliver me.Come quickly to help me, Yahweh.
Desire for Justice Against Adversaries Psalm 70:2–3
2Verse 2. Let them be disappointed and confounded who seek my soul.Let those who desire my ruin be turned back in disgrace.3Verse 3. Let them be turned because of their shameWho say, “Aha! Aha!”
Joy of the Righteous Psalm 70:4
4Verse 4. Let all those who seek you rejoice and be glad in you.Let those who love your salvation continually say,“Let God be exalted!”
Final Plea and Declaration of Need Psalm 70:5
5Verse 5. But I am poor and needy.Come to me quickly, God.You are my help and my deliverer.Yahweh, don’t delay.
World English Bible (public domain)
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Main themes in Psalm 70
urgency in prayer
Psalm 70 begins with a heartfelt plea in verse 1, as the psalmist urgently cries out for God’s swift help. This immediate request for divine intervention communicates a deep sense of distress. The urgency continues in the final verse, where the psalmist again implores God to 'come to me quickly' (v. 5), expressing a continued need for immediate assistance in the face of adversity.
divine deliverance
Divine deliverance is a central focus in Psalm 70, particularly in the psalmist's cries for help. In verse 1, the author implores, 'Hurry, God, to deliver me,' indicating a deep reliance on God's ability to save. The closing verse reaffirms this plea with a direct appeal: 'You are my help and my deliverer' (v. 5), framing God as the ultimate source of rescue in times of distress.
distinction between wicked and righteous
The psalm makes a clear distinction between the wicked and the righteous, particularly in verses 2 and 3. The psalmist desires that those who seek his ruin, 'who seek my soul' (v. 2), be turned back in disgrace, highlighting the shame that should come upon the wicked. In contrast, verse 4 describes the joy of those who seek God, inviting them to 'rejoice and be glad in you,' thus separating the righteous from their adversaries.
trust in God's salvation
Trust in God's salvation is articulated in the concluding verse of the psalm, where the psalmist acknowledges, 'You are my help and my deliverer' (v. 5). This declaration affirms a deep faith in God's capacity to save. Earlier, in verse 4, the call for those who love God's salvation to continually exalt Him further emphasizes this theme, painting a picture of reliance on divine intervention and the assurance it brings.
Chapter outline
How Psalm 70 unfolds
Psalm 70:1 Urgent Plea for Help
The psalmist urgently calls on God for deliverance and help, expressing a deep sense of need with the phrases 'Hurry' and 'Come quickly' (v. 1).
Psalm 70:2–3 Desire for Justice Against Adversaries
The psalmist desires justice against those who seek harm, asking for their disappointment and disgrace, and specifically addresses the mocking of his adversaries (vv. 2-3).
Psalm 70:4 Joy of the Righteous
The psalmist calls on all who seek God to 'rejoice and be glad' in Him, urging those who love His salvation to 'continually say, “Let God be exalted!”' (v. 4).
Psalm 70:5 Final Plea and Declaration of Need
In the final plea, the psalmist reiterates their poverty and neediness, asking for God's prompt assistance and affirming Him as their help and deliverer (v. 5).
Key verses
Psalms 70:1The psalmist calls urgently to Yahweh for quick deliverance, invoking God's name as he seeks help in his vulnerable state in verse 1.
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Study questions
Questions for studying Psalm 70
- observeIn v1, why does the psalmist ask God to 'hurry'?
- observeIn v2, what do those who seek my soul desire according to the psalmist?
- interpretThe phrase 'Aha! Aha!' in v3: what does this indicate about the adversaries' attitude?
- interpretIn v4, how does the psalmist differentiate between those who seek God and those who oppose him?
- applyWhen has feeling 'poor and needy' (v5) led you to seek help from others or God?
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Cross-references
Passages that echo Psalm 70
- Psalm 40Psalm 70:5 and Psalm 40:17Both express a plea for help: Psalm 70:5 says, 'You are my help and my deliverer,' while Psalm 40:17 states, 'You are my help and my deliverer.'
- Psalm 35Psalm 70:2 and Psalm 35:4Both seek justice against foes: Psalm 70:2 says, 'Let them be disappointed,' while Psalm 35:4 echoes, 'Let those who seek after my soul be disappointed.'
- Matthew 7Psalm 70:4 and Matthew 7:7Both invite seeking: Psalm 70:4 says, 'Let all those who seek you rejoice,' while Matthew 7:7 states, 'Seek, and you will find.'
- Psalm 69Psalm 70:5 and Psalm 69:29Both express distress: Psalm 70:5 states, 'I am poor and needy,' while Psalm 69:29 expresses, 'I am in pain and distress.'
- Psalm 141Psalm 70:5 and Psalm 141:1Both express urgency for help: Psalm 70:5 pleads, 'Come to me quickly, God,' while Psalm 141:1 states, 'Come to me quickly!'
- Psalm 25Psalm 70:2 and Psalm 25:3Both express a hope for vindication: Psalm 70:2 says, 'Let them be disappointed,' while Psalm 25:3 states, 'Yes, no one who waits for you shall be shamed.'
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