Psalms 70

Psalms 70THE Fortieth Psalm, as we have seen, consists of a thanksgiving for deliverances experienced already, Psalms 40:1-13, and of a prayer for fresh occasion of thanksgiving, Psalms 40:14-17. The latter portion is here repeated by itself, as a kind of appendix to the sixty-ninth and preface o the seventy-first, with both which it has several points of contrast and resemblance. The mutual relation of the two editions is the same as that between the fourteenth and the fifty-third. The supposition of an erroneous copy or an accidental repetition is forbidden by the fact that both are left on record, and by the appearance of an uniform design in the variations. In this case, as in that of the fifty-third Psalm, no comments will be made upon those expressions which are common to both forms and have therefore been explained already.

1. To the Chief Musician. By David. To remind, i.e. to remind God of the Psalmist’s necessities. The same inscription is prefixed to Psalms 38. The phrase by David represents him as the author, not of the fortieth Psalm merely, but of this abridgment. See above, on Psalms 53:1, and compare.

2. (Psalms 70:1). 0 God, to deliver me, 0 Lord, to help me, hasten! The first word of Psa 40:3, be pleased, is omitted here in Psalms 70:1, for the purpose, as some suppose, of making the commencement more abrupt, and thereby marking the whole composition as a fragment. Another variation, which interpreters have laboured to account for as significant, is the sustitution of Elohim in the first clause for Jehovah, the only Divine name which appears in the fortieth psalm at all. It is quite as probable, to say the least, that the names were interchanged as God and Lord are often by ourselves, without special reason or design.

3. (Psalms 70:2). Ashamed and confounded shall be (those) seeking my soul; turned back and disgraced shall be (those) desiring (or delighting in) my hurt. See above. on Psalms 40:14. The only variation consists in the omission of the words together and to destroy it, in accordance with the obvious design of condensation and abridgment.

4. (Psalms 70:3). They shall turn back on account of their shame, i.e. retreat from their assault on me confounded and ashamed— those saying, Aha, aha! See above, on Psalms 40:15. For the strong expression, they shall be desolate, we have a milder one borrowed from Psalms 6:10. The only other variation consists in the omission of the unimportant phrase to me.

5. (Psalms 70:4). They shall rejoice and be glad in thee— all (those) seeking thee; and they shall say always, great be Jehovah—(those) loving thy salvation. See above, on Psalms 40:16. The only variation here is the insertion of the copulative and at the beginning of the second clause.

6. (Psalms 70:5). And I am afflicted and poor–0 God, hasten unto me! My help and my deliverer (art) thou-0 Jehovah, linger not, do not delay! See above, on Psalms 40:17. Instead of God, the parallel passage has Jehovah, and instead of Jehovah, in the second clause, my God. Another variation is that the significant expression, he will think of me (or for me), is exchanged for the petition hasten to me, thus bringing back the prayer to the point from which it started.