Psalm 70 (NRSV)
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Verse 1Be pleased, O God, to deliver me. O Lord, make haste to help me!
Verse 2Let those be put to shame and confusion who seek my life. Let those be turned back and brought to dishonor who desire to hurt me.
Verse 3Let those who say, "Aha, Aha!" turn back because of their shame.
Verse 4Let all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you. Let those who love your salvation say evermore, "God is great!"
Verse 5But I am poor and needy; hasten to me, O God! You are my help and my deliverer; O Lord, do not delay!
Devotion
The writers of the psalms are not shy. They insist that God act on their behalf and do so now: "O Lord, make haste to help me!" "O Lord, do not delay!" Neither do they hesitate to pray against their enemies: "Let those be put to shame and confusion who seek my life." These are honest and often gut-wrenching prayers. They are also faithful prayers, as they hold God to God’s promises, trusting that God will fulfill those promises.
Jesus prays one of the psalms from the cross: "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Ps 22:1). And the psalm for today would certainly be appropriate to Jesus' situation, as his enemies plot against him. We know, however, that in the end, he prays for his enemies, not against them: "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." This is good news for us, because, as Paul writes, "while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his son" (Rom 5:10).
Prayer
Lord, teach us to pray honestly, trusting that you hear, knowing that you are faithful. In the name of Jesus. Amen.