Sep-02-0503-The confidence of the believer
503_The confidence of the believer Psalm 70 Make haste, O God, to deliver me! O Lord, make haste to help me! 2 Let them be put to shame and confusion who seek my life! Let them be turned back and brought to dishonor who delight in my hurt! 3 Let them turn back because of their shame who say, “Aha, Aha!” 4 May all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you! May those who love your salvation say evermore, “God is great!” 5 But I am poor and needy; hasten to me, O God! You are my help and my deliverer; O Lord, do not delay! George Müller, was a man of God who ran orphanages in England during the 1800s. Müller cared for over ten thousand children in his lifetime, but what stood out was not just his generosity—it was his unwavering trust in God. One morning, the children were ready for breakfast, but there was no food in the pantry and no money to buy any. The staff grew anxious, but Müller calmly said, “Let the children be seated at the table.” He prayed, thanking God for the food He would provide. Moments later, there was a knock at the door. It was the local baker, who said he couldn’t sleep the previous night and felt compelled to bake bread for the orphanage. Shortly after, the milkman’s cart broke down right in front of the home, and he offered all his milk before it spoiled. The children ate their fill. Müller’s confidence was not rooted in circumstances. He sought the Lord with all his heart and had learned that God never fails those who trust Him. Psalm 70 is an urgent prayer of David that reflects the same confidence. The heading says, “To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. To bring to remembrance.” This is not just a casual note; it’s a reminder that this psalm was to be sung, remembered, and taken to heart. In fact, much of it echoes Psalm 40:13–17. These words were meant to be imprinted in the minds of God’s people, equipping them for times of need. David’s prayer begins: “Make haste, O God, to deliver me! O Lord, make haste to help me!” You can feel the desperation. It’s the cry of a man cornered, who knows that unless God intervenes quickly, he is finished. Those who seek the Lord do not hesitate to call upon Him in every trouble. They know He is their only source of help. David then paints a contrast between two very different groups of people. The first group is those who seek his life. These are not casual enemies; they actively plot harm, seeking to destroy him both physically and emotionally. They mock him, delight in his troubles, and whisper plans to ruin him. David prays that God, his judge, will put them to shame, turn them back in confusion, and ensure their plans come to nothing. Not mere vindictiveness, this reflects the strong desire for God’s justice to be seen—that evil should not triumph over righteousness. The second group has an entirely