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 different spirit. David says, “May all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; may those who love Your salvation say evermore, ‘God is great!’” This is the heart of the psalm. He begs the Lord to come to the relief of those who trust in him. Those who seek the Lord should be marked by joy, not by fear or scheming. They are glad in Him, despite life’s trials, because God anchors them in his goodness and faithfulness. They love and wait for His salvation—both in this life and the life to come. And from their lips comes a constant, heartfelt confession: “God is great!” This is not empty religious talk; it is the language of lived experience, knowing that God’s provision is certain.

The difference between these two groups—the enemies and the seekers of God—is as stark as night and day. The first group chases selfish gain and power, and actively plots to harm others. The second group pursues righteousness, peace, and love. They are waiting eagerly for the salvation of the Lord to be made evident in their lives. Thus, they can endure difficult circumstances, trusting fervently in the unchanging character of God. This joy is the inheritance of all who love Him, a wellspring that remains full in the driest season.

And then David pleads with the Lord: “But I am poor and needy; hasten to me, O God!” This is no act of false modesty. David was a king, yet he knew his poverty before God. When in need of help, God is our only refuge. This is what the Lord commends in the Beatitudes: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Those who acknowledge from their hearts that they bring nothing to God but our need realize that all they have depends on His mercy.

David’s cry echoes the prayer of Hannah, who sang, “The Lord makes poor and makes rich; He brings low and He exalts. He raises the poor from the dust; He lifts the needy from the ash heap to make them sit with princes and inherit a seat of honor.” Mary, the mother of Jesus, also praised God for this very truth: “He has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He has sent away empty.”

And so David ends his prayer: “You are my help and my deliverer; O Lord, do not delay!” Without hedging his bets, David confesses from his heart that God alone is both able and willing to save him.

This psalm is more than a cry for help—it declares the direction of our quest for joy. Surrounded by enemies and danger, David still counts himself among those who seek the Lord. He is “a man after God’s own heart.” His prayers are not merely for personal safety or comfort; they are bound up in the purposes and glory of God.

So he seeks God, not with a casual, occasional interest, but an urgent longing for His will to be done in us and through us. And for all such, God has reserved the joy of his deliverance and his salvation. Their eyes are fixed on God’s glory, and their hearts find delight in His redemption.

Let us not be like those who seek their own gain at the expense of others. Let us be among those who seek the Lord with all our hearts. Let us live in His presence daily, love His salvation, and testify continually, “God is great!” Let us turn to Him first in every need, humbly admitting our dependence, and finding joy in His faithfulness regardless of what is happening around us.

When we feel weighed down by trouble, unsure of how we will make it through, let our spirits cry out as David did, “Make haste, O God, to deliver me! O Lord, make haste to help me!” Then we shall join the chorus of those who love His salvation, saying, “God is great!”

This was the confidence of George Müller, giving thanks as the children sat around an empty table, trusting that God would fill it. It is the confidence of David, hunted and mocked, yet boasting of the great power and love of the One who was his help and deliverer. Let this be our confidence today as we seek the Lord with all our hearts. God bless.