Psalms 70:1-5

This short psalm is a rushing sob of anxious solicitude. There is little restfulness in it. Enemies are engaged in cruel persecution and mockery. It seems as though the singer felt that the strain was becoming too much for him, and in fear lest he should be overcome he cries aloud for God to hasten to his deliverance. The faith of the singer is evident in that he cries to God, and evidently has no room in his heart to question God's ability to keep him. The only question is whether help will arrive in time.

It is not the highest type of faith which is revealed, but we are profoundly thankful to find such a song in this great book of religious poetry. Rightly or wrongly, we often come to just such places of doubt. No doubt exists either of God's ability, or of His interest in and love for us, but is He not trying us beyond the power of our endurance? He is not; but for moments of terrible tension it seems as though He were. Then here is a psalm for such days or hours. Let us take it and use it, knowing that He would far rather have in our song an expression of an honest questioning than any affectation of a confidence not possessed. Moreover, He would rather have from us such a song than silence.