Psalms 70 - Introduction

This short prayer for speedy help and the discomfiture of malicious enemies is a repetition of Psalms 40:13-17 with some slight variations. Jehovahhas been changed to Godin Psalms 70:1 a, Psalms 70:4 c, and Lordto Godin 5 b, according to the usual practice of the editor of the Elohistic collection; but Jehovahhas been retained in Psalms 70:1 band substituted for my Godin Psalms 70:5 dfor the sake of variety, where Godoccurs in the same verse. In other respects Psalms 40 appears to present a more original text. On the relation of these verses to the rest of Psalms 40, see Introd. to that Psalm. Probably, as the title suggests, they were detached from Psalms 40 for liturgical purposes.

The title to bring to remembrance, prefixed also to Psalms 38, has commonly been explained to refer to the contents of the Psalm, either as a record of suffering, or as a prayer intended to bring the suppliant to God's remembrance. But more probably it should be rendered, to make memorial(R.V. marg.), or, for making the memorial(LXX εἰς ἀνάμνησιν as in Leviticus 24:7; cp. Numbers 10:10), and explained as a note of the liturgical use of the Psalm either in connexion with the offering of incense, or at the offering of the Azkârâ. (1) The phrase to make a memorial of incenseoccurs in Isaiah 66:3; and for the connexion of prayer with offering of incense see Numbers 16:46 ff.; Luke 1:9-10. The Targum suggests this reference in its double rendering, To remember concerning the use of incense, (2) The Askârâor Memorialwas a technical term in the Levitical ritual (a) for the portion of the -meal-offering" mixed with oil and burnt with incense on the altar (Leviticus 2:2); (b) for the incense placed on the shewbread and afterwards burnt (Leviticus 24:7). Though probably the term originally meant only -a fragrant offering" (see Dillmann on Leviticus 2:2), it was interpreted to mean -a memorial" (LXX μνημόσυνον, Vulg. memoriale) as bringing the offerer to God's remembrance. There may be an allusion to the use of Psalms in connexion with the Askârâin 1 Chronicles 16:4, where to celebrate(R.V.) is the same word as that used here.

The liturgical use of the Psalm must have arisen in days of national distress and persecution, and implies the application of the Psalm to the nation. A hint of this national application is given in the Targum of Psalms 70:1 a, "O God make haste to deliver us."