Psalm 70, Poor and Needy

For the director of music. Of David. A petition.

This song is a "petition", that is, a plea for God to work in a certain way. It, like the psalm before it, is a supplication-praise psalm, beginning in desperation, ending in faithful declaration.

This psalm closely parallels Psalm 40:13-17. Alter argues that this short cry of help is the original compact song, possibly later included in Psalm 40 as an appropriate ending to that psalm.

Psalm 70:1, Save me!

 Hasten, O God, to save me; 

O LORD, come quickly to help me.

A quick call for help!

Psalm 70:2-3, Aha!, Aha!

 May those who seek my life 

be put to shame and confusion; 

may all who desire my ruin 

be turned back in disgrace.

May those who say to me, "Aha! Aha!" 

turn back because of their shame.

David has enemies who seek to kill him.  

What does it mean to say "Aha!"? The Hebrew, heach (הֶאָח), like the English aha!, is a simple interjection of excitement or surprise. Here it is the exultant cry of those who think they have achieved victory over David.

Psalm 70:4, Let God be exalted! 

But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; 

may those who love your salvation always say, "Let God be exalted!"

But David will lean on God. David is part of a community of worshippers who will exalt and praise God.

Psalm 70:5, Needy

 Yet I am poor and needy; 

come quickly to me, O God. 

You are my help and my deliverer; 

O LORD, do not delay.

David remains poor, vulnerable, and in need of help.  He repeats his claim that YHWH is his deliverer.

First published Feb 8 2024; updated  Feb 8, 2027