Scripture
But I am poor and needy; hasten to me, O God! You are my help and my deliverer; O Lord, do not delay!
~Psalm 70:5
Quote
The greatest tragedy in life is not unanswered prayer but unoffered prayer.
~F.B. Meyer
Psalm 70 is a prayer of David. First of all, it is a short prayer. The length of our prayers is not to be an issue. We should never worry about their length. The model prayer that Jesus taught us in not a long prayer but properly understood, it is a powerful prayer. It is far better to have heart without words than words without heart. Even Jesus said in the sermon on the mount, “And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.” In the Hebrew, Psalm 70:1 is elohiym natsal. In a nutshell, GOD SAVE. The translators have added additional words to help us understand the context...O God, hasten to deliver me. This is the short prayer that Peter prayed when he was sinking in the sea, “LORD save me.” Just three words but he got powerful results. Two things you do not need to worry about in your quiet time: [1] How long you pray [2] How much scripture you cover. I’m not opposed to reading the bible through in a year; that is a great idea but I don’t recommend that we do this all the time. You need some daily bible study and no one can study three chapters in a days time.
Second: this is an urgent prayer. We do not know the context but evidently David is in a threatening position; he seems to be in danger. The Hebrew word for haste is küsh. We can replace the k with an r and we have rush which is very close. The word means to hurry or act quickly. This same word is found again in verse 5, “hasten to me O God.” In the AV, the Psalm ends with these three words, “make no tarrying.” Obviously, David was in some kind of trouble and he is crying out to God for deliverance. Our prayers are more fervent during crisis. When we get tossed into the furnace of affliction, it heats up our prayers.
Third: this is an humble prayer. Remember, David was a king but he confessed, “I am poor [afflicted] and needy.” The Hebrew word ä·nē’ {ah-knee} can be translated poor, wretched, afflicted, needy, humble or lowly. I think any one of these would fit the context. David had an army at his disposal and the treasury of a kingdom, yet he felt poor and wretched. David’s attitude was the opposite of the Laodiceans who said … ‘I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!’ Jesus response to them was ….“don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.” Understanding our neediness is the beginning of prayer. Satisfied folks are not apt to pray.
[When I was reading Spurgeon’s commentary, I came across this poem. It is worthy of your attention.]
MAKE HASTE
Make haste, O God, my soul to bless!
My help and my deliverer thou;
Make haste, for I am in deep distress,
My case is urgent; help me now.
Make haste, O God! make haste to save!
For time is short, and death is nigh;
Make haste ere yet I am in my grave,
And with the lost forever lie.
Make haste, for I am poor and low;
And Satan mocks my prayers and tears;
O God, in mercy be not slow,
But snatch me from my horrid fears.
Make haste, O God, and hear my cries;
Then with the souls who seek thy face,
And those who thy salvation prize,
I will magnify thy matchless grace.
- BLOCK PARTY week is off and rolling. I am amazed and thankful for the massive turnout last night: Wow, what a bunch of workers….Thank you one and all. Remember, you can drop things off at the GRACE BARN today, all day long.
- Praise the LORD: Team Guatemala made it back yesterday safe and sound.
- Sunday Schedule….no LCBS and only one worship celebration at 10:15 am. Lord willing, we will have donuts and biscuits at the church around 9:30.
- Sunday night at 6:00…Prayer Walk at all three Danville Schools
- AWANA Swim Party Sunday night, August 13. David Wood is going to do a Watermelon off the high dive in his speedos.
- They are having a heat wave in the Northwest: Portland and Seattle. It got up to 91 yesterday and that is a record. Those folks don’t know what heat is: here 91 in August is a cool front.