The Cry of the King

This is a short, urgent prayer—a cry for help from King David that resonates with anyone who has ever felt overwhelmed. “Hasten, O God, to save me; come quickly, Lord, to help me.” If you’ve ever prayed with desperation, you’ll feel the weight of these words.

A near identical repeat of a section of Psalm 40, (but without any of the assurances of God's immediate response found in that earlier Psalm), it has - as Derek Kidner says - “greater brevity and greater urgency”.

Bookended by desperate calls for divine help, here David - though king - calls himself “poor and needy.” His life is in danger. He doesn’t hold back—he pleads for God to come quickly, to rescue him. It’s not clear which threat David faced when writing this (immanent coup, attempts on his life?) but the tone is clear: urgent, humble, honest. And while this Psalm speaks to David’s experience, it ultimately points beyond him—to Jesus.

David was God’s anointed king, but Jesus is the Anointed One in the fullest sense. When we read David’s cry for help, we remember how Jesus, too, faced enemies who mocked him, plotted against him, and eventually put him to death. Psalm 70 doesn’t just echo our experience of suffering; it reflects the experience of Christ himself.

The Psalm also draws a sharp line between two kinds of people - two ways to live. On one side are those who oppose God’s king—those who seek David’s ruin, who mock and conspire to bring death, defeat and deceit. They are like those who rejected and crucified Jesus. On the other side are those who seek God, who rejoice in him, and who long for his saving help. These are the ones who respond with faith and worship - they are seeking God, finding salvation in God and singing their praise to God.

This Psalm invites us to choose: will we stand with those who resist God’s King, or will we seek him, trust him, and rejoice in him? Where do you stand?

And finally, having led us to Christ, Psalm 70 teaches us to pray. We’re invited to be honest about our need, to cry out to God without pretense. We’re also encouraged to pray that evil would be frustrated—(this is not in conflict with Jesus call to pray for enemies). And even in our own suffering, we’re called to care about the joy and flourishing of others who trust in God.

Talk Headings:

1. The Repetition and Right-Reading of the Psalm

2. The Request of the King

3. The Responses to the King

a) Opposition

b) Obedience

4. The Right use of the Psalm

a) Let it lead you to trust in the King

b) Let it lead you to pay like the King

- Pray honestly in your need

- Pray for the frustration of evil

- Pray for the flourishing of God's people