|  Home  |  Old Testament Studies  |  Psalms Table of Contents  |  Previous Section  |  Next Section  |

PSALM 70

STROPHE DIVISIONS OF MODERN TRANSLATIONS

NASB NKJV NRSV TEV NJB
Prayer for Help Against Persecutors
  MT Intro
For the choir director. A Psalm of David; for a memorial. 		Prayer for Relief From Adversaries A Prayer for Deliverance From Personal Enemies A Prayer For Help A Cry of Distress
70:1-3 70:1-3 70:1-3 70:1-3 70:1-2b
70:2c-3
70:4-5 70:4 70:4-5 70:4 70:4
70:5 70:5 70:5

READING CYCLE THREE (see "Bible Interpretation Seminar")

FOLLOWING THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR'S INTENT AT PARAGRAPH LEVEL

This is a study guide commentary, which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.

Read the chapter in one sitting. Identify the subjects (reading cycle #3). Compare your subject divisions with the five translations above. Paragraphing is not inspired, but it is the key to following the original author's intent, which is the heart of interpretation. Every paragraph has one and only one subject.

CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS

  1. Notice the Qal IMPERATIVE "hasten" (BDB 301, KB 300) opens (cf. Ps. 70:1b) and closes (cf. Ps. 70:5b) the Psalm (i.e., inclusio). This VERB is repeated in Psalm 22:19; 38:22; 40:13,17; 71:12.

  2. Notice the number of IMPERFECTS used as JUSSIVES (note the parallelism).
    1. Negative
      1. let those be ashamed, Ps. 70:2a – BDB 101, KB 116, Qal IMPERFECT, cf. Ps. 35:4; 83:17
      2. let those be humiliated, Ps. 70:2a – BDB 344, KB 340, Qal IMPERFECT, cf. Ps. 40:14
      3. let those be turned back, Ps. 70:2c – BDB 690, KB 744, Niphal IMPERFECT
      4. let those be dishonored, Ps. 70:2c – BDB 483, KB 480, Niphal IMPERFECT
      5. let those be turned back, Ps. 70:3a – BDB 996, KB 1427, Qal IMPERFECT
    2. Positive
      1. let all who seek You rejoice, Ps. 70:4 – BDB 965, KB 1314, Qal IMPERFECT
      2. let all who seek You be glad, Ps. 70:4 – BDB 970, KB 1333, Qal IMPERFECT
      3. let those who love Your salvation say. . .," Ps. 70:4b – BDB 55, KB 65, Qal IMPERFECT
      4. God be magnified, Ps. 70:4c – BDB 152, KB 178, Qal IMPERFECT
      5. do not delay, Ps. 70:5d – BDB 28, KB 34, Piel IMPERFECT

  3. Notice the wonderful synonymous parallelism of the Psalm.
    SPECIAL TOPIC: HEBREW POETLRY

  4. This Psalm is repeated with some differences in Psalm 40:13-17, except for Ps. 70:3a.
    1. Psalm 70:3, "turn back" (BDB 690 I)
    2. Psalm 40:15, "appalled" (BDB 1030)
       Remember, moderns do not know the when, who, or how of the transmission of OT books. There were obviously editors and compilers involved over a long period of time. We assume that these were as inspired as the original author.

      SPECIAL TOPIC: INSPIRATION

WORD AND PHRASE STUDY

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: PSALM 70:1-3
 1O God, hasten to deliver me;
 O Lord, hasten to my help!
 2Let those be ashamed and humiliated
 Who seek my life;
 Let those be turned back and dishonored
 Who delight in my hurt.
 3Let those be turned back because of their shame
 Who say, "Aha, aha!"

70:1 The NASB assumes the Qal IMPERATIVE is used twice (cf. Ps. 22:19; 38:22; 40:13; 71:12; 141:1) and has parallel OBJECTS (cf. Ps. 70:5).

  1. deliver me
  2. help me

Also notice that God (Elohim) is parallel to Lord (YHWH), as they are in verse 5.

SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY, C., D.

70:2 "Let. . ." This is the English way to denote the JUSSIVE OF REQUEST. See Contextual Insights, B.

▣ "seek" This VERBAL (BDB 134, KB 152, Piel PARTICIPLE) occurs in Ps. 70:2 and 4. It describes two kinds of people.

  1. those who seek to kill or hurt others to get their way (cf. Ps. 37:32; 71:13,24)
  2. those who seek God (cf. Ps. 24:6; 27:8; 40:16; 69:6; 70:4)

70:2-3 "Who. . ." Those who oppose the psalmist are characterized in three parallel phrases.

  1. who seek my life (lit. nephesh; see SPECIAL TOPIC: NEPHESH)
  2. who delight in my hurt
  3. who say, "Aha, aha"

This denotes a common OT literary technique called "reversal." What they wished to happen to the godly psalmist, happens to them!

70:3 "shame" See SPECIAL TOPIC: SHAME

▣
NASB, NKJV, NJB, JPSOA, NRSV, Peshitta  "Aha, aha!"
REB  "Hurrah"
TEV  "make fun of me"
LXX  "Good, good!"

This Hebrew INTERROGATIVE (BDB 210) usually denotes satisfaction over an enemy's misfortune (cf. Ps. 35:21,25; 40:15; Ezek. 25:3; 26:2; 36:2).

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: PSALM 70:4-5
 4Let all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You;
 And let those who love Your salvation say continually,
 "Let God be magnified."
 5But I am afflicted and needy;
 Hasten to me, O God!
 You are my help and my deliverer;
 O Lord, do not delay.

70:4 "seek You" This is an OT idiom for a personal faith relationship with God characterized by

  1. temple worship (see SPECIAL TOPIC: WORSHIP)
  2. covenant obedience

The last line of Ps. 70:4 may be temple liturgy. See note at v. 2.

▣ "love" This word for "love" (BDB 12, KB 17, Qal PARTICIPLE) is one of several Hebrew words translated in the LXX by agapeō.

SPECIAL TOPIC: LOVE

▣ "salvation" See SPECIAL TOPIC: SALVATION (OT)

▣
NASB, NKJV, Peshitta, LXX  "Let God be magnified"
NJB, NRSV  "God is great"
REB  "All glory to God!"
JPSOA  "Extolled be God!"
TEV  "How great is God!"

The MT has "God (Elohim) is great." The VERB (BDB 152, KB 178) is a Qal IMPERFECT used in a JUSSIVE sense. This is a recognition of YHWH's

  1. self ‒ 2 Sam. 7:22; Ps. 35:27; 40:16; 104:1; Mal. 1:5
  2. name ‒ 2 Sam. 7:25
  3. Messiah ‒ Micah 5:4

70:5 Notice that the two concepts of "deliver" and "help" of Ps. 70:1 are repeated (different but synonymous VERB for "deliver").

▣ "I am afflicted and needy" The psalmist characterizes his own perceived situation. God is great (Ps. 70:4) but he is hurting. He entreats God to come to his aid quickly.

Both of the most common names for Israel's Deity appear in this verse. They are in one sense synonymous, but have unique aspects.

SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY, C., D.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

This is a study guide commentary which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.

These discussion questions are provided to help you think through the major issues of this section of the book. They are meant to be thought provoking, not definitive.

  1. Why is Psalm 70 also found in Psalm 40:13-17?
  2. Explain in your own words the literary concept of "reversal."
  3. What do the names for Deity, Elohim and YHWH, imply?

 

 

|  Home  |  Old Testament Studies  |  Psalms Table of Contents  |  Previous Section  |  Next Section  |

Copyright © 2014 Bible Lessons International