Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Adult Sunday School Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/bb/bb19970504.htm

PSALMS: DIARIES OF GODLY OLD TESTAMENT SAINTS
Psalm Seventy - When It Is Right For Male Overseers To Ask God To Hurry VERY FAST To Their Aid
(Psalm 70:1-6)
  1. Introduction
    1. As we learned from Psalm 40, though it is never right to be impatient with the Lord, when crises turn so bad that waiting becomes ruinous, GODLY heads of households have the right to ask God to hurry!
    2. However, Psalm 40's emphasis does not solve drastic threats where there is practically NO time available for heads of households to seek help. He may come home to find his whole house on fire, or learn of a car wreck in the family or face a criminal on the loose or a critical job threat where his family or job subordinates' welfare is at stake. What kind of prayer is workable when the stakes are enormous and a rush order seems the only way for such a man to approach God? Psalm 70 handles that issue:
  2. When It Is Right For Male Overseers To Ask God To Hurry VERY FAST To Their Aid, Ps. 70:1-5.
    1. Psalm 70 is almost identical to the text of Psalm 40:13-17.
    2. In Psalm 40, David's concern was for God to snatch him away from trouble caused by oppressors that could cause real loss for him particularly viewed as a male-head-of-household (Heb. geber, Ps. 40:4a).
    3. From that psalm, we learned that (1) a holy life, (2) a life habitually content to wait for God's answers, (3) concern about the welfare of others, (4) a life performing God's revealed will and (5) thankfulness for God's former bles sings were all required elements to qualify to ask a "hurry up" prayer from God.
    4. In contrast to Psalm 40, Psalm 70 places an even GREATER emphasis on the need for speed from God"
      1. Where Psalm 40:15 translates, "May those who say to me, "Aha! Aha!" be appalled at their own shame!", Psalm 70:3 replaces "appalled" with "be turned back," to translate: "Let those be turned back because of their shame who say, "Aha! Aha!"
      2. Where Psalm 40:17 translates, "But as for me, I am afflicted and needy; may Adonai think of me . . . ", Psalm 70:5 reads, "But as for me, I am afflicted and needy; O Elohim, hasten to me . . . "
      3. Thus, Psalm 70 was lifted out of Psalm 40 due to very PRESSING circumstances of huge proportions, and modified under the Holy Spirit's leading to request immediate divine help due to enemies who were in hot pursuit to destroy presumably a male head of household and his family welfare!
Lesson: Combining the emphasis of Psalm 70 with the context of Psalm 40 from which Psalm 70 was taken under the Spirit's inspiration (cf. 2 Pet. 1:21), we have the following theological formula to justify asking God to hurry, and FAST: (a) if we ha ve succeeded in waiting patiently for God on regular matters of everyday life (Ps. 40:1-3a), (b) if we have shown concern about the needs of others in life (Ps. 40:3b-4), (c) if we have habitually done the will of God from the heart in life (Ps. 40:6-8) and (d) if we have been thankful for God's past dealings to us (Ps. 40:9-10), we have the RIGHT to ask for VERY RAPID divine help in times of personal crisis (Ps. 70 as it relates to the context of Ps. 40).

Application: (1) The context of Psalm 40 focuses on the needs of MALE heads of households (LEADERS) and their unique concerns for welfare (use of Heb. "geber" in Ps. 40:4a). Thus, when job threats, natural disasters or even the angelic conflict or criminal elements THREATEN to undo order or welfare of one's HOUSEHOLD or JOB SUBORDINATES, and that in SHORT, CATACLYSMIC fashion, a MALE HEAD OF HOUSEHOLD can call upon God for VERY RAPID help and expect an answer PROVIDING he has been CONSISTENTLY upright. (2) Thus, God is particularly concerned about a man's daily spiritual vitality, that he is CONSISTENTLY dependent upon the Lord rather than lazily, irresponsibly not focusing on his accountability to God. Failure here brings great tragedy when the chips are down and a head of household really NEEDS God's help! (3) T hus, MEN who CARE about their subordinates and families must BE FERVENT at ALL times, OR ELSE see his subordinates suffer in crises!!!