Clarke's Commentary The psalmist prays for speedy deliverance, Psalm 70:1; prays against those who sought his life, Psalm 70:2, Psalm 70:3; and for the blessedness of those who sought God, Psalm 70:4; urges his speedy deliverance, Psalm 70:5. The title in the Hebrew is, To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, to bring to remembranee. There seems little sense in this title. It seems to intimate that the Psalm was written as a memorial that David had been in sore affliction, and that God had delivered him. So the Vulgate, Septuagint, Ethiopic, and Arabic. It is almost word for word the same with the five last verses of Psalm 40, to the notes on which the reader is referred.
To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, to bring to remembrance. Make haste, O God, to deliver me; make haste to help me, O LORD. Make haste to help me - I am in extreme distress, and the most imminent danger. Haste to help me, or I am lost.
Let them be ashamed and confounded that seek after my soul: let them be turned backward, and put to confusion, that desire my hurt. Let them be turned backward - They are coming in a body against me. Lord, stop their progress!
Let them be turned back for a reward of their shame that say, Aha, aha. That say, Aha, aha - האה האה Heach! heach! a note of supreme contempt. See on Psalm 40:15 (note).
Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: and let such as love thy salvation say continually, Let God be magnified. Let God be magnified - Let his glory, mercy, and kindness, continually appear in the increase of his own work in the souls of his followers!
But I am poor and needy: make haste unto me, O God: thou art my help and my deliverer; O LORD, make no tarrying. But I am poor and needy - עני ואביון ani veebyon, I am a poor man, and a beggar - an afflicted beggar; a sense of my poverty causes me to beg.Thou art my help - I know thou hast enough, and to spare; and therefore I come to thee. Make no tarrying - My wants are many, my danger great, my time short. O God, delay not! Commentary on the Bible, by Adam Clarke [1831]. Text Courtesy of Internet Sacred Texts Archive. Bible Hub |