Hasten to My Help: Psalm 70-Supplication through the Scriptures

July 04, 2022

Hasten to My Help

Psalm 70

It is not forbidden us, in hours of dire distress, to ask for speed on God's part in his coming to rescue us.

Charles Spurgeon

If I’m honest, my timetable is rarely in step with the Lord’s. I seek God’s answer to my prayer and I think I know the time He ought to step in and answer. I wish I could direct His Omnipotent hand to bring about my relief in what I would deem a timely manner. I see the minutes, days, weeks, perhaps even years go by and I think the sooner He answers me, the better. At times, His answer to my earnest prayers is delayed, or seems to be.

In Habakkuk 2:3 God is speaking to Habakkuk about a vision he has had concerning the future of the southern kingdom of Judah. “The vision is yet for the appointed time; It hastens toward the goal, and it will not fail. Though it tarries, wait for it; For it will certainly come, it will not delay” (Habakkuk 2:3 NASB). I think there are several principles of which we can remind ourselves when we desire for God to quickly bring His answer and delay no longer.

First, God has an appointed time for everything. We see this most explicitly stated in places in Scripture where the coming of Christ is “in the fullness of time” (Galatians 4:4) or “at the right time” Christ died for us (Romans 5:6). God, the grand designer and orchestrator of this universe, concerns Himself with every detail and none is left to random decision or time. We can trust God’s perfect timing for the answer to our situation even while we are free to ask Him to intervene quickly,

Next, His answer is hastening straight toward the goal. Thought it may seem to tarry or seem slow, it is not delayed. From our perspective, God’s solution may seem to be delayed. It may seem to be taking a long time to get to us. We may not feel that whatever we are longing for is being hastily supplied. But, again, God’s wisdom has determined an answer and an exact time when that answer will be supplied. God is masterfully orchestrating a myriad of people and circumstances in order to supply our need. He does not count slowness as we count it (2 Peter 3:9). God can never be thwarted in His plans or delayed in bringing them to fruition. Whatever we are seeking Him for, we can be confident that He will supply us an answer and it will be right on time.

Finally, His answer to our earnest cries will not fail. It will certainly come to us. It may look different than what we desired. But God’s work on our behalf as His children to bring about His purpose of conforming us to Christ will be accomplished in the granting of our request, withholding of it, or supplying something completely different than we anticipated. But we have this hope: His promises to us are certain. At the dedication of the temple, Solomon said, “Blessed be the LORD, who has given rest to His people Israel, according to all that He promised; not one word has failed of all His good promise, which He promised through Moses His servant” (1 Kings 8:56 NASB). And we have this same confidence. All of His promises to us are “Yes!” in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 1:20).

This morning, we can come boldly to His throne of grace and ask Him to hasten to our help and not delay and use Psalm 70 as a guide. Then we can remind our souls that He will answer in His perfect timing. He will not delay. He and His promises are sure. We can wait patiently in this hope. Charles Spurgeon quoted this poem in his commentary on the Psalms:

“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.”

Make Haste to Help Me

70:1-5 Make haste, O God, to deliver me! O Lord, make haste to help me! Let them be put to shame and confusion who seek my life! Let them be turned back and brought to dishonor who delight in my hurt! Let them turn back because of their shame who say, “Aha, Aha!” May all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you! May those who love your salvation say evermore, “God is great!” But I am poor and needy; hasten to me, O God! You are my help and my deliverer; O Lord, do not delay!

Lord, I pray:

▫️You would make haste to deliver me in my current difficulty. I need You to intervene and use Your strength and might to bring about an answer that will bring You glory but will also be good for me. Please quickly answer my prayer, but help me also to trust Your timing and Your perfect resolution even if it seems delayed.

▫️Lord, please do not delay to work on my behalf against those who are dishonoring You in this situation and those who are seeking to harm me and those I love. When others do something that is not in my best interest, turn them back.

▫️Help me to be glad and rejoice in You as I remind myself that You are never delayed, Your answers will come, and I can wait patiently because Your wisdom has decided what moment the answer to my prayer will be best.

▫️My heart and will would declare Your greatness as I seek Your help and submit to Your timing.

▫️Thank You, Lord, that You hear the poor and needy. I am in need of Your help today. Please hasten to help me and do not delay!

May the Lord do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, for His glory and our good. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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