Hurry Up, Lord!

 

Psalm 70:4 May all who seek you
    rejoice and be glad in you!
May those who love your salvation
    say evermore, “God is great!”
5 But I am poor and needy;
    hasten to me, O God!
You are my help and my deliverer;
    O Lord, do not delay!

12 Psalm 71:12 O God, be not far from me;

    O my God, make haste to help me!

13 May my accusers be put to shame and consumed;

    with scorn and disgrace may they be covered

    who seek my hurt.

14 But I will hope continually

    and will praise you yet more and more.

15 My mouth will tell of your righteous acts,

    of your deeds of salvation all the day,

    for their number is past my knowledge.

16 With the mighty deeds of the Lord God I will come;

    I will remind them of your righteousness, yours alone.

Psalm 70 is a ascribed to David, and sounds like a familiar story, with David beginning by saying: "Make haste, Lord, they are out to get me!"  He immediately falls into this tune of trust and hope in God.  Psalm 71 is not ascribed to a particular author but the theme is the same, beginning with a proclamation of trust in God.  Both psalms have that sense of urgency: make haste, do not delay, hurry up Lord!  Psalm 71 goes on with the author committing himself to proclaim the righteousness and greatness of God, even though he feels like he is getting old and losing steam, wondering if he will ever see what he has been asking for.  He closes by reaffirming his trust in God. Don't give up!