David solicits God to the speedy destruction of the wicked and the preservation of the godly, 1-5.
1 [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.
2 Let them be ashamed and confounded/
who seek after my soul./
Let them be turned backward and put to shame/
who desire my hurt.
3 Let them be turned back for a reward of their shame/
who say, "Aha, aha."
4 Let all those who seek you rejoice and be glad in you./
And let those who love your salvation say continually,/
"Let God be magnified."
5 But I am poor and needy./
Make haste to me, O God./
You are my help and my deliverer./
O LORD, make no delay.
Matthew Henry Commentary - Psalms, Chapter 70[➚]
John Calvin's Chapter Summary:
This psalm is merely a part of the fortieth, and the inscription, To call to remembrance, is perhaps designed to indicate this; David having taken these five verses out of that other psalm, and accommodated them for being used on some particular occasion. I shall only here repeat the words of the text; and would refer the reader for the interpretation to the proper place.