Whenever I read or pray this psalm, I remember my Dad. For a season, he would have us pray this nightly. Only as I grew older did I understand that he was going through a bad patch and this prayer held much promise for him.
1Be pleased, O God, to deliver me. O LORD, make haste to help me!
Make haste to help me. There is urgency in the call for God’s help. Don’t wait tomorrow, Lord. Do it quickly.
He didn’t seem to focus on the next few petitions,
2Let those be put to shame and confusion who seek my life. Let those be turned back and brought to dishonour who desire to hurt me. 3Let those who say, ‘Aha, Aha!’ turn back because of their shame.
He always had such a positive outlook and gave others the benefit of the doubt, so it’s unlikely that, like the psalmist, he even bothered about those who might have wanted his demise.
He just wanted the best for everyone, so it was easy for him to pray:
Let all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you. Let those who love your salvation say evermore, ‘God is great!’
Indeed, his business with God in that season was about getting what he needed for life to be on the mend; and so he prayed, and so I urge everyone going through a bad season to pray this way into the light at the end of the tunnel.
5But I am poor and needy; hasten to me, O God! You are my help and my deliverer; O LORD, do not delay!
Hold on, and don’t give up. The dark night gives way to the light of day.