Psalms 70:2-3
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!”
English Standard Version (ESV)
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This isn't just a prayer for personal safety; it's a bold declaration that those who attack God's anointed will face a reversal. The plea for them to be "turned backward" isn't just about stopping their advance, but about their entire mission being undone.
This psalm is a desperate plea for God's swift intervention, a cry for help in a moment of intense persecution. David, or the person praying, is facing enemies who actively seek his life and delight in his suffering, leading to this urgent call for God to act decisively against them. It mirrors similar pleas found earlier in Psalm 40, suggesting a recurring crisis and a desperate need for divine deliverance from those who wish him harm.
Why would a psalmist repeat phrases almost exactly? What does this tell us about the intensity of David's prayer?
This verse isn't just a simple statement; it's a powerful echo of language David used before (Psalm 40:14) and would be used again. This strategic repetition isn't accidental. It amplifies the desperate plea.
Amplifying the Plea
Think of it like a drumbeat. The repeated phrases hammer home the urgency and the depth of the psalmist's distress. He's not just asking God to notice; he's asking for a decisive intervention against those actively trying to harm him.
The Nature of the Attack
The attackers aren't just passive bystanders; they 'seek my life' and 'delight in my hurt.' This suggests a persistent, malicious intent. The repetition underscores that this isn't a minor annoyance, but a life-threatening situation fueled by cruel joy.
What does it mean for enemies to be 'ashamed' and 'turned back'? It's more than just embarrassment.
The imprecation in this verse calls for the direct opposite of God's favor. When the psalmist prays for his enemies to be 'ashamed and confounded,' he's asking for them to be exposed and utterly humiliated.
Loss of Reputation and Purpose
'Ashamed' and 'confounded' speak to a loss of face, a public exposure of their wicked intentions that leaves them disgraced. To be 'turned back' signifies their plans being thwarted, their aggression halted, and their efforts rendered useless.
God's Justice in Action
This isn't about petty revenge; it's a profound cry for God's justice. The psalmist sees these enemies actively working against God's anointed (himself), and he prays for God to enact a righteous judgment that vindicates His own name and protects His servant.
Understand the original words
bushah · Hebrew Noun
This concept implies a state of public humiliation or frustration resulting from defeat or the exposure of one's wicked intentions. It stands in contrast to the honor and security that God provides to those who trust in Him.
This passage is almost identical, highlighting the repeated nature of this plea and its specific wording when asking God to deal with enemies.
Psalms 35:4This verse shares the same sentiment of asking God to bring shame and confusion upon those who are actively seeking the psalmist's life.
Psalms 35:26This passage echoes the desire for the shame and confusion of enemies, specifically calling for those who gloat over the psalmist's misfortune to be disgraced.
Jeremiah 20:11This prophetic passage expresses a similar confidence in God's intervention, stating that the persecutors will stumble and not prevail, leading to their shame.
1 Corinthians 1:18This New Testament passage speaks to the 'shame' that comes from worldly wisdom and power, contrasting it with the 'power of God' through the cross, reflecting the divine reversal of fortune prayed for here.
clarkePsalms 70:2: "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!
poolePsalms 70:2: "Let them be ashamed and confounded that seek after my soul: let them be turned backward, and put to confusion, that desire my hurt."
No text from Poole on this verse.
This isn't just a prayer for personal safety; it's a bold declaration that those who attack God's anointed will face a reversal. The plea for them to be "turned backward" isn't just about stopping their advance, but about their entire mission being undone.
This psalm is a desperate plea for God's swift intervention, a cry for help in a moment of intense persecution. David, or the person praying, is facing enemies who actively seek his life and delight in his suffering, leading to this urgent call for God to act decisively against them. It mirrors similar pleas found earlier in Psalm 40, suggesting a recurring crisis and a desperate need for divine deliverance from those who wish him harm.
This psalm is a desperate plea for God's swift intervention, a cry for help in a moment of intense persecution. David, or the person praying, is facing enemies who actively seek his life and delight in his suffering, leading to this urgent call for God to act decisively against them. It mirrors similar pleas found earlier in Psalm 40, suggesting a recurring crisis and a desperate need for divine deliverance from those who wish him harm.
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"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!”" — This isn't just a prayer for personal safety; it's a bold declaration that those who attack God's anointed will face a reversal. The plea for them to be "turned backward" isn't just about stopping th…
