Read
(By David for the music leader. To be used when an offering is made.)
God Is Wonderful
1Save me, Lord God!
Hurry and help.
2Disappoint and confuse
all who want to kill me.
Turn away and disgrace
all who want to hurt me.
3Embarrass and shame those
who say, “We told you so!”
4Let your worshipers celebrate
and be glad because of you.
They love your saving power,
so let them always say,
“God is wonderful!”
5I am poor and needy,
but you, the Lord God,
care about me.
You are the one who saves me.
Please hurry and help!
Reflect
If you have ever been stuck in traffic while trying to get to an appointment, then you know the feelings that can build up inside of you. For me, it starts with a sense of anxiety which can transition to a sense of anger followed by venting at the people around me to hurry up – as though they could control the accident that is 5 km further ahead on the road.
In Psalm 70, David needs God to hurry up. The forces against him have encircled his heart and his mind, and have threatened his physical well being. He is at the end of his rope, and he cries out to the Lord to hurry up and rescue him. For David, there is such an urgency to the matter that he feels compelled to repeat his desire for God to act quickly – declaring it at the beginning and at the end of the prayer.
You may be facing circumstances where you feel like you need God to hurry up and rescue you or answer your cry for help. At these times you may feel the same anxiety or heart rate or even anger that you feel when stuck in traffic and late for an appointment. What is the posture of your heart when you ask God to hurry up?
David’s posture is found in verse 4. Instead of getting angry with God, the desire of his heart is that “may those who long for your saving help always say, ‘the LORD is great!’”
While we want God to hurry up, it is often in the waiting room of life that we truly encounter the God who cares for us, and who wants to reveal his greatness to us. If you find yourself waiting for God today – take a deep breath and reflect on his presence with you right now.
Respond
Dear Father God, There are many moments when I wish you would hurry up and deliver me from painful circumstances. I choose today to rest in your deep love for me and in your power to overcome any circumstances that seek to destroy me. Help me to truly see you and enjoy you while I sit in the waiting room. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Kirk Giles
Kirk Giles is Co-Lead Pastor of Forward Church – a multisite church in the Waterloo Region area of Ontario. He previously served as President of Promise Keepers Canada | Impactus – a global ministry equipping men for a life of purpose and godly impact. Kirk is married to Shannon and together, they have four adult children and two daughters-in-law.