Psalm 70:1-5 — Sermon Prep & Expository Preaching Guide
Scripture
Psalm 70:1-5
Historical Background · Verse-by-Verse Commentary · Reception History
What is the historical and cultural background of Psalm 70:1-5?
Psalm 70 in the Architecture of the Psalter
Psalm 70 belongs to the second book of the Psalter (Psalms 42–72), a collection scholars have long called the Elohistic Psalter. The name reflects a deliberate editorial pattern: where the first book (Psalms 1–41) overwhelmingly favors the divine name YHWH—rendered "the LORD" in most English translations—this second collection substitutes the more general designation Elohim ("God") with striking consistency. Psalm 70 is no exception. Its opening verse addresses "God" (Elohim) before pivoting immediately to "the LORD" (YHWH) in the same breath, a double address that may preserve a seam between editorial layers, or may simply reflect the psalmist reaching for every available divine name in a moment of extremity.
A Psalm Drawn from a Longer Source
What does each verse of Psalm 70:1-5 mean?
The Superscription: Prayer as Memorial Sacrifice
How has Psalm 70:1-5 been interpreted and preached throughout church history?
Explores how this passage has been interpreted and preached throughout church history, based on academic sources.
The Patristic Era: Praise as the Soul's Natural Posture
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