Of David.
Attributed to King David, this psalm reflects his personal experiences and relationship with God. David's life was marked by moments of intense need for divine intervention, such as his flight from Saul or his struggles with his own sin. The attribution to David connects the psalm to a historical figure known for his deep faith and reliance on God, serving as a model for believers in seeking God's help.

To bring remembrance.
This phrase suggests that the psalm serves as a reminder, possibly of God's past deliverance or of the psalmist's ongoing need for divine assistance. In the broader biblical context, remembrance is a key theme, as seen in the Passover and other feasts, which were instituted to remind Israel of God's mighty acts. This psalm may have been used to recall God's faithfulness and to encourage trust in His continued provision.

Make haste, O God, to deliver me!
The urgency in this plea reflects a situation of immediate danger or distress. The psalmist's cry for quick deliverance underscores the belief in God's ability to intervene swiftly. This echoes other biblical instances where God responds promptly to the cries of His people, such as the deliverance of Israel from Egypt. The use of "God" here emphasizes the psalmist's appeal to the Almighty, the Creator and Sustainer of all.

Hurry, O LORD, to help me!
The repetition of the plea for haste highlights the desperation and earnestness of the psalmist's situation. The use of "LORD" (Yahweh) invokes the covenant name of God, reminding the reader of God's promises and faithfulness to His people. This reflects a deep trust in God's character and His willingness to aid those who call upon Him. The plea for help is a common theme in the Psalms, illustrating the believer's reliance on God's strength and mercy in times of trouble.

The opening note tells us the psalm was handed to the worship leader for public use. David’s private cry was meant to become Israel’s shared song, reminding us that personal troubles often have a corporate dimension. Other psalms begin the same way (Psalm 4; Psalm 55), showing how normal it was to bring every kind of need—joyful or desperate—into congregational worship. In the New Testament the church is urged, “teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms” (Colossians 3:16), so our gatherings still echo David’s model: honest prayers set to music for the whole family of faith.

The superscription anchors the plea in a real life, affirming both authorship and authenticity. David knew relentless opposition (1 Samuel 19; 2 Samuel 15), yet Scripture calls him “a man after My own heart” (Acts 13:22). When he cries for help, we glimpse a believer who has experienced God’s rescue before (Psalm 18:1-3) and expects it again. Because the Spirit inspired David’s words (Mark 12:36), they belong not only to him but to every believer facing sudden danger.

This phrase signals deliberate recollection. David wants God to “remember” his covenant promises (Exodus 2:24) and at the same time wants worshipers to remember God’s past faithfulness (1 Chronicles 16:12). The same heading appears in Psalm 38, another urgent lament, emphasizing that remembering is an act of faith: we recall former mercies as we plead for new ones. In the Lord’s Supper the church continues this pattern, proclaiming Christ’s deliverance “in remembrance of Me” (Luke 22:19).

• Urgency: Trouble is imminent; delay feels deadly. David prays the way Peter did when sinking—short and desperate (Matthew 14:30).

• Dependence: Only God can “deliver.” David does not trust horses or swords (Psalm 20:7) but the Lord’s direct intervention.

• Confidence: He calls on God because past experience assures him of God’s saving power (Psalm 40:13, an almost word-for-word parallel).

The believer today may echo this line whenever the unexpected strikes—illness, persecution, temptation—knowing “the Lord knows how to rescue the godly” (2 Peter 2:9).

The parallel plea intensifies the first. “LORD” (the covenant name) highlights relationship: the God who bound Himself to Israel is the same One David expects to act swiftly (Psalm 22:19; Isaiah 41:10). Help can take many forms—strength to endure, wisdom to act, or outright deliverance—but it always arrives on time (Hebrews 4:16). Repeating the request is no lack of faith; it is persistent faith, mirroring Jesus’ teaching that we “always pray and not give up” (Luke 18:1).

Psalm 70:1 is David’s lightning-flash prayer in a moment of crisis. Because it was given “for the choirmaster,” it trains God’s people to voice urgent dependence together. We remember past mercies, call on the covenant-keeping LORD, and ask Him to hurry—confident He delights to deliver those who trust Him.