I wish I knew whether it was December when David wrote Psalm 70. Not that the time of year matters, of course, but somehow it fits December. Short days, long nights. A sense of expected delight but a feeling of impending doom. And lots of allegations of inconsistency, much of it coming from inside our heads.

David was facing critics. And he cried out to God for help.

Here’s the last half of this song-prayer:

May those who say to me, “Aha! Aha!”
turn back because of their shame.

In the first half, David talked about the people wanting him dead, but here he identifies the people who are pointing, not plotting. These are the sneerers, the pile-on-the-guy-who-is-down people, the peanut gallery. Plots can be thwarted, assassins averted. Finger-pointers wear you down.

And David says to God, “Can you put a mirror in front of them so they can see how ugly their sneers look?

But may all who seek you
rejoice and be glad in you;
may those who long for your saving help always say,
“The LORD is great!”

Then David asks God to help us, those of us who are looking for God. He wants us to know that God is present, that God can be found.

But as for me, I am poor and needy;
come quickly to me, O God.
You are my help and my deliverer;
LORD, do not delay.

And then David asks for help himself, off to the side, standing in the back, crumpled in the corner, alone. He doesn’t ask for miracles. He doesn’t ask for thunder and lightening. He doesn’t ask for money or fame. He doesn’t offer a solution. He just wants God.

I think David understands December. I think he would have loved Christmas. At least the first one.