Psalms71

The psalmist, in old age, expresses profound trust in the Lord, seeking deliverance from wicked adversaries who believe God has forsaken him. He recounts God's lifelong support and prays not to be cast off in his declining years. Despite troubles, he vows to continually praise God's righteousness and salvation, desiring to declare His power to future generations.
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Prayer for Refuge and Deliverance

1
In You, O LORD, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame. ​
2
In Your justice, rescue and deliver me; incline Your ear and save me. ​
3
Be my rock of refuge, where I can always go. Give the command to save me, for You are my rock and my fortress. ​
4
Deliver me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of the unjust and ruthless.

Grounded in Lifelong Trust and Dependence

5
For You are my hope, O Lord GOD, my confidence from my youth. ​
6
I have leaned on You since birth; You pulled me from my mother’s womb. My praise is always for You. ​
7
I have become a portent to many, but You are my strong refuge. ​
8
My mouth is filled with Your praise and with Your splendor all day long.

The Crisis of Old Age and Enemy Mockery

9
Do not discard me in my old age; do not forsake me when my strength fails. ​
10
For my enemies speak against me, and those who lie in wait for my life conspire,
11
saying, “God has forsaken him; pursue him and seize him, for there is no one to rescue him.” ​
12
Be not far from me, O God. Hurry, O my God, to help me.
13
May the accusers of my soul be ashamed and consumed; may those who seek my harm be covered with scorn and disgrace.

Vow to Praise and Teach the Next Generation

14
But I will always hope and will praise You more and more.
15
My mouth will declare Your righteousness and Your salvation all day long, though I cannot know their full measure. ​
16
I will enter in the strength of the Lord GOD; I will proclaim Your righteousness—Yours alone. ​
17
O God, You have taught me from my youth, and to this day I proclaim Your marvelous deeds.
18
Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, until I proclaim Your power to the next generation, Your might to all who are to come. ​

Confession of God's Greatness and Final Praise

19
Your righteousness reaches to the heavens, O God, You who have done great things. Who, O God, is like You?
20
Though You have shown me many troubles and misfortunes, You will revive me once again. Even from the depths of the earth You will bring me back up. ​
21
You will increase my honor and comfort me once again.
22
So I will praise You with the harp for Your faithfulness, O my God; I will sing praise to You with the lyre, O Holy One of Israel. ​
23
When I sing praise to You my lips will shout for joy, along with my soul, which You have redeemed.
24
My tongue will indeed proclaim Your righteousness all day long, for those who seek my harm are disgraced and confounded.

Study Notes for Psalms 71

Verse 1

This psalm is a lament, often attributed to an older person, beginning with a strong declaration of trust in Yahweh, the covenant God. The plea is that this trust will not result in 'confusion' (disappointment or shame).

Verse 2

Deliverance is requested based on God's inherent character ('righteousness'), ensuring the Psalmist's safety is consistent with divine justice and faithfulness to His promises.

Verse 3

The Psalmist defines God as a 'strong habitation' (Ma'on), emphasizing that God is a secure dwelling place and fortress, a source of stability against the threats of the world.

Verse 5

This verse establishes the Psalmist’s historical relationship with God, emphasizing that this is not a new or desperate faith, but a trust established 'from my youth'.

Verse 6

This hyperbolic language expresses radical dependence, tracing God’s care back to the very moment of birth, portraying God as the ultimate source of life and sustenance.

Verse 7

The Psalmist is 'a wonder' (mophet), meaning an object of scorn, astonishment, or a negative example to others, likely due to severe suffering that his enemies interpret as divine rejection.

Verse 9

This is the central crisis of the Psalm: the fear of abandonment in vulnerability. The Psalmist recognizes that old age brings weakness, making divine strength indispensable.

Verse 11

The enemy’s taunt is theological, asserting that God has forsaken the righteous. This accusation is the deepest form of suffering for the faithful, challenging the very foundation of their hope.

Verse 15

The Psalmist uses hyperbole ('I know not the numbers thereof') to express the infinite nature of God's acts of salvation, acknowledging that comprehensive praise is impossible.

Verse 16

To 'go in the strength of the Lord GOD' is a declaration of dependence, relying entirely on God’s power and righteousness rather than personal merit or military might.

Verse 18

The plea to remain alive and strong in old age is missional: the Psalmist desires to pass on the testimony of God's power and faithfulness to the succeeding 'generation' (those who are to come).

Verse 20

The phrase 'depths of the earth' is a metaphor for Sheol or the grave, emphasizing that God can restore the sufferer even from the brink of death and despair ('quicken me again').

Verse 22

The Psalmist vows to use musical instruments (psaltery and harp) in worship, linking this specific act of praise to God's 'truth' and His identity as the 'Holy One of Israel'.

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