Psalms 71:18

Translation
King James Version
Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come.
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KJV (with Strong's)
Now also when H5704 I am old H2209 and grayheaded H7872, O God H430, forsake H5800 H8799 me not; until I have shewed H5046 H8686 thy strength H2220 unto this generation H1755, and thy power H1369 to every one that is to come H935 H8799.
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Complete Jewish Bible
So now that I'm old, and my hair is gray, don't abandon me, God, till I have proclaimed your strength to the next generation, your power to all who will come,
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Berean Standard Bible
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.
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American Standard Version
Yea, even when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not, Until I have declared thy strength unto the next generation, Thy might to every one that is to come.
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World English Bible Messianic
Yes, even when I am old and gray-haired, God, don’t forsake me, until I have declared your strength to the next generation, your might to everyone who is to come.
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Geneva Bible (1599)
Yea, euen vnto mine olde age and graie head, O God: forsake me not, vntill I haue declared thine arme vnto this generation, and thy power to all them, that shall come.
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Young's Literal Translation
And also unto old age and grey hairs, O God, forsake me not, Till I declare Thy strength to a generation, To every one that cometh Thy might.
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See also
Isaiah 46:4Psalms 71:9Psalms 78:4Psalms 145:4Psalms 145:5Psalms 78:6Psalms 22:31
In the KJVVerse 14,995 of 31,102

Study This Verse

SUMMARY

Psalms 71:18 is a profound prayer from an aged psalmist, who, despite the natural vulnerabilities of advanced years, earnestly appeals to God for sustained divine presence and strength. This petition transcends personal comfort, being profoundly motivated by a passionate desire to faithfully transmit the testimony of God's mighty acts and enduring power to the current generation and to all who are yet to come. It powerfully underscores the timeless biblical principle of intergenerational faith transmission and the enduring purpose of believers, regardless of age, in proclaiming God's faithfulness and active involvement in the world.

CONTEXT

  • Literary Context: Psalm 71 is a deeply personal prayer, a lament infused with profound trust, voiced by an individual facing significant distress and opposition, likely in old age. It stands out as one of the few psalms explicitly reflecting on a lifetime of God's faithfulness from birth, as seen in the psalmist's declaration, "For you have been my hope, O Sovereign Lord, my confidence since my youth" (Psalms 71:5). The psalmist repeatedly seeks refuge and deliverance from enemies, affirming God as a steadfast rock and fortress. Verse 18 marks a crucial transition where the psalmist's personal petition for continued divine support shifts into a missional purpose. This demonstrates that sustained life and strength are desired not merely for personal well-being, but for the sake of God's glory and the instruction of future generations. The psalm concludes with a renewed vow to praise God continually, emphasizing the enduring nature of worship and witness.
  • Historical & Cultural Context: In ancient Israelite society, old age was generally revered, seen as a blessing and a sign of divine favor, often associated with wisdom and experience. The proverb, "Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained in the way of righteousness" (Proverbs 16:31), encapsulates this respect. Elders played a crucial role in transmitting the nation's history, laws, and covenant traditions to younger generations, often serving as living repositories of collective memory and divine instruction. For instance, parents were commanded to "Teach them to your children and to their children after them" (Deuteronomy 4:9). However, old age also brought physical decline and increased vulnerability, making reliance on God's sustaining power all the more vital. The psalmist's prayer reflects a deep understanding of this cultural mandate to pass on spiritual heritage, even as physical strength wanes, highlighting the spiritual vitality required for such a task.
  • Key Themes: This verse encapsulates several major themes prevalent throughout Psalm 71 and the broader Psalter. Firstly, it highlights the enduring purpose in old age, challenging the notion that one's usefulness diminishes with physical decline. Instead, it presents old age as a unique season for demonstrating God's sustained faithfulness and power to others. Secondly, it emphasizes intergenerational faith transmission, underscoring the vital responsibility of older believers to impart their lived experience of God's character and deeds to younger generations. This theme is powerfully echoed in the command to "tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done" (Psalms 78:4). Thirdly, the plea "O God, forsake me not" powerfully articulates God's unwavering faithfulness and the psalmist's profound reliance on divine presence and support, even in moments of perceived weakness or vulnerability. This resonates with God's covenant promises to never abandon His people, as seen in the New Testament's assurance, "I will never leave you nor forsake you" (Hebrews 13:5). Finally, the desire to "shew thy strength" and "thy power" speaks to the witnessing of God's active might in a believer's life, a practical demonstration of His omnipotence that empowers and instructs others.

EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

Key Word Analysis

  • God (Hebrew, ʼĕlôhîym', H430): This plural form, often used with a singular meaning for the supreme God, refers to the Creator and Sovereign Lord of the universe. Its use here emphasizes the psalmist's direct appeal to the one true, mighty God, acknowledging His ultimate authority and power to sustain life and enable witness, even in old age. The psalmist's plea is directed to the one who is truly capable of answering.
  • Forsake (Hebrew, ʻâzab', H5800): This primitive root means "to loosen, relinquish, permit," and by implication, "to leave destitute" or "abandon." The psalmist's fervent prayer, "forsake me not," expresses a deep dependence on God's continuous presence and support. It reveals a fear of spiritual or physical abandonment, which would render him unable to fulfill his purpose of witness. This word highlights the psalmist's vulnerability and his profound trust in God's covenant faithfulness.
  • Strength (Hebrew, zᵉrôwaʻ', H2220): Literally meaning "the arm" or "foreleg," this word is figuratively used to denote force, might, or power, often in the context of God's active intervention and saving acts. The psalmist desires to "shew" God's zᵉrôwaʻ, implying a longing for God to continue demonstrating His powerful hand and active presence in his life, so that others may witness and be convinced of God's ability to act. This is not merely an abstract concept but a tangible, demonstrable power.
  • Power (Hebrew, gᵉbûwrâh', H1369): This feminine passive participle signifies force, valor, victory, or mastery. It often refers to God's mighty acts and heroic deeds, emphasizing His inherent might and ability to overcome obstacles. Paired with zᵉrôwaʻ (strength), gᵉbûwrâh reinforces the comprehensive nature of God's omnipotence. The psalmist's desire to proclaim God's gᵉbûwrâh speaks to a longing to recount and demonstrate God's victorious interventions throughout his life and in the history of His people.

Verse Breakdown

  • "Now also when I am old and grayheaded,": This opening clause establishes the psalmist's advanced age and physical condition, setting the stage for a plea that acknowledges human frailty but anticipates divine enablement. It highlights the psalmist's long life and implicitly, a long history of God's faithfulness, which he now desires to leverage for God's glory.
  • "O God, forsake me not;": This is the core petition, a desperate cry for God's continued presence, support, and non-abandonment. It reveals a deep, lifelong dependence on God and a fear of being left vulnerable, especially in the declining years. This plea is rooted in the covenant faithfulness of God, who promises never to leave His people.
  • "until I have shewed thy strength unto [this] generation,": This clause reveals the profound, missional purpose behind the psalmist's prayer for continued life and strength. The desire is not merely for personal comfort or survival, but for the opportunity to actively demonstrate and proclaim God's "strength" to the contemporary generation. It implies a living testimony, not just a verbal one, where God's ongoing work in the psalmist's life serves as a visible witness.
  • "[and] thy power to every one [that] is to come.": This extends the psalmist's missional vision beyond the immediate present to future generations. The parallel use of "power" alongside "strength" emphasizes the comprehensive nature of God's might, encompassing both His inherent ability and His active, victorious deeds. This demonstrates a deep concern for the spiritual heritage of God's people and the perpetuation of faith across time, ensuring that the knowledge of God's character and works endures.

Literary Devices

Psalms 71:18 employs several impactful literary devices that deepen its meaning and emotional resonance. The phrase "old and grayheaded" functions as a vivid Merism, using two complementary terms to encompass the entire state of advanced age. This emphasizes both the physical reality of aging and the wisdom and experience often associated with it, setting up the contrast with God's enduring strength. The psalmist's direct address, "O God, forsake me not," is a powerful Supplication or Plea, characteristic of the lament psalms, conveying deep dependence, earnest desire, and a humble acknowledgment of human need before divine sovereignty. The two parallel clauses, "until I have shewed thy strength unto [this] generation" and "thy power to every one [that] is to come," exhibit clear Synonymous Parallelism, where the second line reiterates and expands upon the first. This reinforces the central message of intergenerational witness and the comprehensive nature of God's might. Furthermore, the use of "strength" (zᵉrôwaʻ) and "power" (gᵉbûwrâh) also serves as Metonymy, where these attributes of God stand for God Himself and His active intervention, underscoring the psalmist's desire to showcase God's active presence in his life as a testament to His nature.

THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS

Psalms 71:18 beautifully articulates the enduring call to witness and the profound importance of intergenerational discipleship within God's covenant community. It reminds us that God's purpose for His people extends through all seasons of life, affirming that old age is not a time for spiritual retirement but for the vital transmission of faith and the demonstration of God's sustaining power. The psalmist's desire to "shew" God's strength and power implies a living testimony, where one's life, marked by God's faithfulness through trials and triumphs, becomes a powerful sermon for those who follow. This principle is foundational to biblical faith, ensuring that the knowledge of God and His mighty deeds is preserved and passed down from one generation to the next, fostering a continuous legacy of faith and worship.

REFLECTION AND APPLICATION

Psalms 71:18 offers profound encouragement and a compelling challenge for believers across all stages of life. For those in their later years, it serves as a powerful affirmation that God still has a purpose for them; their accumulated wisdom, experiences of God's faithfulness, and testimonies are invaluable treasures to be shared. It calls them not to retreat but to actively engage in mentoring, teaching, and living out their faith as a visible testament to God's enduring strength and power. For younger generations, this verse underscores the immense value of listening to and learning from the spiritual journeys of elders. Their stories of God's deliverance, provision, and unwavering presence provide a historical anchor for faith, connecting contemporary believers to the rich heritage of God's people. For all believers, regardless of age, the verse highlights the continuous and lifelong call to be a witness to God's power. Our lives, in every season, should point to His faithfulness and strength, demonstrating His active involvement in the world for "this generation, and every one that is to come." It challenges us to consider how we are intentionally "showing" God's strength and power through our words, actions, and very lives, fulfilling our part in the ongoing story of God's redemptive work.

Questions for Reflection

  • How does the psalmist's prayer challenge common cultural assumptions about old age and usefulness in contemporary society?
  • In what practical ways can older believers intentionally "shew God's strength" and "power" to the current generation within their families, churches, and communities?
  • What responsibility do younger generations have to actively seek out and learn from the spiritual wisdom and lived experiences of their elders?
  • Beyond verbal testimony, how can our lives, regardless of age or circumstance, visibly demonstrate God's power and faithfulness to others, inspiring faith in those who are to come?

FAQ

What is the significance of the psalmist's desire to "shew thy strength" to future generations?

Answer: The psalmist's desire to "shew thy strength" (and "thy power") is highly significant because it elevates the personal plea for sustained life into a profound missional purpose. It signifies a commitment to intergenerational faith transmission, where the psalmist's continued life and experience of God's faithfulness become a living, tangible testimony. It's not just about verbally recounting God's past deeds, but about God continuing to act powerfully in the psalmist's life so that the current and future generations can witness God's active presence and might in real-time. This reflects the biblical mandate for elders to pass on the knowledge of God's deeds and character, ensuring that the covenant community remembers and trusts in Him (e.g., Deuteronomy 6:7 and Psalms 78:6). It underscores that God's work is continuous, and His people are called to be living demonstrations of His enduring power across time.

CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT

Psalms 71:18, with its heartfelt plea for God's sustained presence to enable intergenerational witness, finds its ultimate and glorious fulfillment in Jesus Christ. The psalmist's desire to "shew thy strength" and "thy power" is perfectly embodied in the life, death, and resurrection of Christ, which constitute the supreme demonstration of God's omnipotence and redemptive might. Jesus, through His miracles, His authoritative teachings, His triumph over sin and death on the cross, and His glorious resurrection, definitively "shewed" God's strength and power to His generation and to all subsequent generations (e.g., the Apostle Paul declares that God "disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross" in Colossians 2:15). Furthermore, the mission to proclaim this divine strength and power is continued through the Church, Christ's body, empowered by the Holy Spirit. Just as the psalmist desired to pass on a legacy of faith, Christ commissioned His disciples to make more disciples of "all nations," teaching them all that He commanded, promising His presence "always, to the very end of the age" (Matthew 28:19-20). Thus, the Spirit-empowered witness of believers, regardless of age, continues to "shew" the strength of the resurrected Christ to "this generation, and every one that is to come," until His glorious return (as promised in Acts 1:8).

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Commentary on Psalms 71 verses 14–24

I. II. Main points1. 2. Sub-points(1.) (2.) Details

David is here in a holy transport of joy and praise, arising from his faith and hope in God; we have both together Psa 71:14, where there is a sudden and remarkable change of his voice; his fears are all silenced, his hopes raised, and his prayers turned into thanksgivings. "Let my enemies say what they will, to drive me to despair, I will hope continually, hope in all conditions, in the most cloudy and dark day; I will live upon hope and will hope to the end." Since we hope in one that will never fail us, let not our hope in him fail us, and then we shall praise him yet more and more. "The more they reproach me the more closely will I cleave to thee; I will praise thee more and better than ever I have done yet." The longer we live the more expert we should grow in praising God and the more we should abound in it. I will add over and above all thy praise, all the praise I have hitherto offered, for it is all too little. When we have said all we can, to the glory of God's grace, there is still more to be said; it is a subject that can never be exhausted, and therefore we should never grow weary of it. Now observe, in these verses,

I. How his heart is established in faith and hope; and it is a good thing that the heart be so established. Observe,

1.What he hopes in, Psa 71:16. (1.) In the power of God: "I will go in the strength of the Lord God, not sit down in despair, but stir up myself to and exert myself in my work and warfare, will go forth and go on, not in any strength of my own, but in God's strength - disclaiming my own sufficiency and depending on him only as all-sufficient - in the strength of his providence and in the strength of his grace." We must always go about God's work in his strength, having our eyes up unto him to work in us both to will and to do. (2.) In the promise of God: "I will make mention of thy righteousness, that is, thy faithfulness to every word which thou hast spoken, the equity of thy disposals, and thy kindness to thy people that trust in thee. This I will make mention of as my plea in prayer for thy mercy." We may very fitly apply it to the righteousness of Christ, which is called the righteousness of God by faith, and which is witnessed by the law and the prophets; we must depend upon God's strength for assistance and upon Christ's righteousness for acceptance. In the Lord have I righteousness and strength, Isa 45:24.

2.What he hopes for.

(1.)He hopes that God will not leave him in his old age, but will be the same to him to the end that he had been all along, Psa 71:17, Psa 71:18. Observe here, [1.] What God had done for him when he was young: Thou hast taught me from my youth. The good education and good instructions which his parents gave him when he was young he owns himself obliged to give God thanks for as a great favour. It is a blessed thing to be taught of God from our youth, from our childhood to know the holy scriptures, and it is what we have reason to bless God for. [2.] What he had done for God when he was middle-aged: He had declared all God's wondrous works. Those that have not good when they are young must be doing good when they are grown up, and must continue to communicate what they have received. We must own that all the works of God's goodness to us are wondrous works, admiring he should do so much for us who are so undeserving, and we must make it our business to declare them, to the glory of God and the good of others. [3.] What he desired of God now that he was old: Now that I am old and gray-headed, dying to this world and hastening to another, O God! forsake me not. This is what he earnestly desires and confidently hopes for. Those that have been taught of God from their youth, and have made it the business of their lives to honour him, may be sure that he will not leave them when they are old and gray-headed, will not leave them helpless and comfortless, but will make the evil days of old age their best days, and such as they shall have occasion to say they have pleasure in. [4.] What he designed to do for God in his old age: "I will not only show thy strength, by my own experience of it, to this generation, but I will leave my observations upon record for the benefit of posterity, and so who it to every one that is to come." As long as we live we should be endeavouring to glorify God and edify one another; and those that have had the largest and longest experience of the goodness of God to them should improve their experiences for the good of their friends. It is a debt which the old disciples of Christ owe to the succeeding generations to leave behind them a solemn testimony to the power, pleasure, and advantage of religion, and the truth of God's promises.

(2.)He hopes that God would revive him and raise him up out of his present low and disconsolate condition (Psa 71:20): Thou who hast made me to see and feel great and sore troubles, above most men, shalt quicken me again. Note, [1.] The best of God's saints and servants are sometimes exercised with great and sore troubles in this world. [2.] God's hand is to be eyed in all the troubles of the saints, and that will help to extenuate them and make them seem light. He does not say, "Thou hast burdened me with those troubles," but "shown them to me," as the tender father shows the child the rod to keep him in awe. [3.] Though God's people be brought ever so low he can revive them and raise them up. Are they dead? he can quicken them again. See Co2 1:9. Are they buried, as dead men out of mind? he can bring them up again from the depths of the earth, can cheer the most drooping spirit and raise the most sinking interest. [4.] If we have a due regard to the hand of God in our troubles, we may promise ourselves, in due time, a deliverance out of them. Our present troubles, though great and sore, shall be no hindrance to our joyful resurrection from the depths of the earth, witness our great Master, to whom this may have some reference; his Father showed him great and sore troubles, but quickened him and brought him up from the grave.

(3.)He hopes that God would not only deliver him out of his troubles, but would advance his honour and joy more than ever (Psa 71:21): "Thou shalt not only restore me to my greatness again, but shalt increase it, and give me a better interest, after this shock, than before; thou shalt not only comfort me, but comfort me on every side, so that I shall see nothing black or threatening on any side." Note, Sometimes God makes his people's troubles contribute to the increase of their greatness, and their sun shines the brighter for having been under a cloud. If he make them contribute to the increase of their goodness, that will prove in the end the increase of their greatness, their glory; and if he comfort them on every side, according to the time and degree wherein he has afflicted them on every side, they will have no reason to complain. When our Lord Jesus was quickened again, and brought back from the depths of the earth, his greatness was increased, and he entered on the joy set before him.

(4.)He hopes that all his enemies would be put to confusion, Psa 71:24. He speaks of it with the greatest assurance as a thing done, and triumphs in it accordingly: They are confounded, they are brought to shame, that seek my hurt. His honour would be their disgrace and his comfort their vexation.

II. Let us now see how his heart is enlarged in joy and praises, how he rejoices in hope, and sings in hope for we are saved by hope.

1.He will speak of God's righteousness and his salvation, as great things, things which he was well acquainted with, and much affected with, which he desired God might have the glory of and others might have the comfortable knowledge of (Psa 71:15): My mouth shall show forth thy righteousness and thy salvation; and again (Psa 71:24), My tongue shall talk of thy righteousness, and this all the day. God's righteousness, which David seems here to be in a particular manner affected with, includes a great deal: the rectitude of his nature, the equity of his providential disposals, the righteous laws he has given us to be ruled by, the righteous promises he has given us to depend upon, and the everlasting righteousness which his Son has brought in for our justification. God's righteousness and his salvation are here joined together; let no man think to put them asunder, nor expect salvation without righteousness, Psa 50:23. If these two are made the objects of our desire, let them be made the subjects of our discourse all the day, for they are subjects that can never be exhausted.

2.He will speak of them with wonder and admiration, as one astonished at the dimensions of divine love and grace, the height and depth, the length and breadth, of it: "I know not the numbers thereof, Psa 71:15. Though I cannot give a particular account of thy favours to me, they are so many, so great (if I would count them, they are more in number than the sand, Psa 40:5), yet, knowing them to be numberless, I will be still speaking of them, for in them I shall find new matter," Psa 71:19. The righteousness that is in God is very high; that which is done by him for his people is very great: put both together, and we shall say, O God! who is like unto thee? This is praising God, acknowledging his perfections and performances to be, (1.) Above our conception; they are very high and great, so high that we cannot apprehend them, so great that we cannot comprehend them. (2.) Without any parallel; no being like him, no works like his: O God! who is like unto thee? None in heaven, none on earth, no angel, no king. God is a non-such; we do not rightly praise him if we do not own him to be so.

3.He will speak of them with all the expressions of joy and exultation, Psa 71:22, Psa 71:23. Observe,

(1.)How he would eye God in praising him. [1.] As a faithful God: I will praise thee, even thy truth. God is made known by his word; if we praise that, and the truth of that, we praise him. By faith we set to our seal that God is true; and so we praise his truth. [2.] As a God in covenant with him: "O my God! whom I have consented to and avouched for mine." As in our prayers, so in our praises, we must look up to God as our God, and give him the glory of our interest in him and relation to him. [3.] As the Holy One of Israel, Israel's God in a peculiar manner, glorious in his holiness among that people and faithful to his covenant with them. It is God's honour that he is a Holy One; it is his people's honour that he is the Holy One of Israel.

(2.)How he will express his joy and exultation. [1.] With his hand, in sacred music - with the psaltery, with the harp; at these David excelled, and the best of his skill shall be employed in setting forth God's praises to such advantage as might affect others. [2.] With his lips, in sacred songs: "Unto thee will I sing, to thy honour, and with a desire to be accepted of thee. My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto thee, knowing they cannot be better employed." [3.] In both with his heart: "My soul shall rejoice which thou hast redeemed." Note, First, Holy joy is the very heart and life of thankful praise. Secondly, We do not make melody to the Lord, in singing his praises, if we do not do it with our hearts. My lips shall rejoice, but that is nothing; lip-labour, though ever so well laboured, if that be all, is but lost labour in serving God; the soul must be at work, and with all that is within us we must bless his holy name, else all about us is worth little. Thirdly, Redeemed souls ought to be joyful thankful souls. The work of redemption ought, above all God's works, to be celebrated by us in our praises. The Lamb that was slain, and has redeemed us to God, must therefore be counted worthy of all blessing and praise.

Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 14–24. Public domain.
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TertullianAD 220
AGAINST PRAXEAS 11
Hear now also the Son’s statements about the Father: “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor.” He speaks of himself likewise to the Father in the psalm: “Forsake me not, until I have declared the might of your arm to all the generations that are to come.” Also with the same substance in another psalm: “O Lord, how many are they that trouble me!” But almost all the psalms that prophesy of the person of Christ, represent the Son as conversing with the Father—that is, represent Christ [as speaking] to God. Observe also the Spirit speaking of the Father and the Son, in the character of a third person: “The Lord said to my Lord, Sit on my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.” Likewise in the words of Isaiah: “Thus says the Lord to the Lord my anointed.”
Augustine of HippoAD 430
Exposition on Psalm 71
"And even unto oldness and old age" [Psalm 71:18]. These are two terms for old age, and are distinguished by the Greeks. For the gravity succeeding youth has another name among the Greeks, and after that same gravity the last age coming on has another name; for πρεσβύτης signifies grave, and γ
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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