Psalms 71:18

KJV

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.

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)}.

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,

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.

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.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 71:18 presents a poignant prayer from an aged psalmist who, despite the vulnerabilities of advanced years, earnestly appeals to God for continued divine presence and strength. This plea is not for personal comfort alone, but is 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 underscores the timeless biblical principle of intergenerational faith and the enduring purpose of believers, regardless of age, in proclaiming God's faithfulness.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalm 71 is a deeply personal prayer, a lament mixed with profound trust, from an individual facing significant distress and opposition, likely in old age. It stands out as one of the few psalms explicitly voiced from the perspective of an elder, reflecting on a lifetime of God's faithfulness from birth (e.g., [Psalms 71:5-6](/psalms/71-5 "Psalms 71:5-6 - God's Faithfulness from Youth")). The psalmist repeatedly seeks refuge and deliverance from enemies, affirming God as a rock and fortress. Verse 18 marks a crucial turning point where the psalmist's personal petition for continued divine support transitions into a missional purpose, demonstrating that sustained life and strength are desired 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 (e.g., [Proverbs 16:31](/proverbs/16-31 "Proverbs 16:31 - Gray Hair as a Crown of Glory")). 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 (e.g., [Deuteronomy 6:7](/deuteronomy/6-7 "Deuteronomy 6:7 - Teaching Children God's Commands")). 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, a theme echoed in [Psalms 78:4](/psalms/78-4 "Psalms 78:4 - Passing on God's Deeds to Future Generations"). 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 [Hebrews 13:5](/hebrews/13-5 "Hebrews 13:5 - God Will Never Leave or Forsake You"). 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
* **Old and grayheaded (Hebrew, _zaqen ve-seybah'_):** This phrase vividly depicts advanced age, emphasizing the physical reality of the psalmist's condition. "Zaqen" refers to an old man, while "seybah" specifically denotes gray hair, a visible sign of aging. Together, they convey a sense of vulnerability and the natural progression of life, yet paradoxically, they also symbolize wisdom, experience, and a lifetime of walking with God, which the psalmist desires to leverage for God's glory.
* **Strength (Hebrew, _koach'_):** This term denotes inherent power, ability, or might. In the context of God, it refers to His intrinsic omnipotence and capacity to act decisively. The psalmist desires to "shew" or demonstrate this divine strength, not merely speak of it, implying a desire for God to continue acting powerfully in his life so that others may witness His active hand.
* **Power (Hebrew, _gevurah'_):** Similar to _koach_, _gevurah_ also signifies might, valor, or heroic strength, often with an emphasis on God's powerful deeds and acts of deliverance. The juxtaposition of "strength" and "power" creates a literary **Parallelism**, reinforcing the comprehensive nature of God's might that the psalmist wishes to proclaim. It speaks to both God's inherent being and His active intervention in the world.

#### 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.
* **"O God, forsake me not;"**: This is the core petition, a desperate cry for God's continued presence and support. It reveals a deep dependence on God and a fear of abandonment, common in times of vulnerability. 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 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.
* **"[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. This demonstrates a deep concern for the spiritual heritage of God's people and the perpetuation of faith across time.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several impactful literary devices. The phrase "old and grayheaded" is a vivid **Merism**, using two complementary terms to encompass the entire state of advanced age, emphasizing both its physical reality and the wisdom it often entails. The psalmist's direct address, "O God, forsake me not," is a powerful **Supplication** or **Plea**, characteristic of the lament psalms, conveying deep dependence and earnest desire. The two parallel clauses, "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, reinforcing the central message of intergenerational witness. The use of "strength" and "power" also serves as **Metonymy**, where the 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.

* [Deuteronomy 4:9](/deuteronomy/4-9 "Deuteronomy 4:9 - Teach Your Children God's Commands")
* [Psalms 78:4](/psalms/78-4 "Psalms 78:4 - Passing on God's Deeds to Future Generations")
* [Joel 1:3](/joel/1-3 "Joel 1:3 - Tell Your Children and Grandchildren")

### 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. 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.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the psalmist's prayer challenge common cultural assumptions about old age and usefulness?**
* **In what practical ways can older believers "shew God's strength" to the current generation?**
* **What responsibility do younger generations have to seek out and learn from the spiritual wisdom of their elders?**
* **Beyond verbal testimony, how can our lives, regardless of age, visibly demonstrate God's power and faithfulness to others?**

### 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 moves beyond a personal plea for survival to a 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 testimony. It's not just about telling stories, 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. 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](/deuteronomy/6-7 "Deuteronomy 6:7 - Teaching Your Children Diligently")).

### 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, teachings, and especially 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., [Colossians 2:15](/colossians/2-15 "Christ's Triumph Over Principalities and Powers")). 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 (e.g., [Matthew 28:19-20](/matthew/28-19 "The Great Commission")). 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 (e.g., [Acts 1:8](/acts/1-8 "Empowered to Be Witnesses")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Isaiah 46:4

And [even] to [your] old age I [am] he; and [even] to hoar hairs will I carry [you]: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver [you].

Psalms 71:9

Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth.

Psalms 78:4

We will not hide [them] from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done.

Psalms 145:4

One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts.

Psalms 145:5

I will speak of the glorious honour of thy majesty, and of thy wondrous works.

Psalms 78:6

That the generation to come might know [them, even] the children [which] should be born; [who] should arise and declare [them] to their children:

Psalms 22:31

They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done [this].