Psalm Seventy One

by Dr. Henry M. Morris

(taken from the Defender's Study Bible)

Psalm 71:1 In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion.

Psalm 71:2 Deliver me in thy righteousness, and cause me to escape: incline thine ear unto me, and save me.

Psalm 71:3 Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou art my rock and my fortress.

Psalm 71:4 Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man.

Psalm 71:5 For thou art my hope, O Lord GOD: thou art my trust from my youth.

from my youth. The writer of this psalm is unknown, but he has trusted in the true God from youth to old age. He still faces similar problems to those faced by believers of all seasons of life, and must still call on God for deliverance, protection and opportunities for service.

Psalm 71:6 By thee have I been holden up from the womb: thou art he that took me out of my mother's bowels: my praise shall be continually of thee.

Psalm 71:7 I am as a wonder unto many; but thou art my strong refuge.

Psalm 71:8 Let my mouth be filled with thy praise and with thy honour all the day.

Psalm 71:9 Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth.

time of old age. See note on Psalm 37:25; note on Psalm 92:14. Many have been the Christians who have been fruitful servants of Christ in old age.

Psalm 71:10 For mine enemies speak against me; and they that lay wait for my soul take counsel together,

Psalm 71:11 Saying, God hath forsaken him: persecute and take him; for there is none to deliver him.

Psalm 71:12 O God, be not far from me: O my God, make haste for my help.

Psalm 71:13 Let them be confounded and consumed that are adversaries to my soul; let them be covered with reproach and dishonour that seek my hurt.

Psalm 71:14 But I will hope continually, and will yet praise thee more and more.

Psalm 71:15 My mouth shall show forth thy righteousness and thy salvation all the day; for I know not the numbers thereof.

Psalm 71:16 I will go in the strength of the Lord GOD: I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only.

Psalm 71:17 O God, thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works.

Psalm 71:18 Now also when I am old and greyheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have showed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come.

old and grayheaded. This is a worthy prayer for all elderly believers, as well as a reminder to younger Christians that the older generation still has much to contribute to the present spiritual conflict in terms of accumulated experience and wisdom. “There is no discharge in that war” (Ecclesiastes 8:8). A concerned Christian should continue to serve the Lord, in prayer if nothing else, as long as he has breath.

Psalm 71:19 Thy righteousness also, O God, is very high, who hast done great things: O God, who is like unto thee!

Psalm 71:20 Thou, which hast showed me great and sore troubles, shalt quicken me again, and shalt bring me up again from the depths of the earth.

bring me up again. A life lived for the Lord will not end, nor will its testimony, even after death. There is ongoing life with the Lord beyond the grave, with future resurrection of the body also. In the meantime, “Thou shalt increase my greatness” (Psalm 71:21).

Psalm 71:21 Thou shalt increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side.

Psalm 71:22 I will also praise thee with the psaltery, even thy truth, O my God: unto thee will I sing with the harp, O thou Holy One of Israel.

Psalm 71:23 My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto thee; and my soul, which thou hast redeemed.

Psalm 71:24 My tongue also shall talk of thy righteousness all the day long: for they are confounded, for they are brought unto shame, that seek my hurt.