Unknown
Psalm 71
Scripture (KJV)
1In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion.
2Deliver me in thy righteousness, and cause me to escape: incline thine ear unto me, and save me.
3Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou art my rock and my fortress.
4Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man.
5For thou art my hope, O Lord GOD: thou art my trust from my youth.
6By 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.
7I am as a wonder unto many; but thou art my strong refuge.
8Let my mouth be filled with thy praise and with thy honour all the day.
9Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth.
10For mine enemies speak against me; and they that lay wait for my soul take counsel together,
11Saying, God hath forsaken him: persecute and take him; for there is none to deliver him.
12O God, be not far from me: O my God, make haste for my help.
13Let them be confounded and consumed that are adversaries to my soul; let them be covered with reproach and dishonour that seek my hurt.
14But I will hope continually, and will yet praise thee more and more.
15My mouth shall shew forth thy righteousness and thy salvation all the day; for I know not the numbers thereof.
16I will go in the strength of the Lord GOD: I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only.
17O God, thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works.
18Now 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.
19Thy righteousness also, O God, is very high, who hast done great things: O God, who is like unto thee!
20Thou, which hast shewed me great and sore troubles, shalt quicken me again, and shalt bring me up again from the depths of the earth.
21Thou shalt increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side.
22I 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.
23My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto thee; and my soul, which thou hast redeemed.
24My 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.
Summary
Psalm 71 is a prayer of an aging believer who has trusted God from youth and asks not to be forsaken in old age. The psalmist puts his trust in the LORD, asking to be delivered and to have God as his strong habitation, rock, and fortress. He testifies that God has been his hope from youth, has held him up from the womb, and is his strong refuge even when he is a wonder to many. He prays, "Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth," for enemies say God has forsaken him. Yet he resolves to hope continually and praise God more and more, to show forth His righteousness and salvation all the day. He asks God not to forsake him when he is old and grayheaded, until he has shown God’s strength to this generation and His power to everyone to come. The psalm closes with praise on psaltery and harp, lips rejoicing, and the tongue talking of God’s righteousness all the day long.
The major themes are lifelong trust, old age, hope, praise, and generational witness. Practically, the psalm teaches that faithfulness to God spans a lifetime and that the aged have a calling to declare God’s power to the next generation. The great lesson is that God is the hope and trust of His people from youth to old age.
Key Themes
A Prayer from Psalm 71
In You, O LORD, I put my trust; let me never be put to confusion. Be my strong habitation, my rock, and my fortress. You are my hope from youth; You have held me up from the womb. Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth. When enemies say God has forsaken me, be not far from me; make haste for my help. I will hope continually and praise You more and more. My mouth shall show forth Your righteousness and salvation all the day. Now when I am old and grayheaded, forsake me not, until I have shown Your strength to this generation and Your power to every one to come. I will praise You with psaltery and harp; my lips shall greatly rejoice, and my tongue shall talk of Your righteousness all the day long. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Reflection Questions
- 1How does lifelong trust in God shape the prayer of this psalm?
- 2What does it mean to ask God not to forsake us in old age?
- 3How can the aged declare God’s power to the next generation?
- 4Where do I need to say, "I will hope continually, and will yet praise thee more and more"?
Related Psalms
Psalm 31
“In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness.”
Trust in God amid distress and betrayal, committing the spirit to Him.
Read morePsalm 70
“Make haste, O God, to deliver me; make haste to help me, O Lord.”
A short urgent prayer for swift help and shame for adversaries.
Read morePsalm 22
“My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?”
A lament of abandonment that becomes praise, foreshadowing Christ’s suffering.
Read morePsalm 27
“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”
Courage from seeking God’s presence and waiting patiently on Him.
Read morePsalm 40
“I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.”
Thanksgiving for rescue and a delight to do God’s will.
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