Psalm 71
BSB
Be My Rock of Refuge
1In You, O LORD, I have taken refuge;
let me never be put to shame.
2In Your justice, rescue and deliver me;
incline Your ear and save me.
3Be my rock of refuge,
where I can always go.
Give the command to save me,
for You are my rock and my fortress.
4Deliver me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked,
from the grasp of the unjust and ruthless.
5For You are my hope, O Lord GOD,
my confidence from my youth.
6I have leaned on You since birth;
You pulled me from my mother’s womb.
My praise is always for You.
7I have become a portent to many,
but You are my strong refuge.
8My mouth is filled with Your praise
and with Your splendor all day long.
9Do not discard me in my old age;
do not forsake me when my strength fails.
10For my enemies speak against me,
and those who lie in wait for my life conspire,
11saying, “God has forsaken him;
pursue him and seize him,
for there is no one to rescue him.”
12Be not far from me, O God.
Hurry, O my God, to help me.
13May the accusers of my soul
be ashamed and consumed;
may those who seek my harm
be covered with scorn and disgrace.
14But I will always hope
and will praise You more and more.
15My mouth will declare Your righteousness
and Your salvation all day long,
though I cannot know their full measure.
16I will enter in the strength of the Lord GOD;
I will proclaim Your righteousness—Yours alone.
17O God, You have taught me from my youth,
and to this day I proclaim Your marvelous deeds.
18Even 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.
19Your righteousness reaches to the heavens, O God,
You who have done great things.
Who, O God, is like You?
20Though 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.
21You will increase my honor
and comfort me once again.
22So 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.
23When I sing praise to You
my lips will shout for joy,
along with my soul,
which You have redeemed.
24My tongue will indeed proclaim
Your righteousness all day long,
for those who seek my harm
are disgraced and confounded.
Introduction
Psalms 71
David penned this psalm in his old age, as appears by several passages in it, which makes many think that it was penned at the time of Absalom's rebellion; for that was the great trouble of his later days. It might be occasioned by Sheba's insurrection, or some trouble that happened to him in that part of his life of which it was foretold that the sword should not depart from his house. But he is not over-particular in representing his case, because he intended it for the general use of God's people in their afflictions, especially those they meet with in their declining years; for this psalm, above any other, is fitted for the use of the old disciples of Jesus Christ. I. He begins the psalm with believing prayers, with prayers that God would deliver him and save him (Psa 71:2, Psa 71:4), and not cast him off (Psa 71:9) or be far from him (Psa 71:12), and that his enemies might be put to shame (Psa 71:13). He pleads his confidence in God (Psa 71:1, Psa 71:3, Psa 71:5, Psa 71:7), the experience he had had of help from God (Psa 71:6), and the malice of his enemies against him (Psa 71:10, Psa 71:11). II. He concludes the psalm with believing praises (Psa 71:14, etc.). Never was his hope more established (Psa 71:16, Psa 71:18, Psa 71:20, Psa 71:21). Never were his joys and thanksgivings more enlarged (Psa 71:15, Psa 71:19, Psa 71:22-24). He is in an ecstasy of joyful praise; and, in the singing of it, we too should have our faith in God encouraged and our hearts raised in blessing his holy name.
Cross-references: Ps 71:2 · Ps 71:4 · Ps 71:9 · Ps 71:12 · Ps 71:13 · Ps 71:1 · Ps 71:3 · Ps 71:5 · Ps 71:7 · Ps 71:6 · Ps 71:10 · Ps 71:11 · Ps 71:14 · Ps 71:16 · Ps 71:18 · Ps 71:20 · Ps 71:21 · Ps 71:15 · Ps 71:19 · Ps 71:22