Psalm Ps. 71. This is another individual lament, suited to a faithful person in danger from enemies who take advantage of any weakness or distress (vv. 9–11). These enemies could be foreign or Israelite.
Ps. 71:1–3 God’s righteousness is his faithfulness to keep his promises. This is the basis for hope (see vv. 15, 16, 19, 24).
Ps. 71:4 The wicked are unjust and cruel men who oppose true faith in God. They look for any opening to do harm to the faithful (vv. 4, 10–11).
Ps. 71:5–6 from my youth . . . from before my birth . . . from my mother’s womb. The Israelites came into the world as members of Abraham’s family, the recipients of God’s promises. These believers learn to trace God’s work in their lives back to before they were even born.
Ps. 71:9 Do not cast me off in the time of old age. The benefits of the covenant are not automatic. They are for those who are faithful to its conditions.
Ps. 71:14–16 The singer promises to hope continually. He leaves to God the timing of the answer to his appeals for help (vv. 12–13). He also looks forward to sharing his story of God’s righteous acts with his fellow worshipers.
Ps. 71:18 The singer asks God to make his life long. He wants to live to proclaim your might to another generation.
Ps. 71:22–24 The singer looks forward to joyful songs in worship. He expects to talk of God’s righteous help all the day long (wherever he is).
The ESV Global Study Bible
Copyright © 2012 by Crossway.
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Used by permission.
The Blue Letter Bible ministry and the BLB Institute hold to the historical, conservative Christian faith, which includes a firm belief in the inerrancy of Scripture. Since the text and audio content provided by BLB represent a range of evangelical traditions, all of the ideas and principles conveyed in the resource materials are not necessarily affirmed, in total, by this ministry.
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