Read Psalm 71
1 In you, Lord, I have taken refuge;
let me never be put to shame.
2 In your righteousness, rescue me and deliver me;
turn your ear to me and save me.
3 Be my rock of refuge,
to which I can always go;
give the command to save me,
for you are my rock and my fortress.
4 Deliver me, my God, from the hand of the wicked,
from the grasp of those who are evil and cruel.
5 For you have been my hope, Sovereign Lord,
my confidence since my youth.
6 From birth I have relied on you;
you brought me forth from my mother’s womb.
I will ever praise you.
7 I have become a sign to many;
you are my strong refuge.
8 My mouth is filled with your praise,
declaring your splendor all day long.
9 Do not cast me away when I am old;
do not forsake me when my strength is gone.
10 For my enemies speak against me;
those who wait to kill me conspire together.
11 They say, “God has forsaken him;
pursue him and seize him,
for no one will rescue him.”
12 Do not be far from me, my God;
come quickly, God, to help me.
13 May my accusers perish in shame;
may those who want to harm me
be covered with scorn and disgrace.
14 As for me, I will always have hope;
I will praise you more and more.
15 My mouth will tell of your righteous deeds,
of your saving acts all day long—
though I know not how to relate them all.
16 I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, Sovereign Lord;
I will proclaim your righteous deeds, yours alone.
17 Since my youth, God, you have taught me,
and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds.
18 Even when I am old and gray,
do not forsake me, my God,
till I declare your power to the next generation,
your mighty acts to all who are to come.
19 Your righteousness, God, reaches to the heavens,
you who have done great things.
Who is like you, God?
20 Though you have made me see troubles,
many and bitter,
you will restore my life again;
from the depths of the earth
you will again bring me up.
21 You will increase my honor
and comfort me once more.
22 I will praise you with the harp
for your faithfulness, my God;
I will sing praise to you with the lyre,
Holy One of Israel.
23 My lips will shout for joy
when I sing praise to you—
I whom you have delivered.
24 My tongue will tell of your righteous acts
all day long,
for those who wanted to harm me
have been put to shame and confusion.
Go Deeper
In today’s psalm, the author, who is advanced in age (verse 9), begins by crying out for help, requesting God to deliver him, rescue him, and be his rock. He then pleads with God to intercept and subdue his enemies that are pursuing him in his older age. He ends by reflecting on times when God has protected and provided for him and praises God through song and instrument.
This psalm is a great template for us to follow when we experience heartaches, hardships, and headaches in this world. Note how the Psalmist declares who God is throughout the text. He declares how God is his rock, refuge, fortress, hope, and help. When we experience the pains of this world, let’s remind ourselves of who God is in the midst of the pain.
Then, the Psalmist expresses to God his needs and asks for His help in specific ways. When we experience the pains of this world, let’s not forget to acknowledge our needs to God and ask Him for help.
After he spends some time asking God for His help, he takes time to thank God and praises God for what He’s done thus far. When we experience the pains of this world, let’s follow the Psalmist’s example and take time to remember the ways God has provided and cared for us, and take the time to praise Him for those things.
The next time you find yourself experiencing heartaches, hardships, or the headaches that come with living in this world, remember the example set forth by this Psalmist: Take time to declare who God is, ask for His help, and spend time praising Him.
Questions
- Do you see God as your refuge, rock and fortress? If not, why do you think that is?
- It’s simple, but we often don’t take the time to ask God for help with whatever we are facing. Have you asked God to help you with the troubles you are facing?
- Take a moment and write down how God has provided for you this week. At the top of your list, write, “Thank you, God, for…” and pray to God, thanking Him for the items you listed.
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4 responses to “Psalm 71”
Great video!!
Praise Him for all He does above and beyond our natural minds. Trust Him because He is so trust worthy and shows that with the grace and mercies that He bestows new to me every morning.
We that are getting up there in age should find this Psalm a comforting one. We are on the last part of our journey to get to our forever home. That part is a praise Him. But just because we are older and things are a little more complicated physically does not mean our life is over. This second half (yes that is our ministry at HC) should be better in that we should be growing or have grown much spiritually. We should be coming along side our younger generations to help guide them in this war zone of the world we live in. Not lecture them, just be there to offer them when they ask.
O God, from my youth you have taught me and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds. So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me until I proclaim your arm to another generation. Your power to all those to come.”(Psalm 71:17-18)
“I think the most important and most driving force, the greatest desire in any human life is to know that your life matters. And when you think that the things I do to build God’s kingdom and as I pour my life into the lives of others, my life matters and it makes a difference for eternity. That’s something to hold on to.”
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God thank You for all eternity!! WOOHOO!! to praise You!!! God I will try to praise You so many minutes of this day. Thank You that I have breath to do so. That You are in the middle of my thoughts. God help me to let my actions also show You with praise. God thank You for all the beauty and nature I see crying out praises. The birds, the mosquitoes, the wind, the dogs barking, all of creation is and will praise You. God I thank You for today, these minutes, my words and actions, that all will glorify and honor You. God thank You for learning more about Your word and the details within. Thank You for my brain comprehending and remembering so that I can share information about You. Thank You for praising You with all the minutes of this day in Jesus name amen.
WOOHOO!!!
“As for me, I will always have hope;
I will praise you more and more” (v14).
To know Christ is to always have hope. No matter the circumstance he remains the chief cornerstone of our faith. Even when life is challenging and it’s difficult to trace his hand, we can be fully assured of his heart for us as our rock, refuge, fortress, hope and confidence.
9 Do not cast me away when I am old; do not forsake me when my strength is gone.
It is difficult for me to envision David as old. So much of what I know of him goes back to his youth and early adulthood. Yet, David grew old and still cried out to God in the midst of his difficult circumstances. So should I as I grow old!
Because God has been faithful in the past, I know, I know, I know that I can trust Him with my future.