Psalm 71

This psalm expresses the faith of an older person in need who had trusted in God for many years. The writer is unknown to us. He combined elements that we find in several other psalms to communicate his thoughts (cf. Pss. 22; 31; 35; 40).

 1. A prayer for the Lord's help 71:1-4

The writer began by reaffirming his confidence in God in whom he had trusted in the past. He wanted God's deliverance from the attacks of wicked people so that his confidence in God would not prove vain. He spoke of the Lord as a refuge, rock, and fortress. We do not know if he was under verbal or physical attack or both types.

 2. A review of the psalmist's faith 71:5-13

71:5-6 The writer had trusted in the Lord from his youth since God had sustained him from the day of his birth. He had praised Him all his life.

71:7-8 The psalmist meant that onlookers regarded what was happening to him as an omen of things to come. Evidently they felt God was abandoning the righteous because He appeared to be abandoning this aged saint. Nevertheless the psalmist continued to praise God.

71:9-13 The writer appealed specifically that the Lord would not forsake him in his old age especially since his adversaries were claiming that God had abandoned him. He had no other defender and cried out to God to do what was right.

 3. A new commitment to continued trust 71:14-24

71:14-18 Regardless of the outcome in his case the writer determined to continue trusting and praising God. The Lord had demonstrated His righteousness, salvation, and mighty deeds for a long time and in many ways. Therefore the psalmist vowed to speak of them forever even if he could not tally up all God's faithful acts. If God forsook him he could not fully relate these testimonials to the present generation of his people.

71:19-21 The great things of which the writer testified included God's salvation out of many personal troubles. The psalmist had been down before, but God had always lifted him up. He prayed that this would be his experience again. His greatness or honor came from trusting in God and having that trust rewarded with deliverance.

71:22-24 In anticipation of God's help the writer promised to praise Him with stringed instruments as well as vocally. The title "Holy One of Israel"(v. 22) is common in Isaiah but rare in the Psalms occurring only three times (cf. 78:41; 89:18). In conclusion the psalmist spoke of his accusers' humiliation as already present even though that is what he was requesting. This is probably another instance of expressing confidence that something would happen by describing it as having already taken place.

When people have trusted in God over a lifetime and have seen Him deliver them from many trials it becomes easier for them to trust Him in the present. Just as continual unbelief makes faith more difficult, continual trust makes unbelief more difficult.