Psalm Chapter 71

• Psalm 71:1 In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion.

The verse comes to my mind:

• James 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

If we trust in God and seek Him, He will never leave or forsake us. If we ask Him for wisdom, we do not have to walk in confusion.

• Psalm 71:2 Deliver me in thy righteousness, and cause me to escape: incline thine ear unto me, and save me.

Our heart's desire should always be to escape the snares and traps of sin.

• Psalm 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

Having God's word in our hearts will keep us safe from sin. So we see now, that since the writings of David, God has provided us with all the equipment we need to overcome sin and confusion. The written word of God and the power of the Holy Spirit. The power to overcome sin is through the Holy Spirit which is given to us after we receive the one who came to save us from sin, Jesus the  Christ. That same Holy Spirit enables us to understand the word of God and to keep that word in our hearts. God is so good to have provided these things for us. We are never alone.

• Psalm 71:3 Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou art my rock and my fortress.

This prayer was answered in the sending of Jesus God's Son. Through faith in Jesus, God can now dwell in our hearts by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Why does faith in Jesus have to come first? Because of sin. Sin separates us from God. His Holy Spirit cannot dwell in us until we are cleansed from sin. Jesus died for our sins and paid the price for our sins. When we receive Him, we are forgiven of sin and are given the power to overcome sin. Jesus was the word of God made flesh. He dwelt among us and became one of us to make the perfect sacrifice for our sins. When we believe in Him and receive this gift from God, our eternal salvation, we become a new creature. We become "born again" by the Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit then comes to abide with us continually. Without taking care of the sin question first then all we have is religion. True religion is not a bunch of rules and regulations that we have no power to keep.

True religion is being "born again" by the spirit and power of God. It is something God does when we seek Him. Our part is to believe, His part is to save. Our part also is to repent of sin. Repent means to be sorry for and be willing to give up sin. We have no power to do this within ourselves.  When we repent of sin and ask Jesus to come to us, He not only forgives our sin but we become a new creature in Christ and now have the power to overcome sin and walk in the Spirit of God. We are free moral agents and can go back into sin but we don't have to because Jesus Christ gives us the power to overcome it daily if we continually walk with Him. 

• Psalm 71:4 Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man.

When we become believers and walk in the spirit, the wicked become our enemies. We must love our enemies but always be aware that they are cruel and unrighteous. They desire to silence those that warn against sin because they want to sin without admitting that it is sin. Our lives show them that they are wrong and that is why they want us to be like them so that they can sin without restraint.

• Psalm 71:5 For thou art my hope, O Lord GOD: thou art my trust from my youth.

• Ecclesiastes 12:1 Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;

How wonderful it is to make a decision to walk with the Lord from the time of youth until the time of old age.

• Psalm 71:6 By 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.

When we truly walk in the spirit of God, praise will be in our hearts continually.

• Psalm 71:7 I am as a wonder unto many; but thou art my strong refuge.
• 8 Let my mouth be filled with thy praise and with thy honour all the day.
• 9 Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth.

There are times that we might not have an attitude of praise and thanksgiving. That is normal for the flesh but guarding against that will enable us to never lost our first love for the Lord and the things of God. The Psalmist says clearly to praise continually. In verse 9 we see a prayer of asking God not to forsake him when he is old.

• Hebrews 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
  6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

We see from other scriptures that there is an answer to the fear of men or the fear of being alone and forsaken.

• Psalm 71:10 For mine enemies speak against me; and they that lay wait for my soul take counsel together,
• 11 Saying, God hath forsaken him: persecute and take him; for there is none to deliver him.

When troubles come to a believer, the world around us may think that God has forsaken us. This is not so. Verse 20 of Matthew assures us that He is with us forever.

• Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
• 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Verse 20 In matthew 28 also has very important instructions for those answering the call of God to go forth into all nations with the gospel. Along the assurance that He never leaves or forsakes us, along with instructions for baptism mentioned in verse 19, is to teach what Jesus commanded and instruct all who receive Christ to then observe all things. His commandments not to be taken lightly.

• Psalm 71:12 O God, be not far from me: O my God, make haste for my help.
• 13 Let them be confounded and consumed that are adversaries to my soul; let them be covered with reproach and dishonour that seek my hurt.

This will surely happen to those that try to stop those that preach the word of God and those that live by the word of God. They will be stopped by the power of God.

• Psalm 71:14 But I will hope continually, and will yet praise thee more and more.
• 15 My mouth shall shew forth thy righteousness and thy salvation all the day; for I know not the numbers thereof.
• 16 I will go in the strength of the Lord GOD: I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only.
• 17 O God, thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works.

David believed and praised God in worship and song from the days of his youth. Finding God in one's youth is delightful. Yet we can find God at any age. He is willing to save all that call upon Him.

• Psalm 71:18 Now 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.
• 19 Thy righteousness also, O God, is very high, who hast done great things: O God, who is like unto thee!

How wonderful it is to see an elderly man or woman that has lived all their lives for Jesus and are still faithful to Him in their old age. None can be compared to God and His righteousness. May this be also to us when we are old. Our thoughts should never be retirement as far as retiring from the word of God. The word of God can't be retired but God can do His most valuable work in us after we are old. Then we are sure to have experience along with new fresh vision from the word. In fact Moses' ministry didn't start until he was around 80 years old.

• Psalm 71:20 Thou, which hast shewed me great and sore troubles, shalt quicken me again, and shalt bring me up again from the depths of the earth.

Here is a hint of the resurrection from the dead physically. When the Spirit comes into our lives, we are raised from the dead spiritually. Sin leaves and we are made alive by the Spirit of God. At the resurrection, our physical bodies are made alive by the same spirit. We will be raised by the power of God.

• Psalm 71:21 Thou shalt increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side.
• 22 I 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.

Musical instruments can be used to worship and praise God.

• Psalm 71:23 My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto thee; and my soul, which thou hast redeemed.

We can worship God in song and rejoicing.

• Psalm 71:24 My 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.

We can speak of the works of God to all that are about us. Ask God to open that door where you can share His word. DC

Psalm 72

Psalm Index