FRAMEWORKS:
Psa 71
(The
objective of these ‘Frameworks' is to provide an easy-to-read
layout of the text in order then to use these individual verses
for meditation. To focus each verse we have also added a subheading
summary as a description of what is happening)
FRAMEWORKS:
Psa 71: Confidence in the face of adversity
[Preliminary
Comments: Although there is no title and identification
of author of this this psalm it has all the marks of David in
it that we see in other psalms attributed to him: he sees God
as his refuge [v.1,3,7], he sees the Lord as righteous [v.2,19],
he calls on the Lord as his deliverer [v.2,4,23], he testifies
to having long known the Lord [v.5,6,17], he speaks of those who
are clearly against him [v.4,10,11,13] and asks the Lord to deal
with them [v.4] and, despite everything, he will praise the Lord
and testify to His goodness [v.6,8,14-17,22-24] and hold firm
his confidence in the Lord [v.5,14,21-24]. A psalm of trouble,
yes, but also one of testimony and great confidence.]
v.1
The psalmist turns to the Lord as his refuge from shame
v.1
In
you, Lord, I have taken refuge;
let me never be put to shame.
v.2
Because the Lord always does right the psalmist asks for Him to
act
v.2
In
your righteousness, rescue me and deliver me;
turn your ear to me and save me.
v.3
He sees the Lord as his place of refuge
v.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.
v.4
He calls on the Lord to deliver him from the wicked
v.4
Deliver
me, my God, from the hand of the wicked,
from the grasp of those who are evil and
cruel.
v.5,6
For he's known the Lord ever since being a child
v.5
For
you have been my hope, Sovereign Lord,
my confidence since my youth.
v.6
From
my birth I have relied on you;
you brought me forth from my mother's
womb.
I will ever praise you.
v.7
His testimony is known to all, that God is his refuge
v.7
I
have become a sign to many;
you are my strong refuge.
v.8
He is known for praising the Lord
v.8
My
mouth is filled with your praise,
declaring your splendour all day long.
v.9
So now he asks not to be cast away in his older years
v.9
Do
not cast me away when I am old;
do not forsake me when my strength is
gone.
v.10,11
He declares his need: enemies conspire against him
v.10
For
my enemies speak against me;
those who wait to kill me conspire together.
v.11
They
say, ‘God has forsaken him;
pursue him and seize him,
for no one will rescue him.'
v.12,13
He calls on the Lord to save him from them
v.12
Do
not be far from me, my God;
come quickly, God, to help me.
v.13
May
my accusers perish in shame;
may those who want to harm me
be covered with scorn and disgrace.
v.14-16
Whatever happens he will continue to praise & testify to the
Lord
v.14
As
for me, I shall always have hope;
I will praise you more and more.
v.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.
v.16
I
will come and proclaim your mighty acts, Sovereign Lord;
I will proclaim your righteous deeds,
yours alone.
v.17,18
He reiterates his testimony and pleads not to be cast away
v.17
Since
my youth, God, you have taught me,
and to this day I declare your marvellous
deeds.
v.18
Even
when I am old and grey,
do not forsake me, my God,
till I declare your power to the next generation,
your mighty acts to all who are to come.
v.19-21
God always acts rightly, despite the turmoils of life
v.19
Your
righteousness, God, reaches to the heavens,
you who have done great things.
Who is like you, God?
v.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.
v.21
You
will increase my honour
and comfort me once more.
v.22-24
So, knowing this, he will always praise and declare his testimony
v.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.
v.23
My
lips will shout for joy
when I sing praise to you –
I whom you have delivered.
v.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.
[Additional
Comments: The psalmist clearly sees the Lord as both
his refuge and deliverer from trouble. He has known the Lord since
his youth and has confidence that although things are sometimes
difficult, the Lord will still be there for him. A great testimony.]
Continue
to Psa 72