Psalms 71King James Version
In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust. Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth. Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not.
An old man's psalm. He has trusted since his youth; God has held him up from the womb; he is as a wonder to many. Now in old age and gray-headedness he asks God not to forsake him, to let him declare God's strength to the next generation. Enemies say God has forsaken him; he hopes continually and will praise more and more. He will praise with the psaltery; his tongue will talk of righteousness all day long. A psalm about the continuity of trust across a lifetime.
The faith that began in youth and was sustained through many sore troubles carries its own momentum into old age: the long record becomes the argument for continued trust.
verse: "Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth." The vulnerability of age is named without apology; this is the specific petition.
No superscription. The evidence of age (vv9, 18: 'time of old age,' 'old and grayheaded') is the defining feature. The repeated musical language (v22: psaltery, harp) suggests this was composed for temple singing. The psalm functions as a model for lifelong faith that speaks to both young and old.
An elderly psalmist, possibly David; God as lifelong holder-up from the womb; enemies who say God has abandoned him; the generation to come who need to hear the testimony.
Psalm 71 has no superscription in the Hebrew and may have been connected to Psalm 70 as a continuous piece. Its explicit focus on old age is unusual in the Psalter. The theme of intergenerational testimony (telling God's strength to the next generation, vv17-18) makes it particularly important for understanding how faith was transmitted in Israel.
For when age has brought physical decline and the question arises whether God still cares. The psalmist does not deny the decline; he prays from inside it.
1In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion.
2Deliver me in thy righteousness, and cause me to escape: incline thine ear unto me, and save me.
3Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou art my rock and my fortress.
4Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man.
5For thou art my hope, O Lord GOD: thou art my trust from my youth.
6By 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.
7I am as a wonder unto many; but thou art my strong refuge.
8Let my mouth be filled with thy praise and with thy honour all the day.
9Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth.
10For mine enemies speak against me; and they that lay wait for my soul take counsel together,
11Saying, God hath forsaken him: persecute and take him; for there is none to deliver him.
12O God, be not far from me: O my God, make haste for my help.
13Let them be confounded and consumed that are adversaries to my soul; let them be covered with reproach and dishonour that seek my hurt.
14But I will hope continually, and will yet praise thee more and more.
15My mouth shall shew forth thy righteousness and thy salvation all the day; for I know not the numbers thereof.
16I will go in the strength of the Lord GOD: I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only.
17O God, thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works.
18Now 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.
19Thy righteousness also, O God, is very high, who hast done great things: O God, who is like unto thee!
20Thou, which hast shewed me great and sore troubles, shalt quicken me again, and shalt bring me up again from the depths of the earth.
21Thou shalt increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side.
22I 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.
23My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto thee; and my soul, which thou hast redeemed.
24My 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.