Psalms 71
PATThough this Psalm want an inscription, yet it is generally thought that David was the author of it: and if he was, there is no doubt he composed it upon the occasion of Absalom’s unnatural rebellion. For the matter of the Psalm sufficiently informs us, that when he made it he was in extreme great danger of perishing; and this danger also happened in the time of his old age, (ver. 9.) when he was gray-headed, (ver. 18.) Now he was not so during the time of Saul’s persecution, (2 Sam. v. 4.) but in that of Absalom’s he was; which though it did not last so long as the other, yet in this regard was more grievous to him; that it fell out in his declining years, when men are more unapt for toil and labour, and naturally desirous of quiet ancl repose. And therefore he begins the Psalm almost in the same words as he doth one of those which he made when he was distressed by Saul, (Psal.xxxi.) in his younger years, when he was better able to bear it. As for the title, which some of the Greek translators, and from them the Latin, have prefixed to this Psalm (which they will have to be a Psalm of the sons ofJonadab and the first captives), it is so far from the business, that it is hard to give any account of it. For Theodoret pertinently observes, that the sons ofJonadab were not among the first captives; and that he who made this inscription, confesses he did not find it in the Hebrew, but placed it there himself. Yet that learned father, I know not for what reason, takes this Psalm to have been composed by David, in the person of those who were captive in Babylon; wishing deliverance from that servitude, and desiring to be restored to their own land. another in their enterprise with such words as these; God it is manifest hath forsaken him, for the hearts of all Israel are turned from him, and his own heart faileth him; (2 Sam. xv. 13, 14.) pursue him closely now, and we shall certainly take him; for he hath not forces enough to withstand us, and to deliver him out of our hands, (2 Sam. xvii. 1, 2.)
Psalms 71:1
JLN thee, O Lord, do I put my trust; let me never be put to confusion. Thou seest, O Lord, that in all these troubles which have befallen me, I have no confidence in any thing, but only thy powerful goodness; which I hope will not fail me now, no more than it hath ever done heretofore; for I shall be lamentably ashamed, if thou shouldcst frustrato my expectation.
Psalms 71:2
Deliver me in thy righteousness, and cause me to escape: incline thine ear unto me,. and save me. Magnify thy mercy and fidelity in delivering me, and finding a way for my escape from these dangers that surround me: let me obtain this extraordinary favour of thee, and preserve me from falling into the hands of those who have conspired to destroy me.
Psalms 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. For I am forced to quit my habitation, and have no place of safety (so universal is the revolt) to retreat unto; but whensoever I fly to thy almighty protection, do thou always keep me as secure as if I reposed myself in an impregnable castle: it is thy purpose, I am confident, to preserve me; for I never trusted in any other strong hold or fortress, but thee alone. •
Psalms 71:4
Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of Hit wicked; out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man. Deliver me, therefore, from falling into the power of that turbulent man, who hath no fear of thee before his eyes: from the power of him that cares not by what perfidious arts, or cruel violence, he brings his ends to pass.
Psalms 71:5
For thou art my hope, O Lord God: thou art my trust from my youth. For in thee, O Lord, who hast a sovereign dominion, which alters not, have I placed all my hope; and from thee is my expectation: when I was but a youth, I confided in thee, (1 Sam. xvii. 33. 37.) and was marvellously preserved by thee.
Psalms 71:6
By thee have I been holden up from the womb: thou art he that took me out of my mothers bowels: my praise shall be continually of thee. Who didst take care of me, even before 1 could trust in thee; for I have been supported by thee, and preserved in innumerable dangers, ever since I came out of my mother’s womb: where I had perished also, if thy power had not drawn me thence, and brought me into the world; to praise and bless thee, as I have ever done, and will never cease to do, to the end of my days.
Psalms 71:7
I am as a wonder unto many: but thou art my strong refuge. There are many, indeed (especially the great ones), that stare upon me, as if I were a monster; marvelling as much at this confidence I place in thee, as they do at my sudden fall into this deplorable condition: but, for all their taunts, I do not look upon myself as abandoned by thee; but have a strong hope that thou wilt deliver me.
Psalms 71:8
Let my mouth be filled with thy praise a?id with thy honour all the day. And that I shall still have abundant cause to praise without ceasing thy most magnificent goodness towards me.
Psalms 71:9
Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth. I have deserved, I know, very ill of thee; but let me prevail with thee, notwithstanding, for the continuance of thy favour towards me; and do not reject mc now in my old age: O forsake me not, when I have most need of thy help, and am least able/to do any thing for myself; but let that good providence, which watched over me in my youth, be still my security.
Psalms 71:10
For mine enemies speak against me; arid they that lay wait for my soul take counsel together. For my enemies are no less subtle, than they are cruel; having defamed me, and taken away my reputation: as they now seek for an opportunity, and for that end arc combined in a strong conspiracy to take away my life, (2 Sam. xv.
Psalms 71:11
Saying, God hath forsaken him: persecute and take him; for there is none to deliverhim. Encouraging one
Psalms 71:12
O God, be not far from me: O my God, make haste for my help. But how false soever my subjects arc, it daunts me not, if thou, O God, who judgest righteously, will not be estranged from mc: O my God, who hast hitherto so wonderfully preserved me, let this their vain confidence, and insulting language, incline thee to make the greater speed to rplievc me.
Psalms 71:13
Let them be confounded and consumed that are adversaries to my soul; let them be covered with reproach and dishonour that seek my hurt. Let those implacable enemies, that will not be satisfied but with my life, be most shamefully disappointed; and see all their, forces wherein they trusted quite dissipated, and come to nothing: expose them that design my ruin to the open shame and contempt of all the world; when they find that they have only ridiculously contrived their own destruction.
Psalms 71:14
But I will hope continually, and will yet praise thee more and more. And I will learn thereby, both to hope in thee perpetually (as now I do) even in the greatest straits and difficulties; and to add new songs of praise, over and above all those which I have already composed, to magnify thee for the vast heap of benefits which thou hast conferred on me.
Psalms 71:15
My mouth shall shew forth thy righteousness and thy salvation all the day long; for I know not the numbers thereof. That shall be the subject of my songs, to publish thy mercy and truth in judging righteously between me and my enemies: this shall be my continual employment; though I shall never be able to tell the least part of that mercy, which will appear in my deliverance from such formidable enemies.
Psalms 71:16
I will go in the strength of the Lord God: I will * make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only. I will enter notwithstanding upon this work, of pondering in my mind, and publishing with my mouth, the mighty things which I expect, from the sole powers of the great Lord and • Governor of all things: I will not ascribe them to my own deserts, or to the courage or fidelity of those few friends that still adhere to me; but to thy undeserved favour, and faithfulness to thy word; and to that alone will I give the praise.
Psalms 71:17
O God, thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy tvondrous works. O good God, thou hast given mc many instances of this kind power and faithfulness of thine ever since I was a youth: (ver. 5.) and from thence unto this present moment thou hast been doing wonderful things for my preservation and preferment; which I have not failed to proclaim and thankfully commemorate.
Psalms 71:18
Now also, when I am old and gray-headed, O God, forsake me not, until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come!. And therefore do not now, O God, abandon the care of me, when I need it most: but continue the same kindness to me in my declining years, which I found when I was a youth: and let me survive these calamities, to proclaim thy power in fresh instances of it to this present generation; and let all posterity know how mighty it is, in making a few victorious over very great multitudes.
Psalms 71:19
Tliy righteousness also, O God, is very high, who hast done great things: O God, who is like unto thee?. Which I do not despair to see, ^vhen I consider how infinitely thy mercy, O God, surpasses all our deserts, nay, expectations; and what stupendous things thou hast already done for me, such as have no example: for who is there, O God, that can be compared to thee, either in goodness to design well for us, or in power to do what thou thinkest good?
Psalms 71:20
Thou, tvhich hast shewed me great and sore trouble, shall quicken me again, and shall bring vie up again from the depths of the earth. I never was in such straits and distresses (and:yet I have been in the greatest and sorest) but I found relief from thee: and therefore I doubt not thou wilt revive me, now that all men give me up for dead; and draw me out of this extreme danger into which I am plunged, and wherein I shall perish without thy help.
Psalms 71:21
Thou shalt increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side. Nay, thou wilt not only restore me to, my former greatness, but much augment the splendour of it: and though now I seem forsaken by thee, wilt return again, and so surround me with thy favour, that my future comforts shall far exceed my present troubles.
Psalms 71:22
1 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. And then sure I shall be no less forward to bless thee than thou art to bestow thy benefits on me: I will bless thee, O my God, in the most joyful manner, with the psaltery and harp, and the rest of my musical instruments; which shall play to the songs I will compose in praise of thy faithfulness and constancy to thy word; O thou, whose incomparable excellences are peculiarly known unto, and celebrated by, thy people Israel.
Psalms 71:23
My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto thee; and my sold, which thou hast redeemed. It is not possible to express the joy wherewith not merely my lips, but my heart and soul, shall sing triumphant songs; for the miraculous deliverance which I expect from thee.
Psalms 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. Which shall not’ only be the subject of my solemn songs, but of my constant discourse; wherein I will perpetually magnify thy goodness and truth towards me, and thy just vengeance upon my enemies: whom I look upon already as utterly defeated; and hanging down their heads, to see that ruin fall upon themselves which they designed for me,