Psalms 71


[Psalms 71:1] IN THEE, O LORD, DO I PUT MY TRUST: LET ME NEVER BE PUT TO
CONFUSION.
No matter how good you may be you should never be sure of yourself. In the end the Almighty decided the results of everything.
 
[Psalms 71:2] DELIVER ME IN THY RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND CAUSE ME TO
ESCAPE: INCLINE THINE EAR UNTO ME, AND SAVE ME. The Radak points out that David requested the righteousness of the Almighty and does not speak of his won merits or lack of them.
 
[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.
 
[Psalms 71:4] DELIVER ME, O MY GOD, OUT OF THE HAND OF THE WICKED, OUT OF THE HAND OF   THE UNRIGHTEOUS AND CRUEL MAN.
 
[Psalms 71:5] FOR THOU ART MY HOPE, O LORD GOD: THOU ART MY TRUST FROM MY YOUTH.
David was close to the Almighty from his infancy upwards. David was a wild type of person who had been more or less disowned by his father and brothers, dwelt in the wilderness, minding the flocks, playing his music whilst composing his own tunes and prayers, inventing new musical instruments, and when necessary killing lions and bears with little more than his bare hands.   He went out to war against Goliath armed with a sling and confident of putting him down.
David ruled with the aid of small group of warriors who were renowned and feared for their prowess.  On the whole the mass of people loved him but it was a fickle love that could easily fade away and be transferred elsewhere.
There were also always lowlifes who hated and despised David for his "eccentric religiosity".  These reprobates were constantly seeking means to put the King down and do away with him.
 
[Psalms 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.
 
[Psalms 71:7] I AM AS A WONDER UNTO MANY; BUT THOU ART MY STRONG REFUGE.
<<A WONDER>>:  Hebrew "mofet" which can also mean example The Commentators say that because of his sin with Bathsheba there were those who said that he would be punsihed and his punishment serve as an example of the effects of transgression.
Iben Ezra says that the trouble of David were being exploited by enemies of the Almighty  to dissuafde others from belief, i.e. look what is happening to David who put his trust in God. Nevertheless David says the Almighty is his source of strength and protector and that through God he will be vindicated.
The verse can also be read with the word "AND" instead of "BUT.
David was an example to many. They believed in God and had trust in him because of David. David is certain that he will not fail and will not disappoint those who hope in him because God is the sources of his salvation.
 
[Psalms 71:8] LET MY MOUTH BE FILLED WITH THY PRAISE AND WITH THY HONOUR ALL THE DAY.
 
[Psalms 71:9] CAST ME NOT OFF IN THE TIME OF OLD AGE; FORSAKE ME NOT WHEN MY STRENGTH FAILETH.
I jusrt read a Newspaper article concerning criminals in Australia.
It said that well known criminals in jail when they get old and weak are often beaten up by "new bloods" hoping to make a name for themselves.
 
[Psalms 71:10] FOR MINE ENEMIES SPEAK AGAINST ME; AND THEY THAT LAY WAIT FOR MY SOUL  TAKE COUNSEL TOGETHER, David had given his life for the Almighty and made numerous enemies in the process.
 
[Psalms 71:11] SAYING, GOD HATH FORSAKEN HIM: PERSECUTE AND TAKE HIM; FOR THERE IS NONE  TO DELIVER HIM.
There is an animal instict in human beings to take advantage of the weak and vulnerable.
Reprobates also like to see those reputed to be great and good men come undone.
Likewise it is not unknown for criminals and drug addicts and prostitutes etc to have initially been reasonably good people but they were roped into vice and decay due to the importunities of others who themselves had gone the same path.
People should rrealize that by legalizing or tolerating homosexuality etc one is not merely letting others live their own lifestyle but rather enabling them to seduce others to be like them even though it is obvious that they will regret it later.
 
[Psalms 71:12] O GOD, BE NOT FAR FROM ME: O MY GOD, MAKE HASTE FOR MY HELP.
We can do what we can. In the end our only recourse is to seek the help of the Almighty and HE CAN help us.
 
[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.
David was a warrior in warfare charging in for the kill against his enemies, deflecting all blows,  and unable to be turned back.  If someone was up against David and his men it would have been wise to realise that the better part of valour is discretion, and "he who fights and runs away lives to fight [or surrender] another day.
This quality of valor possessed by David also comes through in the spiritual realm.  The enemies of God are the enemies of David and vice versa. David is Israel. The good of Israel is bound up with the fate of David. Whoever threatens David or says bad things about him does the same to Israel and to the God of Israel and should sincerely repent or bear the consequences.
 
[Psalms 71:14] BUT I WILL HOPE CONTINUALLY, AND WILL YET PRAISE THEE MORE AND MORE.
 
[Psalms 71:15] MY MOUTH SHALL SHEW FORTH THY RIGHTEOUSNESS AND THY SALVATION ALL THE DAY; FOR I KNOW NOT THE NUMBERS THEREOF.
 
[Psalms 71:16] I WILL GO IN THE STRENGTH OF THE LORD GOD: I WILL MAKE
MENTION OF THY RIGHTEOUSNESS, EVEN OF THINE ONLY.
 
[Psalms 71:17] O GOD, THOU HAST TAUGHT ME FROM MY YOUTH: AND HITHERTO HAVE I DECLARED  THY WONDROUS WORKS.
 
[Psalms 71:18] NOW ALSO WHEN I AM OLD AND GREYHEADED, O GOD, FORSAKE ME NOT; UNTIL I HAVE SHEWED THY STRENGTH UNTO THIS GENERATION, AND THY POWER TO EVERY ONE THAT IS TO  COME.
 
[Psalms 71:19] THY RIGHTEOUSNESS ALSO, O GOD, IS VERY HIGH, WHO HAST DONE GREAT THINGS:  O GOD, WHO IS LIKE UNTO THEE!
 
[Psalms 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.
 
[Psalms 71:21] THOU SHALT INCREASE MY GREATNESS, AND COMFORT ME ON EVERY SIDE.
 
[Psalms 71:22] 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.
PSALTERY: Hebrew "cli-nevel"; "cli" means "instrument", "vevel (or "nebel") can denote the stomach of a sheep such as that used in bagpipes.
The Harp was the symbol of Ireland.
 
[Psalms 71:23] MY LIPS SHALL GREATLY REJOICE WHEN I SING UNTO THEE; AND MY SOUL, WHICH THOU HAST REDEEMED.
 
[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.