Psalms 71 ~ Listen and Read Along

Dramatized KJV
 JV McGee
One of the worst disappointments that can happen to a person is that his trust in someone is ashamed. With people this happens regularly and even in the most intimate relationships. With God it is impossible. The fact that the psalmist asks for this, does not mean that he doubts God's faithfulness. It is the expression of a mind that is aware of its inability to remain faithful himself in the circumstances of need in which he finds himself.

In Psalm 69 we have seen the suffering of Christ and in Psalm 70 the great need of the remnant. In Psalm 71 we see how the remnant draws new strength from expecting the LORD (Isaiah 40:30~31). Psalm 71:1 begins with "In thee, O LORD" and 71:2 adds with "in thy righteousness". The conviction is that the LORD, the faithful God of the covenant, always acts in righteousness and therefore in accordance with His covenant and His word, is the basis of the psalmist's confidence that He will deliver him (Psalm 71:2; Psalm 31:1~3; Titus 3:5). The mention of "Thee/Thy" (the Person of God) and His righteousness is also found in Psalm 71:14~15; 71:16 and in 1:19. The Psalmist has experienced the faithfulness of God from his youth (71:5) and it will continue to be true in his old age (71:18).

The Psalmist has to deal with someone who is wicked, who is a wrongdoer and who is a "wicked ... unrighteous and cruel" man (71:4). This is a description of the Antichrist. He asks to be rescued from the hand of that person. At the same time he looks above him to God Who is able to rescue him from the wicked one's grasp. The Psalmist here is a type of the remnant. He needs deliverance because he is surrounded by enemies led by the Antichrist (71:4; 1:10~11).

The Treasury of David

 

Forsake Me Not When My Strength Is Spent    

Psalms 71:1 In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion.
Psalms 71:2 Deliver me in thy righteousness, and cause me to escape: incline thine ear unto me, and save 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.
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.
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.
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.
Psalms 71:10 For mine enemies speak against me; and they that lay wait for my soul take counsel together,
Psalms 71:11 Saying, God hath forsaken him: persecute and take him; for there is none to deliver him.
Psalms 71:12 O God, be not far from me: O my God, make haste for my help.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
  
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