Thursday, April 19, 2012

The Old Preaching to the Young

1 In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion.

2 Deliver me in thy righteousness, and cause me to escape: incline thine ear unto me, and save me.

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.

4 Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man.

5 For thou art my hope, O Lord GOD: thou art my trust from my youth.

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.

7 I am as a wonder unto many; but thou art my strong refuge.

8 Let my mouth be filled with thy praise and with thy honour all the day.

9 Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth.

10 For mine enemies speak against me; and they that lay wait for my soul take counsel together,

11 Saying, God hath forsaken him: persecute and take him; for there is none to deliver him.

12 O God, be not far from me: O my God, make haste for my help.

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.

14 But I will hope continually, and will yet praise thee more and more.

15 My mouth shall shew forth thy righteousness and thy salvation all the day; for I know not the numbers thereof.

16 I will go in the strength of the Lord GOD: I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only.

17 O God, thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works.

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.

19 Thy righteousness also, O God, is very high, who hast done great things: O God, who is like unto thee!

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.

21 Thou shalt increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side.

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.

23 My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto thee; and my soul, which thou hast redeemed.

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.

—Psalm 71 KJV Bible

It is not certain who wrote this psalm. Whoever it was, they seem to have been very familiar with the psalms of David, because several portions of this psalm are reflected in those of David, compare Psalm 31:1-3 (Psalm 71:1-3); Psalm 22:9-10,11 (Psalm 71:5-6,12); Psalm 35:4,26 (Psalm 71:13); Psalm 36:6 (Psalm 71:19); Psalm 38:12,21-22 (Psalm 71:10-11,12); Psalm 40:5,13-14 (Psalm 71:17,12-13) and Psalm 70:1,5 (Psalm 71:12). Some suggest that the psalmist was the prophet Jeremiah, who lived about 400 years after David. In this song, the psalmist cries for help, prays for deliverance because of a confidence based on God’s lifelong care for him, and resolves to continue praising God.

In verses 1 through 3, the psalmist cries to God for help. He asks that God acknowledge the faithfulness of the psalmist continue to protect him.

In verses 4 through 13, the psalmist prays for deliverance because of a confidence based on God’s lifelong care for him. In verse 7, the psalmist states that he has become a mockery of many, a term sometimes described as “a wonder” or “a marvel.” The psalmist states that he has strongly and joyfully relied on God since he was young. Now that enemies are again plotting against the psalmist, he asks God to not desert him in his old age.

In verses 14 through 24, the psalmist resolves to continue praising God. He will praise God and preach of the uncountable mercies of God to the younger generations for the rest of his life.

Father, You are great and mighty. Even when I am persecuted, encourage me to preach of You to the younger generations to the end of my days.

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