Psalms 71:18

18 So now that I'm old, and my hair is gray, don't abandon me, God, till I have proclaimed your strength to the next generation, your power to all who will come,

Psalms 71:18 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 71:18

Now also, when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me
not
A repetition of his request, ( Psalms 71:9 ) ; with a reason annexed to it, suggested in the following words:

until I have showed thy strength unto [this] generation;
or, "thine arm" F5; which sometimes the Messiah, ( Isaiah 53:1 ) ; who is the power of by whom he made the worlds, and in whom all things consist; and who has wrought out the salvation people; and is the arm on which they lean, and they are upheld. And the psalmist may be thought to desire that he might be continued a little longer, and be favoured with the presence of God, and the influences of his Spirit and grace; that he might show forth in prophecy, both by word and writing, to the men of the then present age, more things concerning the person, office, and grace of Christ; his sufferings, death, resurrection from the dead, and session at the right hand of God; things which are spoken of in the book of Psalms. Sometimes the arm of the Lord denotes his power and strength, ( Psalms 44:3 ) ; and so it may be taken here; and the next clause seems to be an explanation of it:

[and] thy power;
or "[even] thy power",

to everyone [that] is to come;
that is, to come into the world, that is to be born into it; namely, the power of God, not only in creating all things out of nothing, and supporting what is made; but in the redemption of men, in the conversion of sinners, and in the preservation of the saints, and in enabling them to hold on and out unto the end: and which is shown forth by the psalmist in what he has committed to writing; and which continue, and will continue, to the end of the world, for the instruction of those that come into it; see ( Psalms 22:31 ) .


FOOTNOTES:

F5 (Kewrz) "brachium tuum", V. L. Pagninus, Montanus, Tigurine version, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator

Psalms 71:18 In-Context

16 I will come in the power of Adonai ELOHIM and recall your righteousness, yours alone.
17 God, you have taught me since I was young, and I still proclaim your wonderful works.
18 So now that I'm old, and my hair is gray, don't abandon me, God, till I have proclaimed your strength to the next generation, your power to all who will come,
19 your righteousness too, God, which reaches to the heights. God, you have done great things; who is there like you?
20 You have made me see much trouble and hardship, but you will revive me again and bring me up from the depths of the earth.
Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.