Psalms 71:18

18 And even when [I am] old and gray, O God, do not abandon me until I proclaim your {strength} to [this] generation, your power to every [one that] comes [after].

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 [to tell] the mighty deeds of Lord Yahweh. I will {make known} your righteousness, yours only.
17 O God, you have taught me from my youth, and up to now I have proclaimed your wonderful deeds.
18 And even when [I am] old and gray, O God, do not abandon me until I proclaim your {strength} to [this] generation, your power to every [one that] comes [after].
19 And your righteousness, O God, [is] to [the] height [of heaven]. You who have done great things, O God, who [is] like you?
20 You who have caused me to see many troubles and evils, you will again revive me. And from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up.

Footnotes 1

Scripture quotations marked (LEB) are from the Lexham English Bible. Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software.