Psalms 71:17

17 You got me when I was an unformed youth, God, and taught me everything I know. Now I'm telling the world your wonders;

Psalms 71:17 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 71:17

O God, thou hast taught me from my youth
The corruption of human nature; the weakness and impotence of it, to everything that is spiritually good; and the need of continual strength and grace from Christ, to go to him for righteousness and strength, life and salvation, and to walk by faith on him; the doctrine of justification by the righteousness of Christ, and the insufficiency of his own; the will, ways, and worship of God; and all the duties of religion, prayer, praise and whoever were the instruments, or whatever were the means, of teaching David these things, he ascribes it to God. Whether his parents, or the priests and Levites, taught him the sacrifices and ordinances of the law, it was the Lord that blessed instructions to him; and that taught him by providences and precepts, and by his Holy Spirit. And a wonderful blessing it is to be taught of God, and not of men, things relating both to doctrine and practice; and it is an addition to it to be taught these things early, as David was from his youth; and therefore the Lord was so soon the object of his faith and trust, ( Psalms 71:5 ) ; and, as Timothy, from a child, was acquainted with the holy Scriptures, and the things contained in them, which are able to make wise unto salvation, ( Isaiah 29:13 ) ( 54:13 ) ( 2 Timothy 3:15 ) ;

and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works:
not only of nature and providence, but of grace; the treasuring up of all grace, and the blessings of it in Christ; the work of redemption by him; the work of regeneration and conversion by his Spirit; and the perseverance of the saints by his grace and strength; which are all wonderful and amazing. And as the psalmist saw his interest in these things, and had an experience of them, he declared them to others for their encouragement, and to the glory of all the three Persons; see ( Psalms 66:16 ) ( Mark 5:19 ) .

Psalms 71:17 In-Context

15 I'll write the book on your righteousness, talk up your salvation the livelong day, never run out of good things to write or say.
16 I come in the power of the Lord God, I post signs marking his right-of-way.
17 You got me when I was an unformed youth, God, and taught me everything I know. Now I'm telling the world your wonders;
18 I'll keep at it until I'm old and gray. God, don't walk off and leave me until I get out the news Of your strong right arm to this world, news of your power to the world yet to come,
19 Your famous and righteous ways, O God. God, you've done it all! Who is quite like you?
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.