Psalms 71:15-24

15 (70-15) My mouth shall shew forth thy justice; thy salvation all the day long. Because I have not known learning,

16 (70-16) I will enter into the powers of the Lord: O Lord, I will be mindful of thy justice alone.

17 (70-17) Thou hast taught me, O God, from my youth: and till now I will declare thy wonderful works.

18 (70-18) And unto old age and grey hairs: O God, forsake me not, Until I shew forth thy arm to all the generation that is to come: Thy power,

19 (70-19) And thy justice, O God, even to the highest great things thou hast done: O God, who is like to thee?

20 (70-20) How great troubles hast thou shewn me, many and grievous: and turning thou hast brought me to life, and hast brought me back again from the depths of the earth:

21 (70-21) Thou hast multiplied thy magnificence; and turning to me thou hast comforted me.

22 (70-22) For I will also confess to thee thy truth with the instruments of psaltery: O God, I will sing to thee with the harp, thou holy one of Israel.

23 (70-23) My lips shall greatly rejoice, when I shall sing to thee; and my soul which thou hast redeemed.

24 (70-24) Yea and my tongue shall meditate on thy justice all the day; when they shall be confounded and put to shame that seek evils to me.

Psalms 71:15-24 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 71

This psalm is without a title, but is thought to be David's: the Septuagint and Vulgate Latin versions, and all the Oriental ones, ascribe it to him; and both the subject and style show it to be his. According to the title of the Syriac version, it was composed by him when Saul made war against the house of David; but this is not likely, since it was written by him in his old age, Ps 71:9,18; rather, according to Kimchi and Arama, it was penned when he fled from his son Absalom: there are several things in it which incline to this. The Septuagint and Vulgate Latin versions call it

``A Psalm of David, of the sons of Jonadab, and of the first that were carried captive;''

and so the Ethiopic and Arabic versions. Apollinarius says the sons of Jonadab composed it; but without any foundation for it; and the Syriac version is, it is a prophecy concerning the sufferings and resurrection of the Messiah; and so Jerom and others interpret it. The literal meaning respecting David seems best, though it may be applied to the church, and to any believer in distress. Theodoret thinks it was written by David in the person of the captives in Babylon.