Psalms 71:18

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,

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 (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:
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