Psalm 71:3

3 Be to me a protecting God, and a strong hold to save me: for thou art my fortress and my refuge.

Psalm 71:3 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 71:3

Be thou my strong habitation
This is very appropiately said, when David was driven out of his dwelling place, and palace at Jerusalem, by his son, as Kimchi observes. When God's people have no certain dwelling place, which is sometimes their case, they always find one in the Lord; particularly in his heart's love; for he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, ( 1 John 4:16 ) ; and a strong habitation he is: wherefore he is called a strong rock, a strong hold, a strong tower; he is as a wall of fire around his people, a munition of rocks; his salvation is as walls and bulwarks, and his power as a garrison in which they are kept. The psalmist adds,

whereunto I may continually resort;
or "may go into daily" ^F18, in times of danger and distress, for safety; the name of the Lord being a strong tower, whither the righteous run, and are safe, ( Proverbs 18:10 ) ; and his perfections, his power, faithfulness, lovingkindness, and unchangeableness, being as so many secret chambers, where they may enter into, and hide themselves, till calamities are over, ( Psalms 57:1 ) ( Isaiah 26:20 ) ; and every day indeed for food, for comfort, for refreshment and pleasure, through communion with him; and God in Christ is always to be come at: Christ is the way of access and acceptance; and through his blood, sacrifice, and righteousness, the believer has boldness to enter into the holiest of all, and go up to the seat of God, the throne of his grace; and even to enter into him himself, who has been the dwelling place of his people in all generations, ( Psalms 90:1 ) ;

thou hast given commandment to save me;
either to the ministering angels, as Aben Ezra and Kimchi interpret it, comparing it with ( Psalms 91:11 ) ; or rather to his Son, in the council and covenant of grace and peace; when he enjoined him the salvation of his people, which he readily agreed to, and with which David was acquainted, ( Psalms 40:7 Psalms 40:8 ) ; of this command our Lord speaks, ( John 10:18 ) ( 14:31 ) ; and to which he was obedient, ( Philippians 2:8 ) ; it may respect David's salvation from present trouble, and his assurance of it, believing that the Lord had determined it, and by his mighty power would effect it; see ( Psalms 44:4 ) ;

for thou [art] my rock and my fortress;
see ( Psalms 18:2 ) ( 31:3 ) .

---

FOOTNOTES:

F18 (dymt awbl) "ut ingrediar jugiter", Pagninus; so Junius & Tremellius, Piscator.

Psalm 71:3 In-Context

1 O Lord, I have hoped in thee: let me never be put to shame.

2 In thy righteousness deliver me and rescue me: incline thine ear to me, and save me.

3 Be to me a protecting God, and a strong hold to save me: for thou art my fortress and my refuge.

4 Deliver me, O my God, from the hand of the sinner, from the hand of the transgressor and unjust man.

5 For thou art my support, O Lord; O Lord, thou art my hope from my youth.

6 On thee have I been stayed from the womb: from the belly of my mother thou art my protector: of thee is my praise continually.

7 I am become as it were a wonder to many: but thou art my strong helper.

8 Let my mouth be filled with praise, that I may hymn thy glory, and thy majesty all the day.

9 Cast me not off at the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength fails.

10 For mine enemies have spoken against me; and they that lay wait for my soul have taken counsel together,

11 saying, God has forsaken him: persecute ye and take him; for there is none to deliver him.

12 O God, go not far from me, O my God, draw nigh to my help.

13 Let those that plot against my soul be ashamed and utterly fail: let those that seek my hurt be clothed with shame and dishonour.

14 But I will hope continually, and will praise thee more and more.

15 My mouth shall declare thy righteousness openly, and thy salvation all the day; for I am not acquainted with the affairs of men.

16 I will go on in the might of the Lord: O Lord, I will make mention of thy righteousness only.

17 O God, thou hast taught me from my youth, and until now will I declare thy wonders;

18 even until I am old and advanced in years. O God, forsake me not; until I shall have declared thine arm to all the generation that is to come:

19 even thy power and thy righteousness, O God, up to the highest heavens, even the mighty works which thou has done: O God, who is like to thee?

20 What afflictions many and sore hast thou shewed me! yet thou didst turn and quicken me, and broughtest me again from the depths of the earth.

21 Thou didst multiply thy righteousness, and didst turn and comfort me, and broughtest me again out of the depths of the earth.

22 I will also therefore give thanks to thee, O God, because of thy truth, on an instrument of psalmody: I will sing psalms to thee on the harp, O Holy One of Israel.

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

24 Moreover also my tongue shall dwell all the day upon thy righteousness; when they shall be ashamed and confounded that seek my hurt.