Psalm 71:1-10

1 In You, O Lord, I put my trust; Let me never be put to shame.

2 Deliver me in Your righteousness, and cause me to escape; Incline Your ear to me, and save me.

3 Be my strong refuge, To which I may resort continually; You have given the commandment to save me, For You are my rock and my fortress.

4 Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, Out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man.

5 For You are my hope, O Lord God; You are my trust from my youth.

6 By You I have been upheld from birth; You are He who took me out of my mother's womb. My praise shall be continually of You.

7 I have become as a wonder to many, But You are my strong refuge.

8 Let my mouth be filled with Your praise And with Your glory all the day.

9 Do not cast me off in the time of old age; Do not forsake me when my strength fails.

10 For my enemies speak against me; And those who lie in wait for my life take counsel together,

Psalm 71:1-10 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.