Psalms 71:1-8

1 I run for dear life to God, I'll never live to regret it.

2 Do what you do so well: get me out of this mess and up on my feet. Put your ear to the ground and listen, give me space for salvation.

3 Be a guest room where I can retreat; you said your door was always open! You're my salvation - my vast, granite fortress.

4 My God, free me from the grip of Wicked, from the clutch of Bad and Bully.

5 You keep me going when times are tough - my bedrock, God, since my childhood.

6 I've hung on you from the day of my birth, the day you took me from the cradle; I'll never run out of praise.

7 Many gasp in alarm when they see me, but you take me in stride.

8 Just as each day brims with your beauty, my mouth brims with praise.

Psalms 71:1-8 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.