Psalms 71:12-22

12 O God, be not far from me; O my God, make haste to help me.

13 Let them be confounded and consumed that are adversaries to my soul; let them be covered with reproach and dishonor that seek my hurt.

14 But I will hope continually and will yet praise Thee more and more.

15 My mouth shall show forth Thy righteousness and Thy salvation all the day, for I know not the numbers thereof.

16 I will go in the strength of the Lord GOD; I will make mention of Thy righteousness, even of Thine only.

17 O God, Thou hast taught me from my youth, and hitherto have I declared Thy wondrous works.

18 Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not, until I have shown Thy strength unto this generation and Thy power to every one that is to come.

19 Thy righteousness also, O God, is very high, who hast done great things. O God, who is like unto Thee!

20 Thou, who hast shown me great and sore troubles, shalt quicken me again, and shalt bring me up again from the depths of the earth.

21 Thou shalt increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side.

22 I will also praise Thee with the psaltery for Thy truth, O my God; unto Thee will I sing with the harp, O Thou Holy One of Israel.

Psalms 71:12-22 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.