Psalms 71:3-13

3 Be thou my strong habitation unto which I may continually resort; thou hast given a commandment that I should be saved because thou art my rock and my fortress.

4 Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, out of the hand of the perverse and violent man.

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

6 By thee have I been sustained from the womb; thou art he that took me out of my mother’s bowels; my praise has been continually of thee.

7 I am as a wonder unto many, but thou art my strong refuge.

8 Let my mouth be filled with thy praise and with thy 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 that lay in wait for my soul take counsel together,

11 saying, God has forsaken him; persecute and take him for there is no one to deliver him.

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

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

Psalms 71:3-13 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.