Psa 71:2 | KingComments | STEP | The psalm does not mention a writer. It has been assumed, that David wrote it. This is supported by the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Old Testament, which mentions that this psalm is of David. It is said to have been written during his flee from his rebellious son Absalom. That the writer does not mention his name places all emphasis on the content of the psalm. The psalmist speaks of the faithful care of God throughout his life, from his mother’s womb to old age. In this we see a clear prophetic description of God’s faithful care for Israel from the beginning of their history to the end. The psalm shows an appeal to that faithful care that as they come to the end of their history – what is called old age here – He will not forsake them even now. In Psalm 69 we have seen the suffering of Christ and in Psalm 70 the great need of the remnant. In Psalm 71 we see how the remnant draws new strength from expecting the LORD (cf. ). We also see the spirit of Christ in this psalm. Much of it applies to Him. In it we see His connection with the faithful remnant in the end time. The end of His life on earth bears witness to similar trials, though with Him they are deeper and perfect. Both and begin with the foundation of the psalmist’s supplication and thereby place great emphasis on it. begins with “In You, O LORD” and begins with “In Your righteousness”. The conviction that the LORD, the faithful God of the covenant, is mighty ( ) and always acts in righteousness and therefore in accordance with His covenant and His word, is the basis of the psalmist’s confidence that He will deliver him ( ; cf. ). The mention of “You” (the Person of God) and His righteousness is also found in , in , and in . The psalmist has experienced the faithfulness of God from his youth ( ) and it will continue to be true in his old age ( ). The psalmist turns directly to the LORD to tell Him that he has taken refuge in Him ( ). This is the only thing a person should do when he is in need. He also asks that the LORD will see to it that he will never be ashamed. One of the worst disappointments that can happen to a person is that his trust in someone is ashamed. With people this happens regularly and even in the most intimate relationships. With God it is impossible. The fact that the psalmist asks for this, does not mean that he doubts God’s faithfulness. It is the expression of a mind that is aware of its inability to remain faithful himself in the circumstances of need in which he finds himself. That he does not doubt the faithfulness of God is shown by his appeal to God’s “righteousness” ( ). The righteousness of God is His righteous action in accordance with His covenant and His promise and His word. This is the pleading ground for deliverance and rescue. This implies that the psalmist is unjustly persecuted. There is no cause in either his actions or words to hunt him down. He asks that God inclines His ear to him, that is, that He listens to him with attention and saves him. Also, salvation is not the ultimate goal of God’s righteousness, but that God will be a rock in which he can dwell ( ). To dwell with God as a rock means to be at home with Him and to be in safety. It is a place he wants to be in constantly because danger is constantly threatening. He longs to be with God, in His presence. The longing for God is felt most strongly when the world reveals itself in all its hostility. At the same time, there is the certainty that salvation will come because the psalmist knows that God has given the command to save him. If God has commanded something, there is no power in the universe that can stop its execution. It is like Balaam who is hired to curse God’s people. However, God has commanded that Balaam should bless His people and so it is done ( ). The psalmist counts on God’s salvation and protection, for he knows God as his “rock” and his “fortress”. The psalmist has to deal with someone who is wicked, who is a wrongdoer and who is a ruthless man ( ). This is a description of the antichrist. He asks to be rescued from the hand of that person. He mentions this twice in this verse. It means that he feels in the grasp of the wicked one. At the same time he looks above him to God Who is able to rescue him from his grasp. The psalmist here is a type of the remnant. He needs deliverance because he is surrounded by enemies led by the antichrist ( ).

‏ Psalms 71:2

Introduction

The psalm does not mention a writer. It has been assumed, that David wrote it. This is supported by the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Old Testament, which mentions that this psalm is of David. It is said to have been written during his flee from his rebellious son Absalom. That the writer does not mention his name places all emphasis on the content of the psalm. The psalmist speaks of the faithful care of God throughout his life, from his mother’s womb to old age.

In this we see a clear prophetic description of God’s faithful care for Israel from the beginning of their history to the end. The psalm shows an appeal to that faithful care that as they come to the end of their history – what is called old age here – He will not forsake them even now.

In Psalm 69 we have seen the suffering of Christ and in Psalm 70 the great need of the remnant. In Psalm 71 we see how the remnant draws new strength from expecting the LORD (cf. Isa 40:30-31).

We also see the spirit of Christ in this psalm. Much of it applies to Him. In it we see His connection with the faithful remnant in the end time. The end of His life on earth bears witness to similar trials, though with Him they are deeper and perfect.

Prayer for Deliverance

Both Psa 71:1 and Psa 71:2 begin with the foundation of the psalmist’s supplication and thereby place great emphasis on it. Psa 71:1 begins with “In You, O LORD” and Psa 71:2 begins with “In Your righteousness”. The conviction that the LORD, the faithful God of the covenant, is mighty (Psa 71:1) and always acts in righteousness and therefore in accordance with His covenant and His word, is the basis of the psalmist’s confidence that He will deliver him (Psa 71:2; cf. Psa 31:1b-3).

The mention of “You” (the Person of God) and His righteousness is also found in Psa 71:14-15, in Psa 71:16, and in Psa 71:19. The psalmist has experienced the faithfulness of God from his youth (Psa 71:5) and it will continue to be true in his old age (Psa 71:18).

The psalmist turns directly to the LORD to tell Him that he has taken refuge in Him (Psa 71:1). This is the only thing a person should do when he is in need. He also asks that the LORD will see to it that he will never be ashamed.

One of the worst disappointments that can happen to a person is that his trust in someone is ashamed. With people this happens regularly and even in the most intimate relationships. With God it is impossible. The fact that the psalmist asks for this, does not mean that he doubts God’s faithfulness. It is the expression of a mind that is aware of its inability to remain faithful himself in the circumstances of need in which he finds himself.

That he does not doubt the faithfulness of God is shown by his appeal to God’s “righteousness” (Psa 71:2). The righteousness of God is His righteous action in accordance with His covenant and His promise and His word. This is the pleading ground for deliverance and rescue. This implies that the psalmist is unjustly persecuted. There is no cause in either his actions or words to hunt him down. He asks that God inclines His ear to him, that is, that He listens to him with attention and saves him.

Also, salvation is not the ultimate goal of God’s righteousness, but that God will be a rock in which he can dwell (Psa 71:3). To dwell with God as a rock means to be at home with Him and to be in safety. It is a place he wants to be in constantly because danger is constantly threatening. He longs to be with God, in His presence. The longing for God is felt most strongly when the world reveals itself in all its hostility.

At the same time, there is the certainty that salvation will come because the psalmist knows that God has given the command to save him. If God has commanded something, there is no power in the universe that can stop its execution. It is like Balaam who is hired to curse God’s people. However, God has commanded that Balaam should bless His people and so it is done (Num 24:12-13). The psalmist counts on God’s salvation and protection, for he knows God as his “rock” and his “fortress”.

The psalmist has to deal with someone who is wicked, who is a wrongdoer and who is a ruthless man (Psa 71:4). This is a description of the antichrist. He asks to be rescued from the hand of that person. He mentions this twice in this verse. It means that he feels in the grasp of the wicked one. At the same time he looks above him to God Who is able to rescue him from his grasp. The psalmist here is a type of the remnant. He needs deliverance because he is surrounded by enemies led by the antichrist (Psa 71:4 ; 10-11).