Psa 71 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Ps 71:1-24: Ps 71 This untitled lament by an aging believer is more of a confession of confidence and hope than the cry of someone abandoned by God. The psalmist experienced God’s power and protection in his youth (71:5-8 ) and now prays for rescue from the adversaries who stalk him in his old age (71:9-13 ). Even in the midst of his peril, he continues to tell of God’s past faithfulness and looks forward with hope to a time when he can testify to the next generation that God is faithful and righteous. Summary for Ps 71:1-4: 71:1-4 The poet has learned to acknowledge God as the reliable rock who will do what is right toward him and his oppressors. See also 31:1-3 .

Summary for Ps 71:1-24: Ps 71 ^a This untitled lament by an aging believer is more of a confession of confidence and hope than the cry of someone abandoned by God. The psalmist experienced God’s power and protection in his youth (71:5-8 ^b) and now prays for rescue from the adversaries who stalk him in his old age (71:9-13 ^c). Even in the midst of his peril, he continues to tell of God’s past faithfulness and looks forward with hope to a time when he can testify to the next generation that God is faithful and righteous.
Summary for Ps 71:1-4: 71:1-4 ^d The poet has learned to acknowledge God as the reliable rock who will do what is right toward him and his oppressors. See also 31:1-3 ^e.
Summary for Ps 71:5-6: 71:5-6 ^f The psalmist has trusted God throughout his life (see 22:9 ^g).
Summary for Ps 71:9-18: 71:9-18 ^h The aging believer turns to the Lord for hope. As questions from his adversaries get under his skin and his own strength fails, he asks God to answer his prayers. He does not seek answers to prayer for himself but so that he can tell the story to the next generation. 71:9 ⁱ The poet prays for continued fellowship with God (see 9:10 ^j; 51:11 ^k). In his weakness, he needs the Lord’s strength even more (see 143:7 ^l).
71:10 ^m In their plotting, the psalmist’s enemies take counsel and scheme together (2:2 ⁿ; 21:11 ^o; 31:13 ^p; 35:4 ^q; 63:9-10 ^r).
71:14 ^s The psalmist contrasts his own goodness with his enemies’ evil; he centers his life in the Lord, even during hard times (see 9:17-18 ^t; 27:13-14 ^u).
Summary for Ps 71:19-21: 71:19-21 ^v God’s righteous character provides encouragement and strength in the midst of suffering. The wounded psalmist confesses faith in God’s ability to transform his misery and weakness into abundant life.
71:20 ^w lift me up from the depths: The psalmist hopes for the renewal of an abundant earthly life. This later became grounds for belief in the resurrection of the dead.
71:21 ^x Being assured of God’s comfort also assures the poet of God’s presence, care, and goodness (23:4 ^y, 6 ^z; 86:17 ^aa). God’s comfort enhances the psalmist’s sense of being alive (see 119:50 ^ab).
Summary for Ps 71:22-24: 71:22-24 ^ac As he awaits God’s rescue, the psalmist prepares himself to declare with instruments and voice that God is faithful and righteous.