Read a Psalm: Psalm 71

Psalm 71 (NET)

71:1 In you, O Lord, I have taken shelter!

     Never let me be humiliated!

71:2 Vindicate me by rescuing me!

     Listen to me! Deliver me!

71:3 Be my protector and refuge,

     a stronghold where I can be safe!

     For you are my high ridge and my stronghold.

71:4 My God, rescue me from the power of the wicked,

     from the hand of the cruel oppressor!

71:5 For you give me confidence, O Lord;

     O Lord, I have trusted in you since I was young.

71:6 I have leaned on you since birth;

     you pulled me from my mother’s womb.

     I praise you continually.

71:7 Many are appalled when they see me,

     but you are my secure shelter.

71:8 I praise you constantly

     and speak of your splendor all day long.

71:9 Do not reject me in my old age!

     When my strength fails, do not abandon me!

71:10 For my enemies talk about me;

     those waiting for a chance to kill me plot my demise.

71:11 They say, “God has abandoned him.

     Run and seize him, for there is no one who will rescue him!”

71:12 O God, do not remain far away from me!

     My God, hurry and help me!

71:13 May my accusers be humiliated and defeated!

     May those who want to harm me be covered with scorn and disgrace!

71:14 As for me, I will wait continually,

     and will continue to praise you.

71:15 I will tell about your justice,

     and all day long proclaim your salvation,

     though I cannot fathom its full extent.

71:16 I will come and tell about the mighty acts of the sovereign Lord.

     I will proclaim your justice – yours alone.

71:17 O God, you have taught me since I was young,

     and I am still declaring your amazing deeds.

71:18 Even when I am old and gray,  

     O God, do not abandon me,

     until I tell the next generation about your strength,

     and those coming after me about your power.

71:19 Your justice, O God, extends to the skies above;

     you have done great things.

     O God, who can compare to you?

71:20 Though you have allowed me to experience much trouble and distress,

     revive me once again!

     Bring me up once again from the depths of the earth!

71:21 Raise me to a position of great honor!

     Turn and comfort me!

71:22 I will express my thanks to you with a stringed instrument,

     praising your faithfulness, O my God!

     I will sing praises to you accompanied by a harp,

     O Holy One of Israel!

71:23 My lips will shout for joy! Yes, I will sing your praises!

     I will praise you when you rescue me!

71:24 All day long my tongue will also tell about your justice,

     for those who want to harm me will be embarrassed and ashamed.

Outline/Stanza:

1-6 Prayer for deliverance based on who God was in the psalmist experience.

7-11 Vulnerability because of old age.

12-16 Plea for Humiliation and disgrace to enemies but for God, praises are offered

17-21 Hope in God for the life to come

22-24 Praising God through instruments and body parts for God answer to the plea

Main point:

God is both the God of the young and the old, he can be fully trusted in the strength of the youth and the weakness of the older days.

Response:

Lord, now that I am young, I praise you, I glorify you, I look and cling to you and you answer; In my older days, may I continue to fully trust in You.