DAWN

     Explanation: In Psalm 71 the Psalmist prays for deliverance and receives assurance that it will be granted. The author and circumstances are unknown, although many of the details of the Psalm fit the circumstances of David's life during his troubles with Saul or Absalom. Today's painting depicts a recurring theme in Psalm 71 -- the contemplations and concerns of an elderly man.

          [ THEMATICALLY AND CHRONOLOGICALLY RELATED SCRIPTURES: 1 Samuel 19-31. 2 Samuel 15-18. Psalm 31. Psalm 35. Psalms 40. Psalm 70. ]

          [ CHRONOLOGY: GENERAL. Patriarchs (Traditional). Judges # 1. Judges # 2. Kings # 1. Kings # 2. Prophets # 1. Prophets # 2. NT # 1. NT # 2. NT # 3. ]

          [ MAPS: Maps # 1. Maps # 2. Maps # 3. Maps # 4. Maps # 5. ]

          [ COMMENTARIES, ETC: GENERAL: Bible Study Tools; Bible Hub: Study Light; Blue Letter Bible // PSALMS: Monergism: Precept Austin: The Treasury of David; John Gill; John Calvin - Volumes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

          [ MUSIC: GENERAL: The Cyber Hymnal // PSALMS: Genevan Psalter (Instrumental). VARIOUS ARTISTS: Psalm 71 - #1. Psalm 71 - #2. Psalm 71 - #3. Psalm 71 - #4. ]

     The Psalmist asks the LORD that he will never be put to confusion since he trusts in him. He asks the LORD to incline his ear to him, to deliver him, and to cause him to escape. He wants the LORD to be his strong habitation to which hem may continually resort. In regard to all of these requests, he notes that the LORD gave commandment to save him because he is his rock and his fortress. On this basis he asks God to deliver him from the wicked, the unrighteous, and the cruel (1-4). God is his hope; and he has trusted God from his youth. God has upheld him from the time he was born; so he will continually praise him. Although the Psalmist was a wonder to many, the LORD was, nevertheless, his strong refuge. So he is inclined to praise and honor God all day. And he asks God not to cast him off in his old age, and to not forsake him when his strength fails (5-9). His enemies speak against him; they lie in wait; and they take counsel against him. They assume that God has forsaken him and that they can persecute and take him because no one can deliver him. But he asks God to be near and to make haste to help him. And he asks that God will confound, consume, reproach, and dishonor his enemies (10-13). But he will hope continually and will praise God more and more in days to come. He will testify throughout the day about God's righteousness and his salvation because it is limitless. He will go forth in God's strength. God has taught him from his youth; and he has declared his wondrous works. So, again, he asks God not to forsake him when he is old, and to spare him until he is able to show God's strength and power to his generation (14-18). He notes that God's righteousness is very high and that God has done great things. He asks "O God, who is like unto you." He expresses his confidence that, even though God has shown him great and sore troubles, he will quicken him again and will bring him up from the depths of the earth. God will increase his greatness and comfort him on every side. He will praise God with music and song for his redemption. He will speak of his righteousness all day long, because those who sought to hurt him are confounded and brought to shame (19-24).

¹ In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust:
let me never be put to confusion.
² Deliver me in thy righteousness, and cause me to escape:
incline thine ear unto me, and save me.
³ Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort:
thou hast given commandment to save me;
for 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 unrighteous and cruel man.

⁵ For thou art my hope, O Lord GOD:
thou art my trust from my youth.
⁶ By thee have I been holden up from the womb:
thou art he that took me out of my mother's bowels:
my praise shall be 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 honour all the day.
⁹ Cast me not off in the time of old age;
forsake me not when my strength faileth.

¹⁰ For mine enemies speak against me;
and they that lay wait for my soul take counsel together,
¹¹ Saying, God hath forsaken him:
persecute and take him;
for there is none 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.

¹⁴ But I will hope continually,
and will yet praise thee more and more.
¹⁵ My mouth shall shew 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 shewed 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, which hast shewed 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,
even thy truth, O my God:
unto thee will I sing with the harp, O thou Holy One of Israel.
²³ My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto thee;
and my soul, which thou hast redeemed.
²⁴ My tongue also shall talk of thy righteousness all the day long:
for they are confounded, for they are brought unto shame, that seek my hurt.