#psalm 71

Prayer of an Old Man for Deliverance

1 In You, O Lord, I have taken refuge; Let me never be ashamed. 2 In Your righteousness deliver me and rescue me; Incline Your ear to me and save me. 3 Be to me a rock of habitation to which I may continually come; You have given commandment to save me, For You are my rock and my fortress. 4 Rescue me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, Out of the grasp of the wrongdoer and ruthless man, 5 For You are my hope; O Lord God, You are my confidence from my youth. 6 By You I have been sustained from my birth; You are He who took me from my mother’s womb; My praise is continually of You.

7 I have become a marvel to many, For You are my strong refuge. 8 My mouth is filled with Your praise And with Your glory all day long. 9 Do not cast me off in the time of old age; Do not forsake me when my strength fails. 10 For my enemies have spoken against me; And those who watch for my life have consulted together, 11 Saying, “God has forsaken him; Pursue and seize him, for there is no one to deliver.”

12 O God, do not be far from me; O my God, hasten to my help! 13 Let those who are adversaries of my soul be ashamed and consumed; Let them be covered with reproach and dishonor, who seek to injure me. 14 But as for me, I will hope continually, And will praise You yet more and more. 15 My mouth shall tell of Your righteousness And of Your salvation all day long; For I do not know the sum of them. 16 I will come with the mighty deeds of the Lord God; I will make mention of Your righteousness, Yours alone.

17 O God, You have taught me from my youth, And I still declare Your wondrous deeds. 18 And even when I am old and gray, O God, do not forsake me, Until I declare Your strength to this generation, Your power to all who are to come. 19 For Your righteousness, O God, reaches to the heavens, You who have done great things; O God, who is like You? 20 You who have shown me many troubles and distresses Will revive me again, And will bring me up again from the depths of the earth. 21 May You increase my greatness And turn to comfort me.

22 I will also praise You with a harp, Even Your truth, O my God; To You I will sing praises with the lyre, O Holy One of Israel. 23 My lips will shout for joy when I sing praises to You; And my soul, which You have redeemed. 24 My tongue also will utter Your righteousness all day long; For they are ashamed, for they are humiliated who seek my hurt. — Psalm 71 | New American Standard Bible 1995 (NASB1995) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved. Cross References: Exodus 15:11; Deuteronomy 4:5; Deuteronomy 6:7; Deuteronomy 33:27; 1 Samuel 30:6; 2 Samuel 22:2; 2 Kings 19:22; Esther 9:2; Job 10:18; Job 26:2; Psalm 3:2; Psalm 5:11; Psalm 6:10; Psalm 7:1-2; Psalm 7:17; Psalm 9:18; Psalm 10:1; Psalm 17:6; Psalm 18:35; Psalm 22:9; Psalm 22:31; Psalm 23:4; Psalm 25:2-3; Psalm 31:5; Psalm 31:13; Psalm 34:19; Psalm 35:28; Psalm 40:5; Psalm 42:5; Psalm 51:14; Psalm 61:3; Psalm 66:16; Matthew 27:1; Luke 1:49; 1 Corinthians 4:9

‭Psalms 71:14

As for me, I will always have hope;

I will praise you more and more.

Devotional for December 15

Even when I am old and gray,    do not forsake me, my God, till I declare your power to the next generation,    your mighty acts to all who are to come. - Psalm 71:18

Psalm 71 was written in King David's old age, as appears from several of the verses in it, including our verse for today. It was penned during a time of trouble in his later years. Perhaps it was at the time of Absalom's rebellion. It expresses some of the concerns typical of those who are advancing in years: that his weakness will lead to shame and a loss of honor; that he will become vulnerable to opposition; that he will be overlooked, passed by, and not heard.

Above all, David's Psalm expresses the concern that he might be forsaken, by man and even by God Himself. He cried out to God: "Do not cast me away when I am old; do not forsake me when my strength is gone" (Psalm 71:9). David had relied upon the Lord from his youth, and now in his old age he needed Him more than ever. All along the ups and downs of his journey through life he had not forsaken the Lord, and now he asks the Lord not to forsake him.

He had a reason why God should not forsake him. God should not forsake him because he had not yet finished declaring God's power and mighty acts to the next generation. Like many of his age, he did not want to pass on until he had fully accomplished his mission and calling in life. He was not simply requesting deliverance from his troubles and an extension of his life for his own sake, but so that he could ensure the next generation would realize their need for God.

David was a man of God. And like all men and women of God, he had the desire to "still bear fruit in old age" and to "stay fresh and green" (Psalm 92:14), until he had delivered himself of everything he believed the next generation needed from him in order to successfully initiate and continue their walk with God.

Perhaps the years are catching up to you and you can see the end looming up. Perhaps, like David, you believe there is still something you need to leave behind. Today, ask God to help you finish everything He has placed on your heart and to give you peace about it.