Psalm 71

Authorship

This Psalm is anonymous.

Outline

(This began as Wendland's Expository Outline, but may be adapted.)

I. The psalmist’s trust in old age. He puts His trust in the Lord: (1-4)

A. To be kept from confusion.

B. To be delivered in righteousness.

C. To escape the enemy and be delivered from:

1. The hands of the wicked.

2. The unrighteous.

3. The cruel.

D. To be heard and saved by God.

E. For God to be his strong habitation where he can continually resort.

F. For God to be his rock and fortress.

II. The psalmist’s testimony in old age. (5-8)

A. You are my hope.

B. You are my trust:

1. From the womb.

2. As an infant.

3. As a youth.

C. I am as a wonder unto many because You are my strong refuge.

D. My mouth is filled with Your praise and honor all the day.

III. The psalmists trials in old age. (9-13)

A. Don’t cast me off in the time of old age.

B. Don’t forsake me when my strength fails.

C. Make haste to help me because:

1. My enemies speak against me.

2. They lay wait for my soul.

3. They take counsel together.

a. They say God has forsaken him.

b. They plan to persecute and take him.

c. They think there is no one to deliver him.

D. Let them be confounded and consumed that are adversaries to my soul.

E. Let them be covered with reproach and dishonor that seek my hurt.

IV. The psalmist’s triumph in old age. (14-24)

A. I will hope continually.

B. I will praise You more and more.

C. My mouth shall shew forth God’s righteousness and salvation all the day; for I know not the numbers thereof.

D. I will go in the strength of the Lord.

E. I will continually make mention of Your righteousness.

F. You have taught me from my youth.

1. I have declared Your wondrous works.

2. Now, when I am old and gray-headed, You will not forsake me until:

a. I have showed Your strength to this generation.

b. I have showed Your power to every one that is to come.

G. Your righteousness is very high:

1. You have done great things.

2. Who is like unto Thee?

H. Even though I have had great and sore troubles:

1. You will quicken me again.

2. You will bring me up again from the depths of the earth.

3. You will increase my greatness and comfort me on every side.

I. Because those that seek my hurt are confounded and brought to shame, I will praise thee...

1. With the psaltery.

2. With the harp.

3. With my lips.

4. With my soul which You have redeemed.

5. With my tongue.

Textual Criticism

The following is from Barthélemy's Critique textuelle de l’Ancien Testament volume on the Psalms. For a key to the various symbols and abbreviations, click here.

Ps 71,3A מָעוֹן {C} MT, Hebr, S // assim 31,3: Qa(?), m, G, T clav מעוז

Ps 71,3B לָבוֹא תָּמִיד צִוִּיתָ {C} MT, Hebr, S, T // assim31,3: G clav לבית מצודות

Ps 71,10 אָמְרוּ {A}

Ps 71,13A יִכְלוּ {B} MT, G, σ', Hebr, T // assim 35,4: m, S יכלמו

Ps 71,13B וּכְלִמָּה {A} MT, G, Hebr, T // abr-styl: S om

Ps 71,15b {A}

Ps 71,18 לְדוֹר לְכָל־יָבוֹא {B} MT, Hebr, T // facil-synt: G (--> S)