Psalm 71:1-24
In You, LORD, I Take Refuge
1In You, O LORD, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame.
2In Your justice, rescue and deliver me; incline Your ear and save me.
3Be my rock of refuge, where I can always go. Give the command to save me, for You are my rock and my fortress.
4Deliver me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of the unjust and ruthless.
5For You are my hope, O Lord GOD, my confidence from my youth.
6I have leaned on You since birth; You pulled me from my mother’s womb. My praise is always for You.
7I have become a portent to many, but You are my strong refuge.
8My mouth is filled with Your praise and with Your splendor all day long.
9Do not discard me in my old age; do not forsake me when my strength fails.
10For my enemies speak against me, and those who lie in wait for my life conspire,
11saying, “God has forsaken him; pursue him and seize him, for there is no one to rescue him.”
12Be not far from me, O God. Hurry, O my God, to help me.
13May the accusers of my soul be ashamed and consumed; may those who seek my harm be covered with scorn and disgrace.
14But I will always hope and will praise You more and more.
15My mouth will declare Your righteousness and Your salvation all day long, though I cannot know their full measure.
16I will come in the strength of the Lord GOD; I will proclaim Your righteousness—Yours alone.
17O God, You have taught me from my youth, and to this day I proclaim Your marvelous deeds.
18Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, until I proclaim Your power to the next generation, Your might to all who are to come.
19Your righteousness reaches to the heavens, O God, You who have done great things. Who, O God, is like You?
20Though You have shown me many troubles and misfortunes, You will revive me once again. Even from the depths of the earth You will bring me back up.
21You will increase my honor and comfort me once again.
22So I will praise You with the harp for Your faithfulness, O my God; I will sing praise to You with the lyre, O Holy One of Israel.
23When I sing praise to You my lips will shout for joy, along with my soul, which You have redeemed.
24My tongue will indeed proclaim Your righteousness all day long, for those who seek my harm are disgraced and confounded.
Berean Standard Bible
The psalmist has taken refuge in the LORD from youth. He asks not to be put to shame and calls God his rock and fortress. Enemies say God has forsaken him because he is old and weak, but the prayer remembers that God has carried him from birth.
Now the singer asks not to be cast off in old age or abandoned when strength fails. He wants to declare God's power to the next generation. A lifetime of dependence becomes a responsibility to tell younger people what God has done.
The closing praise remembers God's righteousness and saving acts, while admitting that troubles have been many and deep. God will revive and bring the psalmist up again. His lips will shout for joy, and his tongue will tell of God's righteousness all day.
Questions
1 What has God been for the psalmist?
AnswerGod has been his rock, fortress, hope, and support from youth.
2 What do enemies assume?
AnswerThey assume God has forsaken him because age and weakness have reduced his visible strength.
3 What does the psalmist want to tell?
AnswerHe wants to tell the next generation about God's power and faithful care.
4 What does he expect God to do?
AnswerHe expects God to revive him and bring him up again even after deep troubles.
What This Means for Us
Older believers are not disposable once their productivity changes. Their memories of God's faithfulness are gifts the community needs to hear.
The prayer also makes room for fear in old age. Dependence is not a shameful exception to faith; it is a truth every generation eventually learns.
Prayer
God of every generation, stay near people whose strength is failing. Help older believers tell their stories, help younger people listen, and revive all who feel cast off or forgotten. Amen.