Thou shalt increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side . The psalmist feels that the trial now laid upon him is the last—that henceforth his greatness and majesty will increase instead of diminishing, and that God will turn and comfort him. read more
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. (On the psaltery, and its use as a devotional instrument, see the comment on Psalms 33:2 .) The conjunction of the psaltery and harp seems to imply that the "praise," of which the writer here speaks, is to be public praise in the sanctuary, accompanied by the usual sacred music. read more
My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto thee; and my soul, which thou hast redeemed. Not my mouth only, but my heart and spirit, will "rejoice," or "sing out thy praise" (Cheyne), when the time comes, and my "redemption," or deliverance, has been accomplished. read more
My tongue also shall talk of thy righteousness all the day long. The musical utterance of praise can only be occasional, but the tongue can "talk" of God continually (see Psalms 71:15 ). For they are confounded and brought unto shame, that seek my hurt (comp. Psalms 35:4 ; Psalms 40:14 ; Psalms 70:2 ). read more
This psalm is without a title, as is the case with the first, second, tenth, and some others. Of course it is impossible to determine on what occasion it was composed. There is some plausibility in the supposition that Psalms 70:1-5 might have been placed before it, or in connection with it, as a kind of introduction, or as indicating the character of the psalms among which it is found; but nothing of certainty can be ascertained on that point. It evidently belongs to the “class” of psalms... read more
In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust - See the notes at Psalms 25:2. Compare Psalms 22:4-5; Psalms 31:1.Let me never be put to confusion - Let me never be ashamed; that is, Let me not be so disappointed in the trust that I repose in thee as to have occasion to feel ashamed that I have done it. read more
Deliver me in thy righteousness - See the notes at Psalms 31:1. The first three verses of this psalm seem in fact to have been taken, with slight variations, from the first three verses of Psalms 31:0.And cause me to escape - That is, from impending dangers; from the power of my enemies.Incline thine ear unto me - In Psalms 31:2, this is, “Bow down thine ear to me.” The idea is the same. See the notes at that place. Compare the notes at Psalms 17:6.And save me - In Psalms 31:2, this is,... read more
Be thou my strong habitation - Margin, as in Hebrew, “Be thou to me for a rock of habitation.” That is, a rock where I may safely make my abode, or to which I may resort and feel safe. In Psalms 31:2, this is, “Be thou my strong rock, for an house of defense to save me.” The idea is the same. See the notes at that passage, and compare the notes at Psalms 18:2.Whereunto I may continually resort - Where I may take refuge at all times, in all circumstances of danger.Thou hast given commandment to... read more
Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked - It is, of course, not possible now to ascertain who are particularly referred to here. If David was the author of the psalm, they may have been any of the numerous enemies that he had in his life.Out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man - Hebrew, “out of the palm.” This means here the same as hand, and refers to the “grasp” which anyone makes in taking hold of a thing by the hand. read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 71:20
Thou, which hast showed me great and sore troubles, shalt quicken me again; or, according to another reading, which hast showed us — shalt deliver us. The change of number may be ascribed to the desire of the psalmist to unite his people with himself in the hopes of deliverance which he is expressing. And shalt bring me up again (rather, shalt bring us up again ) from the depths of the earth. 'The "depths of the earth" is a metaphor for the extreme of misery and depression (comp.... read more