Psalm 71

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 71:15

My mouth shall show forth thy righteousness ... - See the notes at Psalms 71:8. The word “righteousness” here refers to the righteous character of God, particularly as manifested in his behalf; the word “salvation” refers to what God had done to deliver him from his dangers.For I know not the numbers thereof - That is, I cannot estimate the amount of thy favors; they are innumerable. See the notes at Psalms 40:5. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 71:16

I will go in the strength of the Lord God - In my future journey through life; in my trials; in my duties; in my conflicts; in my temptations. Admonished in the past of my own weakness, and remembering how often God has interposed, I will hereafter lean only on his arm, and not trust to my own strength. But thus leaning on his arm, I “will” go confidently to meet the duties and the trials of life. If one has the strength of God to lean on, or can use that strength “as if” it were his own, there... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 71:17

O God, thou hast taught me from my youth - See Psalms 71:5-6. That is, God had guided and instructed him from his earliest years. He had made known to him his own being and perfections; he had made his duty plain; he had led him along the dangerous path of life.And hitherto have I declared - I have made known. That is, he had done this by public praise; he had done it by his writings; he had done it by maintaining and defending the truth. In all situations of life, up to that time, he had been... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 71:18

Now also when I am old and grey-headed - Margin, “unto old age and grey hairs.” This does not necessarily mean that he was then actually old and grey-headed, but it would imply that he was approaching that period, or that he had it in prospect. The time of youth was past, and he was approaching old age. The literal rendering would be, “And also unto old age and grey hairs, do not forsake me.” This is the prayer of one who had been favored in youth, and in all his former course of life, and who... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 71:19

Thy righteousness also, O God, is very high - See the notes at Psalms 36:5. The purpose of the psalmist is to exalt that righteousness as much as possible, and he, therefore, compares it with that which is high - the heavens - the highest thing of all. The literal rendering would be, “even to the high,” or the height; that is, to the highest place. The passage is designed to express his confidence in God, in the infirmities and troubles which he must expect to come upon him with advancing... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 71:20

Thou, which hast showed me great and sore troubles - Or rather, who hast caused us to see or experience great trials. The psalmist here, by a change from the singular to the plural, connects himself with his friends and followers, meaning that he had suffered with them and through them. It was not merely a personal affliction, but others connected with him had been identified with him, and his personal sorrows had been increased by the trials which had come upon them also. Our severest trials... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 71:21

Thou shalt increase my greatness - Thou wilt not merely restore me to my former condition, but wilt enlarge my happiness, and wilt do still greater things for me.And comfort me on every side - literally, “Thou wilt turn thyself; thou wilt comfort me.” The word also means to surround; to encompass Genesis 2:11, Gen 2:13; 1 Kings 7:24; Psalms 18:5; and the idea here may be that God would “go around him,” or encircle him, and would thus comfort him. This idea is expressed in our common version. It... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 71:22

I will also praise thee with the psaltery - Margin, as in Hebrew, “with the instrument of psaltery.” The Hebrew word is נבל nebel. In Isaiah 5:12 it is rendered “viol.” See the notes at that passage. It is rendered “psaltery” in 1 Samuel 10:5; 2 Samuel 6:5; 1 Kings 10:12; and elsewhere. Compare the notes at Psalms 33:2.Even thy truth - I will make mention of thy truth and faithfulness in my songs of praise; or, I will celebrate these in connection with appropriate music.Unto thee will I sing... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 71:23

My lips shall greatly rejoice ... - My lips will seem to be happy in the privilege of celebrating the praises of God.And my soul, which thou hast redeemed - Compare Psalms 34:22. The word soul here seems to be employed to denote “the soul” properly, as we understand the word - the immortal part. The usual meaning of the word, in the Psalms, however, is “life,” and it is possible that the psalmist meant merely to say here that the “life” which had been spared should find pleasure in celebrating... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 71:24

My tongue also shall talk of thy righteousness - Thy righteous character; the truthfulness, the goodness, the fidelity which thou hast manifested in delivering me. The word rendered “talk” means properly to meditate; then, to think aloud, to talk to oneself; and the idea may be, that his mind would be so full of the subject that he would give utterance to his thoughts in audible expressions when alone. It denotes fullness of heart, and language naturally flowing out from a full soul.All the day... read more

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 71:15

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 71:16

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 71:17

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 71:18

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 71:19

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 71:20

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 71:21

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 71:22

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 71:23

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 71:24

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