Psalm 71

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 71:17

Verse 17 17.O God! thou hast taught me from my youth. The Psalmist again declares the great obligations under which he lay to God for his goodness, not only with the view of encouraging himself to gratitude, but also of exciting himself to continue cherishing hope for the time to come: which will appear from the following verse. Besides, since God teaches us both by words and deeds, it is certain that the second species of teaching is here referred to, the idea conveyed being, that David had... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 71:19

Verse 19 19.And thy righteousness, O God! is very high. (115) Some connect this verse with the preceding, and repeating the verb I will declare, as common to both verses, translate, And I will declare thy righteousness, O God! But this being a matter of small importance, I will not dwell upon it. David prosecutes at greater length the subject of which he had previously spoken. In the first place, he declares that the righteousness of God is very high; secondly, that it wrought mightily; and,... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 71:20

Verse 20 20.Thou hast made me to see great and sore troubles. The verb to see among the Hebrews, as is well known, is applied to the other senses also. Accordingly, when David complains that calamities had been shown to him, he means that he had suffered them. And as he attributes to God the praise of the deliverances which he had obtained, so he, on the other hand, acknowledges that whatever adversities he had endured were inflicted on him according to the counsel and will of God. But we must... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 71:22

Verse 22 22.I will also, O my God! praise thee. He again breaks forth into thanksgiving; for he was aware that the design of God, in so liberally succouring his servants, is, that his goodness may be celebrated. In speaking of employing the psaltery and the harp in this exercise, he alludes to the generally prevailing custom of that time. To sing the praises of God upon the harp and psaltery unquestionably formed a part of the training of the law, and of the service of God under that... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 71:23

Verse 23 23.My lips shall rejoice (118) when I sing to thee. In this verse David expresses more distinctly his resolution not to give thanks to God hypocritically, nor in a superficial manner, but to engage with unfeigned earnestness in this religious exercise. By the figures which he introduces, he briefly teaches us, that to praise God would be the source of his greatest pleasure; and thus he indirectly censures the profane mirth of those who, forgetting God, confine their congratulations to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 71:1

In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust let me never be put to confusion; rather, as in Psalms 31:1 , "let me never Be ashamed;" or, let me never be put to shame (Cheyne). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 71:1-13

The suffering righteous man in his old age. An introduction ( Psalms 71:1-3 ) borrowed from Psalms 31:1-24 . The prayer is shortly expressed in the fourth verse, and is succeeded in Psalms 31:5-8 by the basis on which it rests, and after that the prayer is expanded in Psalms 31:9-13 . The second half of the psalm contains the hope and the thanks of the writer. I. THE PRAYER OF THE PSALMIST . 1 . For deliverance from the power of evil doers. ( Psalms 31:4 ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 71:1-24

Psalms 40:1-3 are almost identical with the opening verses of Psalms 31:1-24 . They express a firm trust in God, but combine with the expression of this trust an urgent prayer for deliverance. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 71:1-24

Godly old age. Solomon has said, "The beauty of old men is the grey head" ( Proverbs 20:29 ). But he tells also of a nobler beauty, "The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness" ( Proverbs 16:31 ). Old men are few, but godly old men are fewer still. Rarity signalizes the "beauty," and enhances the "glory." This psalm may well be called, "The Old Man's Psalm." Would that the portrait were more common! It is pleasant to look at in poetry; it is far more... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 71:2

Deliver me in thy righteousness. Identical with the last clause of Psalms 31:1 . And cause me to escape. The danger seems to be pressing, and such as characterized Absalom's rather than Adonijah's rebellion. Incline thine ear unto me, and save me (comp. Psalms 31:2 ). read more

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