Psalm 71:18

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 71:14-24

David is here in a holy transport of joy and praise, arising from his faith and hope in God; we have both together Ps. 71:14; where there is a sudden and remarkable change of his voice; his fears are all silenced, his hopes raised, and his prayers turned into thanksgivings. ?Let my enemies say what they will, to drive me to despair, I will hope continually, hope in all conditions, in the most cloudy and dark day; I will live upon hope and will hope to the end.? Since we hope in one that will... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 71:18

Now also, when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not ,.... A repetition of his request, Psalm 71:9 ; with a reason annexed to it, suggested in the following words: until I have showed thy strength unto this generation ; or, "thine arm" F5 זרועך "brachium tuum", V. L. Pagninus, Montanus, Tigurine version, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, &c.; ; which sometimes the Messiah, Isaiah 53:1 ; who is the power of by whom he made the worlds, and in whom all things... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 71:18

Old and grey-headed - In the ninth verse he mentioned the circumstance of old age; here he repeats it, with the addition of hoary-headedness, which, humanly speaking, was calculated to make a deeper impression in his favor. Though all these things are well known to God, and he needs not our information, yet he is pleased to say, "Come now, and let us reason together." And when his children plead and reason with him, they are acting precisely as he has commanded. 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 71:14-24

Regarding his prayers as heard, and their fulfilment as certain, the psalmist now betakes himself to praise and thanksgiving, He will never cease to hope; he will praise God more and more ( Psalms 71:14 ). He will spend the whole day in telling of God's righteousness and salvation ( Psalms 71:15 ). The mighty acts of the Lord shall form his theme, together with the righteousness of God, and of none other ( Psalms 71:16 ). As God has enabled him to declare his praise in the past ( Psalms... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 71:14-24

Persistent hope and increasing praise. Upon these the psalmist resolves in this second half of the psalm. Let us distinguish the topics of his hope and praise. I. GOD 'S WORKS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS ARE INNUMERABLE . ( Psalms 71:15 .) They cannot be reckoned up. All his works are right, both in nature and towards man. II. GOD 'S WORKS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS ARE MIGHTY WORKS . ( Psalms 71:16 .) "I will come with the mighty deeds of the Lord"—"unto the temple, with... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 71:18

Now also when! am old and greyheaded, O God, forsake me not. Surely, then, thou wilt not forsake me when my youth has fled, and my time of weakness and decay has arrived, so that I need thee all the more. At the time of Adonijah's rebellion, David was "old and stricken in years" ( 1 Kings 1:1 )—nearly, if not quite, seventy years of age ( 2 Samuel 5:4 ). Until I have showed thy strength (literally, thine own ) unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come . The... 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

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 71:18

Psalms 71:18. Now also when I am old, &c., forsake me not Do not abandon the care of me when I need it most: but continue the same kindness to me in my declining years which I experienced when I was a youth. Those that have been taught of God from their youth, and have made it the business of their lives to honour him, may be sure he will not leave them when they are old and gray-headed, will not leave them helpless and comfortless, but will make the evil days of old age their best... read more

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