Now also = Yea also. when I am old and grayheaded = to old age and gray hairs. Thy strength = Thine arm; "arm" being put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), App-6 , for the wonders wrought by it. every one that is to come. A special reading called. Sevir ( App-34 ) reads "all who are to come". read more
Psalms 71:17-18. O God, thou hast taught me— O God, thou hast conducted me from my youth, and thus far may I declare thy wondrous works; Psa 71:18 and even to old age and grey hairs, O God, forsake me not: So far, that I may declare thy arm to every generation that is to come: Mudge. read more
Psalms 71This individual lament psalm expresses the faith of an older person in need who had trusted in God for many years. The writer is unknown to us. He combined elements that we find in several other psalms to communicate his thoughts (cf. Psalms 22; Psalms 31; Psalms 35; Psalms 40). read more
Regardless of the outcome in his case, the writer determined to continue trusting and praising God. The Lord had demonstrated His righteousness, salvation, and mighty deeds for a long time and in many ways. Therefore, the psalmist vowed to speak of them forever, even if he could not tally up all of God’s faithful acts. If God forsook him, he could not fully relate these testimonials to the present generation of his people. read more
3. A new commitment to continued trust 71:14-24 read more
This Ps. of prayer (Psalms 71:1-13) and praise (Psalms 71:14-24) was apparently written by an old man (Psalms 71:9, Psalms 71:18) and in the time of the exile. Some parts of it are undoubtedly national, but much of it expresses personal experience and desire and faith. It is largely made up of extracts from other Pss., yet it has a unity and a beauty of its own.1-3. Practically taken from Psalms 31:1-3. 5, 6. See Psalms 22:9, Psalms 22:10. 7. As a wonder unto many] a striking example of God’s... read more
(18) Now also when.—Literally, yea, even to old age and grey hairs. Psalms 129:1 shows that this may be a national as well as an individual prayer.Thy strength.—Literally, thine arm, the symbol of power. (Comp. Isaiah 52:10; Isaiah 53:1, &c)Unto this generation.—Literally, to a generation, explained by the next clause to mean, to the coming generation. read more
Psalms 71:16 This is one of the longest texts in the Bible. In its application it covers an indefinite period of time. The way to write this text is to put a few asterisks after the first three words, 'I will go'. Asterisks, as you know, are used in books to signify a lapse of time. They denote that there is a space of time days, or it may be years between the story that comes before them and the story that follows them. So, I say, we need asterisks in this text. There is sometimes a long... read more
Psalms 71:1-24ECHOES of former psalms make the staple of this one, and even those parts of it which are not quotations have little individuality. The themes are familiar, and the expression of them is scarcely less so. There is no well-defined strophical structure, and little continuity of thought or feeling. Psalms 71:13 and Psalms 71:24 b serve as a kind of partial refrain, and may be taken as dividing the psalm into two parts, but there is little difference between the contents of the two.... read more
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Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Psalms 71:1-24
Psalms 70-71 A lifetime of faithful servicePsalms 70:0 is the same as Psalms 40:13-17 (see notes). It appears in the collection as a separate psalm probably because it was short and suitable for use in temple services on certain occasions.In Psalms 71:0 the believer is pictured looking back on a long life and recalling how the wicked always have opposed him. But just as God has protected him since childhood, so he will continue to do so now (71:1-6). The psalmist’s life has been a constant... read more