My tongue also shall talk of thy righteousness all the day long ,.... See Gill on Psalm 71:16 ; for they are confounded ; his adversaries, for whose confusion he prayed, Psalm 71:13 ; for they are brought unto shame that seek my hurt ; as Absalom and Ahithophel, being both brought to a shameful end. read more
Talk of thy righteousness - The righteousness of God is frequently used in this Psalm, and in other places, to signify his justice, judgments, faithfulness, truth, mercy, etc. There are few words of more general import in the Bible. They are confounded - The counsel of Ahithophel is confounded, and turned to foolishness, and he was so ashamed that he went and hanged himself. As to the vain and wicked Absalom, he met with the fate that he had meditated against his father. Though not yet... read more
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
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
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
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
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
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
Psalms 71:22-24. I will also praise thee, &c. And then surely I shall be no less forward to bless thee than thou art to bestow thy benefits on me. My lips shall greatly rejoice, and my soul, &c. It is not possible to express the joy wherewith, not merely my lips, but my heart and soul shall sing triumphant songs for the extraordinary deliverance which I expect from thee. My tongue also shall talk of thy righteousness all the day long Which shall not only be the subject of my... read more
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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