Psalm 71:11

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 71:1-13

Two things in general David here prays for?that he might not be confounded and that his enemies and persecutors might be confounded. I. He prays that he might never be made ashamed of his dependence upon God nor disappointed in his believing expectations from him. With this petition every true believer may come boldly to the throne of grace; for God will never disappoint the hope that is of his own raising. Now observe here, 1. How David professes his confidence in God, and with what pleasure... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 71:11

Saying, God hath forsaken him ,.... Good men may seem to others to be forsaken of God; and they themselves may sometimes think they are; and they may be forsaken for a small moment, when God withdraws his gracious presence, or does not afford immediate help; but never finally and totally. This David's enemies concluded, from the distressed condition he was in, being obliged to leave his family and court, and flee from his son, and wander up and down with a small retinue; and this they said... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 71:11

God hath forsaken him - " God, who has been his special help all through life, and who has guarded him so that no hand could be raised successfully against him, has now cast him off; therefore we shall easily prevail against him. His present adversity shows that God is no longer his friend." Thus men judge. "Secular prosperity is a proof of God's favor: adversity is a proof of his displeasure." But this is not God's way, except in especial judgments, etc. He never manifests his pleasure or... 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 71:11

Saying, God hath forsaken him: persecute and take him; for there is none to deliver him. Compare the words of Ahithophel, "Let me now choose out twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue alter David this night; and I will come upon him while he is weary and weak handed; and all the people that are with him shall flee; and I will smite the king only" ( 2 Samuel 17:1 , 2 Samuel 17:2 ). It no doubt appeared to Absalom's party generally, as it did to Shimei, that God had "forsakes"... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 71:11

Saying, God hath forsaken him - That is, God has given him over; he no longer protects him; he regards him as a wicked man, and we shall therefore, not only be “safe” in our attempts upon his life, but we shall be “justified” in those attempts.Persecute and take him - It can be done safely now; it can be done with propriety.For there is none to deliver him - He has no one now to whom to look; no one on whom he can rely. Abandoned by God and by man, he will be an easy prey. Compare the notes at... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 71:8-11

Psalms 71:8-11 . Let my mouth be filled with thy praise Give me occasion to multiply praises to thee for delivering me out of my present distress. Cast me not off in my old age When I am most feeble, and most need thy help, and am one that is grown old in thy service. For mine enemies lay wait for my soul, &c. Hebrew, שׁמרי נפשׁי , shomree naphshi, the watchers, or observers, of my soul That watch, that they may find occasion to take away my life, and that I may not escape out... read more

Donald C. Fleming

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

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