Psalm 71:4

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 71:4

Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked ,.... Meaning Absalom his son, as Arama, who had risen up in rebellion against him; and he may not only intend him, but all those wicked men that had joined with him: it was David's mercy he had a covenant God to go to, and could claim his interest in him, who had power to deliver him, and from whom he might expect it; out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man ; or "leavened" F19 חומץ "malitiae fermento prorsus corrupti",... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 71:4

Out of the hand of the wicked - Probably his unnatural son Absalom, called here רשע rasha , the Wicked, because he had violated all laws, human and Divine. The unrighteous and cruel man - Probably Ahithophel who was the iniquitous counsellor of a wicked and rebellious son. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 71:4

Verse 4 4.O my God! deliver me from the hand of the wicked man. Here he uses the singular number; but he is not to be understood as indicating one man only. (102) It is highly probable that he comprehends the whole host of the enemies who assaulted him. We have elsewhere had occasion to observe how greatly it contributes to inspire us with the confidence of obtaining our requests, when we are so assured of our own integrity, as to be able freely to complain before God that we are unjustly and... 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 71:4

Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, out of the hand (rather, grasp ) of the unrighteous and cruel man. it is characteristic of David to single out from his adversaries an individual man, from whom he especially asks to be delivered (comp. Psalms 13:2 ; Psalms 17:13 ; Psalms 18:17 , Psalms 18:48 ; Psalms 35:8 ; Psalms 41:6 , Psalms 41:9 , Psalms 41:11 ; Psalms 55:13 , Psalms 55:14 , etc.). read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 71:4

Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked - It is, of course, not possible now to ascertain who are particularly referred to here. If David was the author of the psalm, they may have been any of the numerous enemies that he had in his life.Out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man - Hebrew, “out of the palm.” This means here the same as hand, and refers to the “grasp” which anyone makes in taking hold of a thing by the hand. 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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