Psalms 71:9

A SPECIAL PLEA IN A TIME OF OLD AGE

"Cast me not off in the time of old age;

Forsake me not when my strength faileth.

For mine enemies speak concerning me;

And they that watch for my soul take counsel together,

Saying, God hath forsaken him;

Pursue and take him; for there is none to deliver.

O God, be not far from me;

O my God, make haste to help me."

Old age is a time when strength is abated, when eyesight dims,, when hearing becomes difficult, and when teeth and the sense of smell either diminish or disappear altogether. The inabilities, infirmities, helplessness and sorrows of the aged are exposed daily in the newspapers. And for those fortunate enough to be permitted to grow old, what should they do? Let them do what the psalmist does here: pour out their hearts to God in prayer; plead for his help and support; and trust God for his salvation and protection.

When John Wesley approached old age, he said, "What I would be afraid of if I took any thought for tomorrow, is that my body might weigh down my mind, and create either stubbornness through the decrease of my understanding, or peevishness by the increase of bodily infirmities; but, `Thou shalt answer for me, O Lord, my God.'"[9]

Brother C. E. Barrick, a noted Texas educator, for whom one of the Houston public school buildings was named, was approaching old age; and he said to this writer, "Brother Coffman, I pray more than anything else that I may be spared the humiliation of senility."[10] That prayer was graciously answered by the Father.

"Mine enemies speak concerning me ... take counsel together, saying, God has forsaken him ... Pursue him ... take him ... there is none to deliver" (Psalms 71:10-11). The proposal of Ahithophel to Absalom (2 Samuel 17:1-4) is hardly anything else except what is written here.

"O God, be not far from me" (Psalms 71:12). This is another striking bit of evidence of Davidic authorship of this psalm. David often felt that God was far away from him and pleaded for Him to be near. Psalms 22:1,11,19; 35:22 exhibit four examples of this. Furthermore, there is not only a verbal likeness in these passages, but there is also a correspondence in the thought patterns.

"Make haste to help me" (Psalms 71:12). Another Davidic characteristic is that of praying for God to help him "in haste," or "speedily." Psalms 38:22; 40:13; 70:2 have three other instances of this same appeal.