Psalms 71:21

A PLEDGE OF CONTINUAL PRAISE

"Increase thou my greatness,

And turn again and comfort me.

I will praise thee with the psaltery,

Even thy truth, O my God:

Unto thee will I bring praises with the harp,

O thou Holy One of Israel.

My lips shall shout for joy when I sing praises unto thee;

And my soul which thou hast redeemed,

My tongue shall talk of thy righteousness all the day long;

For they are put to shame, for they are confounded, that

seek my hurt."

These verses, like all the others in the psalm, are loaded with the words and expressions frequently used by David. The "harp" and the "psaltery" of Psalms 71:22 are in Psalms 33:2; and the words "shame" and "confounded" used together in Psalms 71:24 regarding David's enemies are found in exactly the same context in Psalms 35:4; 40:14; 70:2.

"Increase thou my greatness" (Psalms 71:21). These words are far more appropriate as coming from David than from any other person in Hebrew history. Note also that this psalmist played the harp. Where is any evidence of some other alleged author of this psalm being able to play on the harp? This was an achievement for which David was especially noted.

All of the verses in this psalm have already received our comment in the places where they occur in other Davidic psalms to which this one bears such a close likeness. The Big Message here, of course, is that old age is not the time to quit, but the time to press on in full vigor of heart and mind that the aged might indeed receive the crown of life that never fades away.

(Note: This commentary on Psalms 71 was written on April 29,1991, when the author was eighty-five years, eleven months, and five days of age.)