Psalms 71:1-13 - Homilies By C. Short

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 .) We have need to pray for deliverance from the dangers that imperil the safety of the soul.

2 . For special protection in his old age. ( Psalms 31:9 .) When his natural strength had begun to fail. This was the prayer for spiritual strength—that he might not be abandoned to physical infirmity, and so be unable to contend with his foes.

3 . For immediate help and rescue. ( Psalms 31:12 .) "Make haste to help me." He was in a pressing emergency, and needed instant deliverance. "Be not far from me." He prayed for the signs of God's presence with him.

II. THE GROUNDS OF HIS PRAYER .

1 . God had been his Hope and Confidence from infancy. ( Psalms 31:5 , Psalms 31:6 .) And he had confidence that he might still lean upon God for help, and still have cause to praise him.

2 . The greatness of his sufferings. ( Psalms 31:7 , "I by the greatness of my sufferings drew upon myself the astonishment and wonder of many.") Great suffering leads us to God with a cry to which he will always listen; for "Like as a father pitieth his children," etc.

3 . He is a constant and devoted worshipper of God. ( Psalms 31:8 , "My mouth is full of thy praise," etc.) God will not refuse help to those who serve him; if he gives help to any, he must help those who honour him.

4 . He wants it to be proved to his enemies that God has not forsaken him. ( Psalms 31:10 , Psalms 31:11 .) He is jealous of God's honour, and wants it to be seen that God is unchangeable in his goodness as his Deliverer. Good men have always been concerned that God's righteousness should be manifest and invincible.—S.