Psalm 71:8-11

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 71:8

Let my mouth be filled with thy praise ,.... Or "thy praise shall fill my mouth" F24 ימלא פי תהלתך ; which shows that his heart was affected with the goodness of God to him, and that he had a deep impression and sense of it upon him; for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks; and for the mouth to be filled with the praise of God, is to speak largely, publicly, and with great delight, in the praise of God, his divine perfections and benefits; and with thy... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 71:9

Cast me not off in the time of old age ,.... The Lord never casts off nor casts away his people, whom he foreknew; they are near unto him; they are on his heart, and are engraven on the palms of his hands; and they shall never be removed from his heart's love, nor out of his arms, nor out of his covenant, and shall always be the objects of his care: he bears and carries them to old age, and even to hoary hairs: the Lord had been the guide of David's youth, and his trust then, Psalm 71:5 ;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 71:10

For mine enemies speak against, me ,.... Or "say unto me" F25 אמרו לי "dixerunt mihi", Montanus. what is expressed in the following verse, "God hath forsaken him"; and so these words are a reason of the above petitions: or "mine enemies speak to me"; or "of me" F26 "De me loquuti sunt, vel loquuntur", Tigurine version, Junius & Tremellius, Gejerus, Michaelis. ; not good, but evil, and so the Targum paraphrases it, "for mine enemies speak evil against me;' or... 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 71:9

Cast me not off in the time of old age - The original might be translated and paraphrased thus: "Thou wilt not cast me off till the time of old age; and according to the failure of my flesh, thou wilt not forsake me." My expectation of rest and happiness will not be deferred till the time that I shall be an aged man, Thou wilt not withdraw thy presence from me as my flesh decays, and as my natural strength abates; but, on the contrary, as my outward man decays, my inward man shall be renewed... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 71:10

Lay wait for my soul - They seek to destroy my life. 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

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 71:9

Verse 9 9.Cast me not off in the time of my old age. David having just now declared that God had been the protector of his life at his birth, and afterwards his foster-father in his childhood, and the guardian of his welfare during the whole course of his past existence; being now worn out with age, casts himself anew into the fatherly bosom of God. In proportion as our strength fails us — and then necessity itself impels us to seek God — in the same proportion should our hope in the... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 71:10

Verse 10 10.For my enemies have said of me, etc. He pleads, as an argument with God to show him mercy, the additional circumstance, that the wicked took greater license in cruelly persecuting him, from the belief which they entertained that he was rejected and abandoned of God. The basest of men, as we all know, become more bold and audacious, when, in tormenting the innocent, they imagine that this is a matter in which they have not to deal with God at all. Not only are they encouraged by the... read more

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