PSALM LXXI _The prophet, in confidence, prays for God's favour_, 1-5; _recounts God's kindness to him from youth to old age_, 6-9; _shows what his adversaries plot against him, and prays for_ _their confusion_, 10-13; _promises fidelity, and determines to be a diligent preacher of_ _righteousn... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 71:3. _BE THOU MY STRONG HABITATION_] Instead of מען _maon,_ _habitation_, many of _Kennicott's_ and _De Rossi's_ MSS. read מעז _maoz_, _munition_ or _defence_. Be thou my rock of defence. _THOU HAST GIVEN COMMANDMENT TO SAVE ME_] Thou hast determined my escape, and hast ordered thy an... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 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... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 71:5. _MY TRUST FROM MY YOUTH._] When I was born into the world, thou didst receive me, and thou tookest me under thy especial care. "My praise _shall be_ continually of thee." Rather, _I_ _have always made thee my boast_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 71:7. _I AM AS A WONDER UNTO MANY_] I am כמופת _kemopheth_, "as a portent," or "type:" I am a _typical person_; and many of the things that happen to _me_ are to be considered in reference to _him_ of whom I am a type. But he may mean I am a _continual prodigy_. My low estate, my slayin... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 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... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 71:10. _LAY WAIT FOR MY SOUL_] They seek to destroy my _life_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 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... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 71:13. _LET THEM BE CONFOUNDED_] They _shall_ be confounded: these are _prophetic_ denunciations.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 71:14. _I WILL HOPE CONTINUALLY_] I shall expect deliverance after deliverance, and blessing after blessing; and, in consequence, I will praise thee more and more. As thy blessings abound, so shall my praises.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 71:15. _I KNOW NOT THE NUMBERS_] I must be continually in the spirit of gratitude, praise, and obedience, for thy blessings to me are innumerable.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 71:16. _I WILL GO_] אבוא _abo_, I will enter, i.e., into the tabernacle, in the strength or _mightinesses of Adonai Jehovah_, the supreme God, who is my _Prop, Stay_, and _Support_. _I WILL MAKE MENTION OF THY RIGHTEOUSNESS_] I will continually record and celebrate the _acts of thy mer... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 71:17. _THOU HAST TAUGHT ME FROM MY YOUTH_] I have had thee for my continual instructor: and thou didst begin to teach me thy fear and love from my tenderest infancy. Those are well taught whom God instructs; and when he teaches, there is no delay in learning.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 71:18. _OLD AND GREY-HEADED_] In the _ninth_ verse Psalms 71:9 he mentioned the circumstance of _old age_; here he _repeats_ it, with the addition of _hoary-headedness_, which, humanly speaking, was calculated to make a deeper impression in his favour. Though all these things are well k... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 71:19. _THY RIGHTEOUSNESS _- IS _VERY HIGH_] עד מרום _ad_ _marom _- is up to the exalted place, reaches _up to heaven_. The mercy of God fills all _space_ and _place_. It crowns in the heavens what it governed upon earth. _WHO HAST DONE GREAT THINGS_] גדלות _gedoloth_. Thou hast worked... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 71:20. Thou, _WHICH HAST SHOWED ME GREAT AND SORE TROUBLES_] _Multiplied straits_ and difficulties. And thou hast only _showed_ them. Hadst thou permitted them to have _fallen upon me_ with all their own energy and natural consequences, they would have destroyed me. As it was, I was nea... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 71:21. _THOU SHALT INCREASE MY GREATNESS_] Thou wilt restore me to my throne and kingdom; and it shall be done in such a way that all shall see it was the hand of God; and I shall have the more honour on the account. _COMFORT ME ON EVERY SIDE._] I shall have friends in all quarters; an... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 71:22. _I WILL ALSO PRAISE THEE WITH THE PSALTERY_] בכלי נבל _bichli nebel, with the instrument nebel_. Unto thee will I sing with the harp; בכנור _bechinnor_, with the _kinnor_. Both were _stringed instruments_, and the principal used in the Jewish worship; and with which, or any thing... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 71:23. _MY LIPS SHALL GREATLY REJOICE - AND MY SOUL_] My _lips_ shall use words expressive of my _soul's_ happiness and gratitude. Thou hast _redeemed_ me; and thou shalt have the eternal praise.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 71:24. _TALK OF THY RIGHTEOUSNESS_] The _righteousness of God_ is frequently used in this Psalm, and in other places, to signify his justice, judgments, faithfulness, truth, mercy, c. There are few words of more _general_ import in the Bible. _THEY ARE CONFOUNDED_] The counsel of Ahith... [ Continue Reading ]