# Psalm 71 📖: Do Not Forsake Me in Old Age
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> [!info] Table of Contents
> [[#📜 Scripture Text (NET)]]
> [[#📖 Verse-by-Verse Commentary]]
> [[#🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights]]
> [[#🧠 Chapter Summary]]
> [[#✝️ Christ in This Chapter]]
> [[#🔎 Key Principles / 🛟 Life Application]]
> [[#💬 Discussion Questions]]
> [[#✍️ Key Verses to Remember]]
> [[#🔗 Related Passages/Cross Reference]]
> [[#🙏 Devotional Reflection]]
> [[#📂 Internal Notes]]
## 📜 Scripture Text (NET)
(The NET Bible: New English Translation. Biblical Studies Press, 2005)
[[#Verse 01.]] In you, O Lord, I have taken shelter.
Never let me be humiliated.
[[#Verse 02.]] Vindicate me by rescuing me.
Listen to me. Deliver me.
[[#Verse 03.]] Be my protector and refuge,
a stronghold where I can be safe.
For you are my high ridge and my stronghold.
[[#Verse 04.]] My God, rescue me from the power of the wicked,
from the hand of the cruel oppressor.
[[#Verse 05.]] For you are my hope;
O Sovereign Lord, I have trusted in you since I was young.
[[#Verse 06.]] I have leaned on you since birth;
you pulled me from my mother’s womb.
I praise you continually.
[[#Verse 07.]] Many are appalled when they see me,
but you are my secure shelter.
[[#Verse 08.]] I praise you constantly
and speak of your splendor all day long.
[[#Verse 09.]] Do not reject me in my old age.
When my strength fails, do not abandon me.
[[#Verse 10.]] For my enemies talk about me;
those waiting for a chance to kill me plot my demise.
[[#Verse 11.]] They say, “God has abandoned him.
Run and seize him, for there is no one who will rescue him.”
[[#Verse 12.]] O God, do not remain far away from me.
My God, hurry and help me.
[[#Verse 13.]] May my accusers be humiliated and defeated.
May those who want to harm me be covered with scorn and disgrace.
[[#Verse 14.]] As for me, I will wait continually,
and will continue to praise you.
[[#Verse 15.]] I will tell about your justice,
and all day long proclaim your salvation,
though I cannot fathom its full extent.
[[#Verse 16.]] I will come and tell about the mighty acts of the Sovereign Lord.
I will proclaim your justice—yours alone.
[[#Verse 17.]] O God, you have taught me since I was young,
and I am still declaring your amazing deeds.
[[#Verse 18.]] Even when I am old and gray,
O God, do not abandon me,
until I tell the next generation about your strength,
and those coming after me about your power.
[[#Verse 19.]] Your justice, O God, extends to the skies above;
you have done great things.
O God, who can compare to you?
[[#Verse 20.]] Though you have allowed me to experience much trouble and distress,
revive me once again.
Bring me up once again from the depths of the earth.
[[#Verse 21.]] Raise me to a position of great honor.
Turn and comfort me.
[[#Verse 22.]] I will express my thanks to you with a stringed instrument,
praising your faithfulness, O my God.
I will sing praises to you accompanied by a harp,
O Holy One of Israel.
[[#Verse 23.]] My lips will shout for joy. Yes, I will sing your praises.
I will praise you when you rescue me.
[[#Verse 24.]] All day long my tongue will also tell about your justice,
for those who want to harm me will be embarrassed and ashamed.
## 📖 Verse-by-Verse Commentary
###### Overall.
###### Verse 01.
###### Verse 02.
###### Verse 03.
###### Verse 04.
###### Verse 05.
###### Verse 06.
###### Verse 07.
###### Verse 08.
###### Verse 09.
###### Verse 10.
###### Verse 11.
###### Verse 12.
###### Verse 13.
###### Verse 14.
###### Verse 15.
###### Verse 16.
###### Verse 17.
###### Verse 18.
###### Verse 19.
###### Verse 20.
###### Verse 21.
###### Verse 22.
###### Verse 23.
###### Verse 24.
## 🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights
1. Psalm 71 has no heading, which is unusual in Book II.
2. Its opening verses (71:1-3) are very similar to Psalm 31:1-3.
3. Some Hebrew manuscripts join Psalms 70 and 71 as one psalm.
4. The psalmist describes his whole life: from birth (71:6), youth (71:5, 17), and old age (71:9, 18).
5. He calls himself a "sign" or example to many (71:7), likely meaning his life displayed God's power.
6. "The Holy One of Israel" (71:22) is a favorite title of God in Isaiah, but it appears only three times in the Psalms (71:22; 78:41; 89:18).
7. He praises God with both the harp and the lyre (71:22).
8. Being brought up "from the depths of the earth" (71:20) is a picture of rescue from near death.
9. The psalmist says he does not know how to measure God's saving acts (71:15).
10. The psalm ends with the enemies put to shame (71:24), turning lament into praise.
## 🧠 Chapter Summary
> [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way.
## ✝️ Christ in This Chapter
Christ is the Rock and refuge from birth to old age (71:3, 6). He promised to be with His people always (Matthew 28:20), and God, who raised Jesus, will raise us up from the depths of the earth (71:20; 2 Corinthians 4:14).
## 🔎 Key Principles / 🛟 Life Application
> [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way.
## 💬 Discussion Questions
1. The psalmist has trusted God from his youth (71:5-6). How has God been faithful to you throughout your life?
2. He prays that God will not abandon him when he is old (71:9, 18). How can older believers pass on their faith to the next generation?
3. He promises to tell of God's righteousness all day long (71:15, 24). How can you make talking about God's goodness part of your daily life?
## ✍️ Key Verses to Remember
- 📖 verse 5: You are my hope, O Lord, and my source of confidence since my youth.
- 📖 verse 9: Do not reject me in my old age when my strength fails.
- 📖 verse 18: Even when I am old and gray, do not leave me until I tell the next generation of Your power.
## 🔗 Related Passages/Cross Reference
- 🔗 [[Psalm 31#Verse 01.|Psalm 31:1-3]] - The same opening prayer for refuge.
- 🔗 [[Isaiah 46#Verse 04.|Isaiah 46:4]] - Even to your old age, I will carry you.
- 🔗 [[2 Timothy 01#Verse 05.|2 Timothy 1:5]] - Faith passed from one generation to another.
- 🔗 [[Matthew 28#Verse 20.|Matthew 28:20]] - I am with you always.
- 🔗 [[Psalm 92#Verse 12.|Psalm 92:12-15]] - The righteous still bear fruit in old age.
## 🙏 Devotional Reflection
📝 SOAP: [[Psalm 71 - SOAP|Let Your Life Be An Example of God’s Faithfulness]]
## 📂 Internal Notes