1<\/sup> In you, O LORD, I have taken refuge; 2<\/sup> Rescue me and deliver me in your righteousness; 3<\/sup> Be my rock of refuge, 4<\/sup> Deliver me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked, 5<\/sup> For you have been my hope, O Sovereign LORD, 6<\/sup> From birth I have relied on you; 7<\/sup> I have become like a portent to many, 8<\/sup> My mouth is filled with your praise, 9<\/sup> Do not cast me away when I am old; 10<\/sup> For my enemies speak against me; 11<\/sup> They say, "God has forsaken him; 12<\/sup> Be not far from me, O God; 13<\/sup> May my accusers perish in shame; 14<\/sup> But as for me, I will always have hope; 15<\/sup> My mouth will tell of your righteousness, 16<\/sup> I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, O Sovereign LORD; 17<\/sup> Since my youth, O God, you have taught me, 18<\/sup> Even when I am old and gray, 19<\/sup> Your righteousness reaches to the skies, O God, 20<\/sup> Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, 21<\/sup> You will increase my honor 22<\/sup> I will praise you with the harp 23<\/sup> My lips will shout for joy 24<\/sup> My tongue will tell of your righteous acts Psalm 71 is the longest psalm I have posted. And it encompasses the longest period of time within it for an individual- from verse 6, where he is delivered from his mother’s womb to verse18, "…when I am old and gray", – a lifetime of trust and hope.<\/em><\/p>\n It is a good thing to stop and look backward and forward and see that God is always at work. The questions that trouble us when we are at our weakest point can be answered by the life long experience of walking, waiting on and trusting in the Lord. And that question brings with it a wealth of other voices.<\/em><\/p>\n We can hear the voices of Israel at the feast of the Passover, asking this question- and in the following verses we see a testimony to God’s salvation through the Exodus- we ask the question in unison and receive the answer of His faithful redemption.<\/em><\/p>\n This is a timely psalm- it leads us in the progression through time- vv 8, 15,and 24 all have the phrase " all day long". The psalmist looks his life and sees that God in continuously at work, vv 3,6, and 14 – God is always there to save, to be relied upon and to give hope- ALWAYS.<\/em><\/p>\n I have heard and read that this psalm is one for the aged- to contemplate in one’s old age- but I think it is a psalm about hope in real life terms. Not as a fragile promise in the future. Hope is a long and patient waiting in spite of delay and disappointment.<\/em><\/p>\n My hope is in you, Lord, for all of my days.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Psalm 71 1 In you, O LORD, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame. 2 Rescue me and deliver me in your righteousness; turn your ear to me and save me. 3 Be my … Continue reading
let me never be put to shame. <\/p>\n
turn your ear to me and save me. <\/p>\n
to which I can always go;
give the command to save me,
for you are my rock and my fortress. <\/p>\n
from the grasp of evil and cruel men. <\/p>\n
my confidence since my youth. <\/p>\n
you brought me forth from my mother’s womb.
I will ever praise you. <\/p>\n
but you are my strong refuge. <\/p>\n
declaring your splendor all day long. <\/p>\n
do not forsake me when my strength is gone. <\/p>\n
those who wait to kill me conspire together. <\/p>\n
pursue him and seize him,
for no one will rescue him." <\/p>\n
come quickly, O my God, to help me. <\/p>\n
may those who want to harm me
be covered with scorn and disgrace. <\/p>\n
I will praise you more and more. <\/p>\n
of your salvation all day long,
though I know not its measure. <\/p>\n
I will proclaim your righteousness, yours alone. <\/p>\n
and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds. <\/p>\n
do not forsake me, O God,
till I declare your power to the next generation,
your might to all who are to come. <\/p>\n
you who have done great things.
Who, O God, is like you? <\/p>\n
you will restore my life again;
from the depths of the earth
you will again bring me up. <\/p>\n
and comfort me once again. <\/p>\n
for your faithfulness, O my God;
I will sing praise to you with the lyre,
O Holy One of Israel. <\/p>\n
when I sing praise to you—
I, whom you have redeemed. <\/p>\n
all day long,
for those who wanted to harm me
have been put to shame and confusion.<\/p>\n
Verse 20 asks the question, "Who, O God, is like you?"<\/em><\/p>\n