Psalms 71:12

71:1-13 David prays that he might never be made ashamed of dependence upon God. With this petition every true believer may come boldly to the throne of grace. The gracious care of Divine providence in our birth and infancy, should engage us to early piety. He that was our Help from our birth, ought to be our Hope from our youth. Let none expect ease or comfort from the world. Those who love the Lord, often are hated and persecuted; men wondered at for their principles and conduct; but the Lord has been their strong refuge. The faithful servants of God may be assured that he will not cast them off in old age, nor forsake them when their strength fails.

O God, be not far from me,.... God is everywhere, at hand and afar off, with regard to his being, power, and providence; his glorious presence is in heaven, his gracious presence is with his people; but, when he hides his face, he seems to be at a distance; and this they cannot bear, and therefore deprecate it; see Psalm 10:1 ; O my God, make haste for my help; he knew that his help was in God, and that there was none for him elsewhere; and that he could help him when none else could, and was a present help in time of trouble; and it being such a time with him, and his case desperate, he desires the Lord that he would make haste; and he addresses him as his own God, the consideration of which encouraged his faith and hope in him, and carried in it an argument to help him; see Psalm 119:94.

12, 13 . Reminiscences of Psalm 35:22 b ; Psalm 40:13 b , 14 ( Psalm 70:1 b , 2): cp. Psalm 22:11 a ; Psalm 38:21-22 ; Psalm 35:4 ; Psalm 35:26 ; Psalm 109:29 . make haste for my help ] R.V. make haste to help me. let them be confounded ] R.V. as in Psalm 71:1 , let them be ashamed. consumed ] Some editors would read dishonoured as in Psalm 40:14 , with some MSS. and the Syr. The Hebrew words differ in one letter only. But the LXX and Jer. support the M.T., for which cp. Psalm 37:20 .

Brought safely through dangers of every kind, he is become כּמופת, as a wonder, a miracle (Arabic aft from afata, cognate afaka, הפך, to bend, distort: a turning round, that which is turned round or wrenched, i.e., that which is contrary to what is usual and looked for) to many, who gaze upon him as such with astonishment ( Psalm 40:4 ). It is his God, however, to whom, as hitherto so also in time to come, he will look to be thus wonderfully preserved: מחסי־עז, as in 2 Samuel 22:33 . עז is a genitive, and the suffix is thrown back (vid., supra, p 171) in order that what God is to, and does for, the poet may be brought forward more clearly and independently [lit. unalloyed]. Psalm 71:8 tells us what it is that he firmly expects on the ground of what he possesses in God. And on this very ground arises the prayer of Psalm 71:9 also: Cast me not away (viz., from Thy presence, Psalm 51:13 ; Jeremiah 7:15 , and frequently) in the time (לעת, as in Genesis 8:11 ) of old age - he is therefore already an old man (זקן), though only just at the beginning of the זקנה. He supplicates favour for the present and for the time still to come: now that my vital powers are failing, forsake me not! Thus he prays because he, who has been often wondrously delivered, is even now threatened by foes.

Psalm 71:11 , introduced by means of Psalm 71:10 , tells us what their thoughts of him are, and what they purpose doing. לי, Psalm 71:10 , does not belong to אויבי, as it dies not in Psalm 27:2 also, and elsewhere. The ל is that of relation or of reference, as in Psalm 41:6 . The unnecessary לאמר betrays a poet of the later period; cf. Psalm 105:11 ; Psalm 119:82 (where it was less superfluous), and on the contrary, Psalm 83:5 . The later poet also reveals himself in Psalm 71:12 , which is an echo of very similar prayers of David in Psalm 22:12 , Psalm 22:20 ( Psalm 40:14 , cf. Psalm 70:2 ), Psalm 35:22 ; Psalm 38:22 . The Davidic style is to be discerned here throughout in other points also. In place of הישׁה the Ker substitutes חוּשׁה, which is the form exclusively found elsewhere.

[Hymns] 2 And let me, in thy righteousness, from thee deliv'rance have; Cause me escape, incline thine ear unto me, and me save. 3 Be thou my dwelling-rock, to which I ever may resort: Thou gav'st commandment me to save, for thou'rt my rock and fort. 4 Free me, my God, from wicked hands, hands cruel and unjust: 5 For thou, O Lord God, art my hope, and from my youth my trust. 6 Thou from the womb didst hold me up; thou art the same that me Out of my mother's bowels took; I ever will praise thee. 7 To many I a wonder am; but thou'rt my refuge strong. 8 Fill'd let my mouth be with thy praise and honour all day long. 9 O do not cast me off, when as old age doth overtake me; And when my strength decayed is, then do not thou forsake me. For those that are mine enemies against me speak with hate; And they together counsel take that for my soul lay wait. 11 They said, God leaves him; him pursue and take: none will him save. 12 Be thou not far from me, my God: thy speedy help I crave. 13 Confound, consume them, that unto my soul are enemies: Cloth'd be they with reproach and shame that do my hurt devise. 14 But I with expectation will hope continually; And yet with praises more and more I will thee magnify. 15 Thy justice and salvation my mouth abroad shall show, Ev'n all the day; for I thereof the numbers do not know. 16 And I will constantly go on in strength of God the Lord; And thine own righteousness, ev'n thine alone, I will record.