Prayer For God’s Protection

Topic: Faithfulness
Passage: Psalms 71:1–13

October 15, 2022

Commentary

In this passage it seems that the psalmist was old and saw life as a testimony of all God had done for him. He finds himself approaching the last lap of his journey in the service of God, he had run a good race, he had kept the faith, and he pleads with God for strength to finish well.

  1. He expresses God’s faithfulness (vv. 1-3) – He rests everything on the character of God and on the compassion of God. Let a person invest his faith and trust in the living God and he will find that, when all else fails, God is still in business.
  2. He shares the experience of God’s faithfulness (vv. 4-6) – This godly old believer had been trusting God for a long time. He remembered many occasions when God had saved him from trials in life. As an old man, he was determined to keep trusting Him.

The psalmist now gives detail of the threatening circumstances that he finds himself in old age.

  1. The problem he was finding (v. 7) – All eyes were on him.
  2. The praise he was formulating (v. 8) – He was determined to give thanks in his circumstances, even if he did not like them.
  3. The pressure he was feeling (v. 9) – He pleads that God will no longer burden him.
  4. The persecution he was facing (vv. 10,11) – As he grows old it seems that the walk gets more lonely and the battles become more intense.

Application

Remembering how God has blessed me during my lifetime will help me see the consistency of His grace, trust Him for the future and share with others the benefits of being faithful.

Psalms 71:1– 13 (NET)

1 In you, O Lord, I have taken shelter. Never let me be humiliated.

2 Vindicate me by rescuing me. Listen to me. Deliver me.

3 Be my protector and refuge, a stronghold where I can be safe. For you are my high ridge and my stronghold.

4 My God, rescue me from the power of the wicked, from the hand of the cruel oppressor.

5 For you are my hope; O Sovereign Lord, I have trusted in you since I was young.

6 I have leaned on you since birth; you pulled me from my mother’s womb. I praise you continually.

7 Many are appalled when they see me, but you are my secure shelter.

8 I praise you constantly and speak of your splendor all day long.

9 Do not reject me in my old age. When my strength fails, do not abandon me.

10 For my enemies talk about me; those waiting for a chance to kill me plot my demise.

11 They say, “God has abandoned him. Run and seize him, for there is no one who will rescue him.”

12 O God, do not remain far away from me. My God, hurry and help me.

13 May my accusers be humiliated and defeated. May those who want to harm me be covered with scorn and disgrace.