Psalms 71:1. In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion.
There is his trust, and there is his fear; his trust he dares to avow, his fear he turns into a prayer.
Psalms 71:2-3. Deliver me in thy righteousness, and cause me to escape: incline thine ear unto me, and save me. Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou art my rock and my fortress.
«Be thou my strong habitation whereunto I may continually resort.» Not merely now and then a hiding-place in emergency, but my constant abode, my home, so that from morning to night I may come to thee, and feel myself secure. «Thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou art my rock and my fortress.» You see he knows that God has commanded nature, and providence, and grace to protect him; he has commanded his angels, indeed, he has commanded all his forces, to protect David for this reason, that David feels an inward rest and peace in God. That calm, that divine repose expressed in the words «Thou art my rock and my refuge,» are the tokens that God has given commandment to save us.
Psalms 71:4. Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man.
Two iron hands are trying to pull him down, but he cries to God, whose one almighty hand can set him free.
Psalms 71:5. For thou art my hope, O Lord God: thou art my trust from my youth.
Happy man that can look back upon a youth spent in God's fear; for if we have trusted God in our youth, depend upon it, he will never cast us away.
Psalms 71:6. By thee have I been holden up from the womb: thou art he that took me out of my mother's bowels: my praise shall be continually of thee.
When we could not help ourselves, in the very moment of our birth, God took care of us; and he will take care of us even to the end. Men and women who are old should remember how carefully the Lord nursed them when they were infants; and if you come to a second childhood, you shall still have the same God.
Psalms 71:7. I am as a wonder unto many;
They cannot make me out, I am a blessed problem and puzzle to them: it seems so strange that being so much afflicted I am yet so much upheld.
Psalms 71:7. But thou art my strong refuge.
Aye! There is the answer to the riddle. If God be with us, men may well wonder; but he will always help us.
Psalms 71:8-9. Let my mouth be filled with thy praise and with thy honour all the day.
Cast me not of in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth.
A prayer which both young and old may offer, for if we live long enough, that time of weakness will surely come on. There are many men who do cast off their old servants; but God does not. When we are worn out, he will still bless us.
Psalms 71:10-14. For mine enemies speak against me and they that lay wait for my soul take counsel together, saying, God hath forsaken him: persecute and take him; for there is none to deliver him. O God, be not far from me: O my God, make haste for my help. Let them be confounded and consumed that are adversaries to my soul; let them be covered with reproach and dishonour that seek my hurt. But I will hope continually and will yet praise thee more and more.
In the 8 th verse he had said, «Let my mouth be filled with thy praise.» That is a mouthful, now he says, «I will praise thee more and more.» As if he wanted more mouths wherewith to praise more room for his heart's grateful thanksgiving to God, «I will praise thee more and more.»
This exposition consisted of readings from Romans 5:1-11; and Psalms 71:1-14.