Psalm 71 - Part 2 - In You, O Lord, I Take Refuge

Psalm 71 - Part 2 To go back to Part 1 - Commentary by Dennis Edwards

Psalm 71:13 Let them be confounded and consumed that are adversaries to my soul; let them be covered with reproach and dishonour that seek my hurt.

Apostle Paul tells us that there are spiritual adversaries who fight against us daily. Therefore, we need to “put on the whole armour of God that we may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places,” Ephesians 6:11-12.

Paul continues, “Wherefore, take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: praying always with all prayer and supplications in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints,” Ephesians 6:13-18.

Psalm 71:14 But I will hope continually, and will yet praise thee more and more.

Praise is one of our spiritual weapons. We enter into God’s gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. God dwells in the praises of His people. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.

Psalm 71:15 My mouth shall shew forth thy righteousness and thy salvation all the day; for I know not the numbers thereof.

We don’t know the numbers of our days. Our times are in God’s hands. It behoves us to be faithful witnesses of all the Lord has done for us. Let us not be ashamed of Him and of His words in this adulterous and sinful generation.

Psalm 71:16 I will go in the strength of the Lord God: I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only.

It is God’s righteousness found in Jesus that makes us stand. Our own righteousness is stinking menstrual rags. Our strength comes from the Lord who has made heaven and earth. In our own strength, we can do nothing. If we abide in Him, and He is us, we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.

Psalm 71:17-18 O God, You have taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works. Now also when I am old and grey-headed, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to everyone that is to come.

The psalmist is reminding the Lord that He has faithfully served Him since his youth. He has spoken of the Lord and of His wonderful works to his generation. He’s asking the Lord not to forsake him in his old age, that he may continue to share God’s word with the generation that is coming up.

In Isaiah 46:4 we find a promise that the Lord will not forsake us when we are old. “And even to your old age I am he; and even to grey-hairs will I carry you: for I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you.”

In Isaiah 40:29-31, we see that in our learning to rest in the Lord, or to “wait on the Lord,” our strength shall be renewed. “He gives power to the faint; and to them that have no might, (the aged), He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: but they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up on wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”

Psalm 71:19 Thy righteousness also, O God, is very high, who hast done great things: O God, who is like unto thee!

There is none righteous, no not one. All we like sheep have gone astray. We have turned everyone unto his own way; and the Lord has laid upon Him (Jesus the Christ) the iniquity of us all, Isaiah 53:6.

Psalm 71:20 Thou, which hast shewed me great and sore troubles, shalt quicken me again, and shalt bring me up again from the depths of the earth.

We find the idea of the resurrection throughout the Old Testament. The oldest written book in the Bible is the book of Job. In Job 19:25-27, we find, “For I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth.” Job, by revelation of his own, or a revelation passed down from his forefathers, knows that his Redeemer is living in the Heavenly realm, and will one day in the future, at the latter day, appear upon the earth. He may be talking about Jesus return at the Battle of Armageddon, where Jesus stands on the Mount of Olives, and there is a great earthquake. Zechariah 14:4.

Job continues, “And though after my skin worms destroy this body (in death), yet in my (new resurrected) flesh shall I see God. Whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another; though my organs be consumed within me.”

Psalm 71:21 You shall increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side.

It is God who comforts us in tribulation. He sends the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, to comfort us in all our tribulation, that by the comfort that we receive from God in our moment of difficulty, we will be able to be comforters, also, to those who are in any trouble, 2 Corinthians 1:4. 

Psalm 71:22 I will also praise thee with the psaltery, even thy truth, O my God: unto thee will I sing with the harp, O thou Holy One of Israel.

The demon that Jesus is casting up in Mark 1:27, knows who Jesus is. “I know who you are, the Holy One of God.”

Jesus is the “Holy One of Israel” spoken of in the Old Testament. Henry Morris notes that the phrase “Holy One of Israel” is used 3 times in the Psalms, 27 times, or 3 times 3 times 3, in Isaiah, and 3 times afterwards. The last time it is used is in Ezekiel. After God has sent fire on Magog, and among them that dwell carelessly in the Isles, in Ezekiel 39:6, He goes on and says the following:

“So will I make my holy name known in the midst of my people Israel; and I will not let them pollute my holy name any more: and the heathen shall know that I am the Lord, the Holy One of Israel,” Ezekiel 39:7. 

The Jewish people will not use the name of Jesus as a swear word any more. The one-third who live through the wrath of God, including the Battle of Armageddon, will convert to Jesus Christ at the Rapture/Resurrection event. [To read more follow link]

Psalm 71:23-24 My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto thee; and my soul, which You have redeemed.  My tongue also shall talk of thy righteousness all the day long: for they are confounded, for they are brought unto shame, that seek my hurt.

Evil men and seducers shall be brought to confusion. “For evildoers shall be cut off: but they that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth. For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, you shall diligently consider his place, and it shall not be. But the meek shall inherit the earth; and delight themselves in the abundance of peace.” Psalm 37:9-11.

Therefore, we must preach the word, be instant in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine. Let our lights so shine before men that they may see our good works and glorify our Father which is in Heaven.