Rex H. Henderson

PSALM 71

In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion. 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. Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man. For thou art my hope, O Lord GOD: thou art my trust from my youth. 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. I am as a wonder unto many; but thou art my strong refuge. Let my mouth be filled with thy praise and with thy honour all the day. Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth. 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. My mouth shall shew forth thy righteousness and thy salvation all the day; for I know not the numbers thereof. I will go in the strength of the Lord GOD: I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only. O God, thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works. Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come. Thy righteousness also, O God, is very high, who hast done great things: O God, who is like unto thee! 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. Thou shalt increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side. 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. My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto thee; and my soul, which thou hast 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. (Psalm 71, KJV)

Psalm 71

A Psalm for Old Age

This Psalm was written by David
In his extreme old age near the time
Of death. It shows the soul of the
Aged saint who’s faith was not a crime.

It’s the utterance of struggling, but
Unstaggering faith beginning in
Childhood, and persevering through,
Sin, sorrow and persecution therein.

“Do not cast me away when I am old;
Be not far from me O God; Come
Quickly, O my God, to help me.”

“With years oppressed, with sorrows worn
Dejected, harassed, sick, forlorn,

To you O God, I pray;
To you my wither hands arise,
To thee I life these failing eyes;
Oh, cast me not away!

Yes, broken, tuneless, still, O lord
This voice, transported, shall record
Thy goodness, tried so long;
Till sinking slow, with calm decay,
Its feeble murmurs melt away
Into a seraph’s song.

“Great is thy faithfulness! Great if thy faithfulness!”
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed thy hand hath provided—
“Great is thy faithfulness,” Lord, unto me!

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