Psalms in Poetic Form: Psalm 71

Click here to read PSALM 71 in poetic form

Background

The Exodus book in Psalms is composed of Psalms 61-72 and shows the Messiah’s great atoning work. Psalm 71 is praise for God’s help in promising to send the Messiah as redeemer.

Structure

(Verses 1-5) Prayer for God’s deliverance

(Verses 5,6) From days past

(Verses 6-8) All the day in the present

(Verses 9-12) Old age in the future

(Verse 17) I am taught by God from days past

(Verse 17) I declare Thy works in the present

(Verse 18) I will show Thy strength unto old age in the future

(Verses 19-24) Praise to God for His deliverance

Key Scriptures

Verse 3—“whereunto I may continually resort.” The Greek Old Testament says, “a place of security to save me.” Today our hope in God and His Son Jesus Christ is “an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast” (Hebrews 6:19).

Verse 18—“Now also when I am old and grayheaded.” This could more accurately be translated: “Until the time when I become old and gray.” The Psalmist may not have been greatly aged at the time this was written.

Verse 19—“O God, who is like unto thee!” This is the Messiah’s humble heart toward the Father. Moses was “very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth” (Numbers 12:3). Jesus Christ was a prophet like unto Moses (Deuteronomy 18:18), and Jesus was “meek and lowly in heart” (Matthew 11:29).

Moses asked the same question as the Psalmist in Exodus 15:11: “Who is like unto thee, O Lord, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?” Jesus Christ came to bring life more abundantly to all men (John 10:10).

This question was raised about Old Testament people who were blessed by God, as seen in Deuteronomy 33:29: “Happy art thou, O Israel: who is like unto thee, O people saved by the Lord, the shield of thy help….” For born-again believers today, God “hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3).

Humility is such a great key to fellowship with God. Whereas Lucifer said “I will be like the most High” (Isaiah 14:12-14), the Angel Michael’s very name means “Who is like unto God?” Jesus Christ has greater authority than any angel (Hebrews 1), for he humbled himself to gain a name above all others, and that is the mindset that we are to have as well (Philippians 2:5-11).

Verse 22—“I will also praise thee with the psaltery…unto thee will I sing with the harp.” These phrases literally say: “I will use my hand upon the lyre…unto You I will strike upon the harp (that which twangs).” David played musical instruments, much as modern guitars are used for accompaniment in many songs today.

FOR FURTHER STUDY

All 150 of The Psalms in Poetic Form are available from Amazon in a book, either Large Print or a smaller Bedside Reader. Also available for free with a Kindle Unlimited membership. Enjoy!

The entire blog series is now available in the publication The Psalms: Background & Structure with Key Scriptures Explained.