71:1 In you, O Lord, I have taken shelter! Never let me be humiliated! 

 

The psalmist is unnamed, but he is an elderly Jewish messianic believer who has taken shelter in Jehovah all of his life. He asks God that he not be humiliated in his old age.

 

71:2 Vindicate me by rescuing me! Listen to me! Deliver me! 

 

The elderly believer asks God to show him to be innocent before his enemies by rescuing him from his troubles. Elderly men who have studied and applied Bible doctrine at the deepest level since their youth are more of a threat to the satanic world system than the younger Bible student, because they have a longer and better understanding of the mind of God.

 

71:3 Be my protector and refuge, a stronghold where I can be safe! For you are my high ridge and my stronghold. 

 

The elderly believer sees himself as a warrior fighting against enemies of the satanic world system. He asks God to (1) protect him from his enemies, (2) be his hiding place, (3) be his military fortress, and (4) be his high ground. 

 

71:4 My God, rescue me from the power of the wicked, from the hand of the cruel oppressor! 

 

The elderly believer asks God to deliver him from the evil one. Those who study and apply Bible doctrine at the deepest level know that they are fighting against demonic forces.

 

71:5 For you give me confidence, O Lord; O Lord, I have trusted in you since I was young. 

 

Jehovah gives the elderly believer confidence. The elder believer has trusted in Jehovah since his youth.

 

71:6 I have leaned on you since birth; you pulled me from my mother’s womb. I praise you continually. 

 

According to the Holy Spirit, God supernaturally pulls babies from the mother’s womb. This elderly man had been taught about God since birth. For this reason, he could praise God continually.

 

71:7 Many are appalled when they see me, but you are my secure shelter. 

 

The enemies of the satanic world system are appalled when they see this mature believer of God. They would like to destroy him, but the elder believer is sheltered by God.

 

71:8 I praise you constantly and speak of your splendor all day long. 

 

The mature believer has enough Bible doctrine stored in his soul to praise God continually. He also speaks of the goodness of God all day long.

 

71:9 Do not reject me in my old age! When my strength fails, do not abandon me! 

 

The mature believer asks God not to reject him in his old age. He is not interested in retirement. He wanted to serve God until his dying breath.

 

71:10 For my enemies talk about me; those waiting for a chance to kill me plot my demise. 

 

This mature believer practices such strong Bible doctrine, that the satanic world system wishes to murder him.

 

71:11 They say, “God has abandoned him. Run and seize him, for there is no one who will rescue him!” 

 

Those of the satanic world system are so void of Bible doctrine, that they think that God abandons the mature believer. Therefore, they move to destroy him.

 

71:12 O God, do not remain far away from me! My God, hurry and help me! 

 

The mature believe asks God to stay close and rescue him from his enemies.

 

71:13 May my accusers be humiliated and defeated! May those who want to harm me be covered with scorn and disgrace! 

 

The mature believer asks God to humiliate and defeat his accusers. He asks God to cover his satanic attackers with scorn and disgrace.

 

71:14 As for me, I will wait continually, and will continue to praise you. 

 

The mature believer will not attempt to seek revenge. He will wait for God to deliver him. Afterwards, he will praise God for his deliverance. The mature believer has been in this situation many times, so he has learned to wait and watch for deliverance.

 

71:15 I will tell about your justice, and all day long proclaim your salvation, though I cannot fathom its full extent. 

 

The mature believers will tell others about the justice of God. He will tell others about how to obtain salvation. However, it is such a deep subject, that mere man cannot fathom its full extent.

 

71:16 I will come and tell about the mighty acts of the sovereign Lord. I will proclaim your justice—yours alone. 

 

Instead of retiring, the mature believer will tell others about the mighty acts of the sovereignty of God. God is sovereign over all of history. He planned it, wrote it, and executed it. God is so sovereign, that he uses the free will of man to accomplish his own personal divine plan.

 

71:17 O God, you have taught me since I was young, and I am still declaring your amazing deeds. 

 

The mature believer has been learning about God since his youth. Instead of retirement, he is teaching others the amazing spiritual insights in which he has learned through his experience.

 

71:18 Even when I am old and gray, O God, do not abandon me, until I tell the next generation about your strength, and those coming after me about your power. 

 

The mature believer asks God to not abandon him in his old age. He wanted to spread the good news about God to the next generation. 

 

Old people with a life of Bible doctrine are the most valuable people in this world, because they can pass their depth of knowledge to the next generation. The satanic world system wants to commit euthanasia on this older generation, so that they can get rid of the deep spiritual insights in which the mature believers possess. Satan also likes to place young and entertaining pastors in the pulpit who lack the spiritual wisdom to lead a flock to the deep insights of Scripture.

 

71:19 Your justice, O God, extends to the skies above; you have done great things. O God, who can compare to you? 

 

The justice of God includes that of the angelic realm. God has done great things, but it takes a mature believer filled with Bible doctrine to recognize this spiritual concept. 

 

No one can compare with God. Even Satan is just a created being who is on a leash which is controlled by God.

 

71:20 Though you have allowed me to experience much trouble and distress, revive me once again! Bring me up once again from the depths of the earth! 

 

The mature believer recognizes that trouble and distress are brought upon him to sanctify, strengthen, and teach him about the mind of God. The mature believer asks God to rescue him from this trouble, revive him, and help him to spread more Bible doctrine to the next generation.

 

71:21 Raise me to a position of great honor! Turn and comfort me! 

 

The mature believer asks God to raise him to a position of great honor. The greatest honor is teaching the next generation about the deep things of God. Pastors who do not teach their congregations about the deep things of God are destroying the next generation, making them easy prey for the enemy.

 

The mature believer asks God to turn to him and comfort him. The most comforting thing that a mature believer can do is to teach the next generation the deep insights of Scripture.

 

71:22 I will express my thanks to you with a stringed instrument, praising your faithfulness, O my God! I will sing praises to you accompanied by a harp, O Holy One of Israel! 

 

Most modern music today glorifies sex, drugs, and rock and roll. The mature believe will use music to glorify God.

 

71:23 My lips will shout for joy! Yes, I will sing your praises! I will praise you when you rescue me! 

 

The mature believer is excitingly waiting for God to deliver him from his enemies, so that he can praise God to others.

 

71:24 All day long my tongue will also tell about your justice, for those who want to harm me will be embarrassed and ashamed. 

 

The mature believer is not interested in retirement. He is interested in praising God to the next generation.