17 God, you have taught me from my youth. Until now, I have declared your wondrous works.
Behold, I have taught you statutes and ordinances, even as Yahweh my God commanded me, that you should do so in the midst of the land where you go in to possess it.
Your servant struck both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God. David said, Yahweh who delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. Saul said to David, Go, and Yahweh shall be with you.
David spoke to Yahweh the words of this song in the day that Yahweh delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul: and he said, Yahweh is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer, even mine; God, my rock, in him will I take refuge; My shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge; My savior, you save me from violence. I will call on Yahweh, who is worthy to be praised: So shall I be saved from my enemies. For the waves of death compassed me; The floods of ungodliness made me afraid: The cords of Sheol were round about me; The snares of death came on me. In my distress I called on Yahweh; Yes, I called to my God: He heard my voice out of his temple, My cry [came] into his ears. Then the earth shook and trembled, The foundations of heaven quaked Were shaken, because he was angry. There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, Fire out of his mouth devoured: Coals were kindled by it. He bowed the heavens also, and came down; Thick darkness was under his feet. He rode on a cherub, and did fly; Yes, he was seen on the wings of the wind. He made darkness pavilions round about him, Gathering of waters, thick clouds of the skies. At the brightness before him Coals of fire were kindled. Yahweh thundered from heaven, The Most High uttered his voice. He sent out arrows, and scattered them; Lightning, and confused them. Then the channels of the sea appeared, The foundations of the world were laid bare, By the rebuke of Yahweh, At the blast of the breath of his nostrils. He sent from on high, he took me; He drew me out of many waters; He delivered me from my strong enemy, From those who hated me; for they were too mighty for me. They came on me in the day of my calamity; But Yahweh was my stay. He brought me forth also into a large place; He delivered me, because he delighted in me. Yahweh rewarded me according to my righteousness; According to the cleanness of my hands has he recompensed me. For I have kept the ways of Yahweh, And have not wickedly departed from my God. For all his ordinances were before me; As for his statutes, I did not depart from them. I was also perfect toward him; I kept myself from my iniquity. Therefore has Yahweh recompensed me according to my righteousness, According to my cleanness in his eyesight. With the merciful you will show yourself merciful; With the perfect man you will show yourself perfect; With the pure you will show yourself pure; With the crooked you will show yourself shrewd. The afflicted people you will save; But your eyes are on the haughty, that you may bring them down. For you are my lamp, Yahweh; Yahweh will lighten my darkness. For by you I run on a troop; By my God do I leap over a wall. As for God, his way is perfect: The word of Yahweh is tried; He is a shield to all those who take refuge in him. For who is God, save Yahweh? Who is a rock, save our God? God is my strong fortress; He guides the perfect in his way. He makes his feet like hinds' [feet], Sets me on my high places. He teaches my hands to war, So that my arms do bend a bow of brass. You have also given me the shield of your salvation; Your gentleness has made me great. You have enlarged my steps under me; My feet have not slipped. I have pursued my enemies, and destroyed them; Neither did I turn again until they were consumed. I have consumed them, and struck them through, so that they can't arise: Yes, they are fallen under my feet. For you have girded me with strength to the battle; You have subdued under me those who rose up against me. You have also made my enemies turn their backs to me, That I might cut off those who hate me. They looked, but there was none to save; Even to Yahweh, but he didn't answer them. Then did I beat them small as the dust of the earth, I did crush them as the mire of the streets, and did spread them abroad. You also have delivered me from the strivings of my people; You have kept me to be the head of the nations: A people whom I have not known shall serve me. The foreigners shall submit themselves to me: As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me. The foreigners shall fade away, Shall come trembling out of their close places. Yahweh lives; Blessed be my rock; Exalted be God, the rock of my salvation, Even the God who executes vengeance for me, Who brings down peoples under me, Who brings me forth from my enemies: Yes, you lift me up above those who rise up against me; You deliver me from the violent man. Therefore I will give thanks to you, Yahweh, among the nations, Will sing praises to your name. Great deliverance gives he to his king, Shows loving kindness to his anointed, To David and to his seed, forevermore.
He appointed certain of the Levites to minister before the ark of Yahweh, and to celebrate and to thank and praise Yahweh, the God of Israel: Asaph the chief, and second to him Zechariah, Jeiel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Mattithiah, and Eliab, and Benaiah, and Obed-edom, and Jeiel, with psalteries and with harps; and Asaph with cymbals, sounding aloud; and Benaiah and Jahaziel the priests with trumpets continually, before the ark of the covenant of God. Then on that day David first ordained to give thanks to Yahweh, by the hand of Asaph and his brothers. Oh give thanks to Yahweh, call on his name; Make known his doings among the peoples. Sing to him, sing praises to him; Talk you of all his marvelous works. Glory you in his holy name; Let the heart of them rejoice who seek Yahweh. Seek you Yahweh and his strength; Seek his face forever more. Remember his marvelous works that he has done, His wonders, and the judgments of his mouth, You seed of Israel his servant, You children of Jacob, his chosen ones. He is Yahweh our God; His judgments are in all the earth. Remember his covenant forever, The word which he commanded to a thousand generations, [The covenant] which he made with Abraham, His oath to Isaac, Confirmed the same to Jacob for a statute, To Israel for an everlasting covenant, Saying, To you will I give the land of Canaan, The lot of your inheritance; When you were but a few men in number, Yes, very few, and foreigners in it; They went about from nation to nation, From one kingdom to another people. He allowed no man to do them wrong; Yes, he reproved kings for their sakes, [Saying], Don't touch my anointed ones, Do my prophets no harm. Sing to Yahweh, all the earth; Show forth his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations, His marvelous works among all the peoples. For great is Yahweh, and greatly to be praised: He also is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the peoples are idols: But Yahweh made the heavens. Honor and majesty are before him: Strength and gladness are in his place. Ascribe to Yahweh, you relatives of the peoples, Ascribe to Yahweh glory and strength; Ascribe to Yahweh the glory due to his name: Bring an offering, and come before him: Worship Yahweh in holy array. Tremble before him, all the earth: The world also is established that it can't be moved. Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; Let them say among the nations, Yahweh reigns. Let the sea roar, and the fullness of it; Let the field exult, and all that is therein; Then shall the trees of the wood sing for joy before Yahweh; For he comes to judge the earth. Oh give thanks to Yahweh; for he is good; For his loving kindness endures forever. Say you, Save us, God of our salvation, Gather us together and deliver us from the nations, To give thanks to your holy name, To triumph in your praise. Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, From everlasting even to everlasting. All the people said, Amen, and praised Yahweh.
Come, and hear, all you who fear God. I will declare what he has done for my soul.
For you are my hope, Lord Yahweh; My confidence from my youth.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Psalms 71
Commentary on Psalms 71 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
PSALM 71
Ps 71:1-24. The Psalmist, probably in old age, appeals to God for help from his enemies, pleading his past favors, and stating his present need; and, in confidence of a hearing, he promises his grateful thanks and praise.
1-3. (Compare Ps 30:1-3).
3. given commandment—literally, "ordained," as in Ps 44:4; 68:28.
rock … fortress—(Ps 18:2).
4, 5. cruel man—corrupt and ill-natured—literally, "sour."
5. trust—place of trust.
6-9. His history from early infancy illustrated God's care, and his wonderful deliverances were at once occasions of praise and ground of confidence for the future.
my praise … of thee—literally, "in" or "by Thee" (Ps 22:25).
10, 11. The craft and malicious taunts of his enemies now led him to call for aid (compare the terms used, 2Sa 17:12; Ps 3:2; 7:2).
12. (Compare Ps 22:19; 40:4).
13. (Compare Ps 35:4; 40:14).
14-16. The ruin of his enemies, as illustrating God's faithfulness, is his deliverance, and a reason for future confidence.
15. for I know … thereof—innumerable, as he had not time to count them.
16. in the strength—or, relying on it.
thy righteousness—or, faithful performance of promises to the pious (Ps 7:17; 31:1).
17-21. Past experience again encourages.
taught me, &c.—by providential dealings.
19. is very high—distinguished (Ps 36:5; Isa 55:9).
20. depths of the earth—debased, low condition.
21. increase, &c.—that is, the great things done for me (Ps 71:19; compare Ps 40:5).
22-24. To the occasion of praise he now adds the promise to render it.
will … praise—literally, "will thank."
even thy truth—as to Thy truth or faithfulness.