Psalms 71 Explained — Thou Art My Hope From My Youth

The psalm looks back to early dependence and asks for rescue from cruel men as strength fades with years. This chapter establishes that trust can deepen over time, and testimony to the next generation becomes part of faithful endurance.

Summary

Psalm 71:1–8 – From youth, You are my trust What happens: The psalmist seeks refuge and praises God who upheld him from birth. What it means: God’s care spans a lifetime. Dependence and praise belong together.

Psalm 71:9–13 – Do not forsake me in old age What happens: Enemies say God has left him, but he asks for defense. What it means: God is faithful in aging. He stands with the weak when others abandon them.

Psalm 71:14–18 – Tell the next generation What happens: He hopes continually and vows to declare God’s power to those to come. What it means: Witness is multi-generational. God’s mighty acts must be told.

Psalm 71:19–24 – Revive me again What happens: God’s righteousness is high; He revives the psalmist and increases his comfort. What it means: God restores joy after loss. Praise follows renewal.

Application

Trust God through every stage of life.
Refuse the lie that God abandons the aged.
Teach God’s works to the next generation.

Bible

¹In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion.

²Deliver me in thy righteousness, and cause me to escape: incline thine ear unto me, and save me.

³Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou art my rock and my fortress.

⁴Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man.

⁵For thou art my hope, O Lord GOD: thou art my trust from my youth.

⁶By 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.

⁷I am as a wonder unto many; but thou art my strong refuge.

⁸Let my mouth be filled with thy praise and with thy honour all the day.

⁹Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth.

¹⁰For mine enemies speak against me; and they that lay wait for my soul take counsel together,

¹¹Saying, God hath forsaken him: persecute and take him; for there is none to deliver him.

¹²O God, be not far from me: O my God, make haste for my help.

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

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

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

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

¹⁷O God, thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works.

¹⁸Now 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.

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

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

²¹Thou shalt increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side.

²²I 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.

²³My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto thee; and my soul, which thou hast redeemed.

²⁴My 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.

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