{"id":4345,"date":"2023-11-11T20:01:28","date_gmt":"2023-11-11T20:01:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thomascreedy.co.uk\/?p=4345"},"modified":"2023-11-11T20:01:28","modified_gmt":"2023-11-11T20:01:28","slug":"a-psalm-a-day-psalm-71","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thomascreedy.co.uk\/a-psalm-a-day-psalm-71\/","title":{"rendered":"A Psalm a Day: Psalm 71"},"content":{"rendered":"
Throughout September 2022, I managed to read and reflect \u2013 briefly \u2013 on a Psalm each day. For December 2022, I attempted to pick up the discipline. I got part-way through that month, and so after a long hiatus, am determined to get going. I\u2019ll read the Psalm, pray, and then ponder a few questions:<\/p>\n
I\u2019ll close the post with a simple prayer, trying to draw the themes together.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
On the 11th of November 2023, here’s Psalm 71:<\/p>\n
1\u00a0<\/sup>In you,\u00a0Lord<\/span>, I have taken refuge;<\/span> 5\u00a0<\/sup>For you have been my hope,\u00a0Sovereign\u00a0Lord<\/span>,<\/span> 9\u00a0<\/sup>Do not cast\u00a0me away when I am old;<\/span> 14\u00a0<\/sup>As for me, I will always have hope;<\/span> 15\u00a0<\/sup>My mouth will tell\u00a0of your righteous deeds,<\/span> 19\u00a0<\/sup>Your righteousness, God, reaches to the heavens,<\/span> 22\u00a0<\/sup>I will praise you with the harp<\/span> What is this Psalm about?<\/strong><\/p>\n Psalm 71 is a beautiful glimpse into the faith of someone who has known and followed God for a long life – ‘since my youth’ (v. 5). It is an honest Psalm, not sugar-coating the realities of life, but instead choosing to praise God, even in what seems to perhaps be a newly difficult situation.<\/p>\n What does this Psalm teach about God?<\/strong><\/p>\n The God we learn about in Psalm 71 is one who has been a refuge for a lifetime (v. 1), a safe place and fortress to always run to (v. 3). As well as that reliable and static vision of God, there is also the dynamism of deliverance (v. 4), deeds\/acts (v. 15\/16\/17, 18), the promise of restoration (v. 20), comfort (v. 21) and more. The God of Psalm 71 is splendid (v. 8), and worthy of worship. Verse 22 offers us a specific title or name, ‘Holy one of Israel’, in tandem with the personal ‘my God’.<\/p>\n How does this Psalm connect to God\u2019s people today?<\/strong><\/p>\n This Psalm offers a recurring challenge and encouragement – God is with us even in trials, is involved in trials, and remains worthy of worship. The extra note about the Psalmist here having followed God since they were young offering two things, I think. Firstly, an encouargement to pray for the perseverance of older saints, and second to pray for the conversion and discipleship of the young. Would that this psalm would be a familiar refrain for saints in their older days!<\/p>\n A prayer drawn from Psalm 71<\/strong><\/p>\n Lord, would you persevere with me, and help me to persevere with you. Would I be able to pray, at the end of my days, ‘My lips will shout for joy <\/span>when I sing praise to you\u2014<\/span><\/span>I whom you have delivered. <\/span><\/span>My tongue will tell of your righteous acts<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>all day long’. Amen!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Throughout September 2022, I managed to read and reflect \u2013 briefly \u2013 on a Psalm each day. For December 2022, I attempted to pick up the discipline. I got part-way through that month, and so after a long hiatus, am … Continued<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4346,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"kt_blocks_editor_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[554,223,288,606,49],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thomascreedy.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4345"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thomascreedy.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thomascreedy.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thomascreedy.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thomascreedy.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4345"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.thomascreedy.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4345\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4348,"href":"https:\/\/www.thomascreedy.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4345\/revisions\/4348"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thomascreedy.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4346"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thomascreedy.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4345"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thomascreedy.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4345"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thomascreedy.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4345"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>let me never be put to shame.<\/span><\/span>
\n2\u00a0<\/sup>In your righteousness, rescue me and deliver me;<\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>turn your ear\u00a0to me and save me.<\/span><\/span>
\n3\u00a0<\/sup>Be my rock of refuge,<\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>to which I can always go;<\/span><\/span>
\ngive the command to save me,<\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>for you are my rock and my fortress.<\/span><\/span>
\n4\u00a0<\/sup>Deliver\u00a0me, my God, from the hand of the wicked,<\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>from the grasp of those who are evil and cruel.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>my confidence\u00a0since my youth.<\/span><\/span>
\n6\u00a0<\/sup>From birth\u00a0I have relied on you;<\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>you brought me forth from my mother\u2019s womb.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>I will ever praise\u00a0you.<\/span><\/span>
\n7\u00a0<\/sup>I have become a sign\u00a0to many;<\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>you are my strong refuge.<\/span><\/span>
\n8\u00a0<\/sup>My mouth\u00a0is filled with your praise,<\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>declaring your splendor\u00a0all day long.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>do not forsake\u00a0me when my strength is gone.<\/span><\/span>
\n10\u00a0<\/sup>For my enemies\u00a0speak against me;<\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>those who wait to kill\u00a0me conspire\u00a0together.<\/span><\/span>
\n11\u00a0<\/sup>They say, \u201cGod has forsaken\u00a0him;<\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>pursue him and seize him,<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>for no one will rescue\u00a0him.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n12\u00a0<\/sup>Do not be far\u00a0from me, my God;<\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>come quickly, God, to help\u00a0me.<\/span><\/span>
\n13\u00a0<\/sup>May my accusers\u00a0perish in shame;<\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>may those who want to harm me<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>be covered with scorn and disgrace.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>I will praise you more and more.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>of your saving acts all day long\u2014<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>though I know not how to relate them all.<\/span><\/span>
\n16\u00a0<\/sup>I will come and proclaim your mighty acts,\u00a0Sovereign\u00a0Lord<\/span>;<\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>I will proclaim your righteous deeds, yours alone.<\/span><\/span>
\n17\u00a0<\/sup>Since my youth, God, you have taught\u00a0me,<\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds.<\/span><\/span>
\n18\u00a0<\/sup>Even when I am old and gray,<\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>do not forsake me, my God,<\/span><\/span>
\ntill I declare your power\u00a0to the next generation,<\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>your mighty acts to all who are to come.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>you who have done great things.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>Who is like you, God?<\/span><\/span>
\n20\u00a0<\/sup>Though you have made me see troubles,<\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>many and bitter,<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>you will restore\u00a0my life again;<\/span><\/span>
\nfrom the depths of the earth<\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>you will again bring me up.<\/span><\/span>
\n21\u00a0<\/sup>You will increase my honor<\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>and comfort\u00a0me once more.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>for your faithfulness, my God;<\/span><\/span>
\nI will sing praise to you with the lyre,<\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>Holy One of Israel.<\/span><\/span>
\n23\u00a0<\/sup>My lips will shout for joy<\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>when I sing praise to you\u2014<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>I whom you have delivered.<\/span><\/span>
\n24\u00a0<\/sup>My tongue will tell of your righteous acts<\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>all day long,<\/span><\/span>
\nfor those who wanted to harm me<\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>have been put to shame and confusion.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n