Psalms 71:1-16: a reflection

1In you, LORD, I take refuge. Never let me be disappointed. 2Deliver me in your righteousness, and rescue me. Turn your ear to me, and save me. 3Be to me a rock of refuge to which I may always go. Give the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress. 4Rescue me, my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man. 5For you are my hope, Lord GOD, my confidence from my youth. 6I have relied on you from the womb. You are he who took me out of my mother’s womb. I will always praise you. 7I am a marvel to many, but you are my strong refuge. 8My mouth shall be filled with your praise, with your honor all day long. 9Don’t reject me in my old age. Don’t forsake me when my strength fails. 10For my enemies talk about me. Those who watch for my soul conspire together, 11saying, “God has forsaken him. Pursue and take him, for no one will rescue him.” 12God, don’t be far from me. My God, hurry to help me. 13Let my accusers be disappointed and consumed. Let them be covered with disgrace and scorn who want to harm me. 14But I will always hope, and will add to all of your praise. 15My mouth will tell about your righteousness, and of your salvation all day, though I don’t know its full measure. 16I will come with the mighty acts of the Lord GOD. I will make mention of your righteousness, even of yours alone.

This psalm is the prayer of one who has trusted God his whole life long, and now, growing old, prays that God will not forsake him. For you are my hope, O Lord GOD, my confidence from my youth, he says; from birth I have leaned on you; you are he who took me from my mother's womb. And then the plea of an aging heart: Do not cast me off in the time of old age; do not forsake me when my strength fails. A lifetime of trust, and a prayer to keep trusting to the end.

Notice the span of this trust: from the womb, through youth, into old age. The psalmist has leaned on God his whole life; God has been his hope and confidence from the very beginning. And now, as his strength fails and old age comes, he does not turn from God, but turns to him all the more, praying not to be forsaken. His trust in God spans the whole of his life, and reaches its most tender in the plea of his old age.

That is a picture of lifelong trust, and a comfort for the fears of aging. The God who has been our refuge from youth does not abandon us in old age; he who has held us from the womb will hold us to the end. As strength fails and the fears of age come, we can pray as the psalmist prayed, and trust as he trusted, that God will not cast us off, but will remain our refuge to the last. Whatever your age, make God your hope and confidence, from youth to old age; and if you fear the failing of your strength and the coming of age, take comfort that the God who has held you all your life will not forsake you now. He is your hope from the womb to old age; lean on him all your days, and trust that he will not cast you off when your strength fails.

Lord, this psalm is the prayer of one who has trusted you his whole life, saying, you are my hope from my youth, from birth I have leaned on you; and now, growing old, he prays, do not cast me off in old age; do not forsake me when my strength fails. Give me such lifelong trust, and comfort me in the fears of aging. You who have been my refuge from youth do not abandon me in old age; you who have held me from the womb will hold me to the end. As strength fails and the fears of age come, help me pray as the psalmist prayed, and trust as he trusted, that you will not cast me off, but will remain my refuge to the last. Whatever my age, help me make you my hope and confidence, from youth to old age; and if I fear the failing of my strength, comfort me that you who have held me all my life will not forsake me now. You are my hope from the womb to old age; help me lean on you all my days, trusting that you will not cast me off when my strength fails.