A worn olive-wood staff leaning on a limestone doorpost, an old pair of leather sandals on the threshold below it, a plain plaster wall above in soft light.

Lament

Psalm 71

A prayer by someone old, who has trusted God since the cradle and asks Him not to stop now.

24 verses≈ 3 minBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

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Where we are

1–41Book IDavid's prayers: 'The LORD is my shepherd'
42–72Book II'As the deer pants'; the throne under pressurePsalm 71
73–89Book IIIAsaph and Korah: the kingdom falls
90–106Book IVBack to Moses: the LORD reigns
107–150Book VSongs of ascents, and the last Hallelujah

Be My Rock of Refuge

A huge limestone crag with a deep sheltered cleft at its foot and a thin path climbing to it through thorn scrub.

In You, O LORD, I have taken refuge;

let me never be put to shame.

In Your justice, rescue and deliver me;

incline Your ear and save me.

Be my rock of refuge,

where I can always go.

Give the command to save me,

for You are my rock and my fortress.

Deliver me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked,

from the grasp of the unjust and ruthless.

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For You are my hope, O Lord GOD,

my confidence from my youth.

I have leaned on You since birth;

You pulled me from my mother’s womb.

My praise is always for You.

I have become a portent to many,

but You are my strong refuge.

My mouth is filled with Your praise

and with Your splendor all day long.

Reflect

Since my youth

What is your first memory of God’s care? Write it down, even if it is small.

For my enemies speak against me,

and those who lie in wait for my life conspire,

saying, “God has forsaken him;

pursue him and seize him,

for there is no one to rescue him.”

Be not far from me, O God.

Hurry, O my God, to help me.

May the accusers of my soul

be ashamed and consumed;

may those who seek my harm

be covered with scorn and disgrace.

But I will always hope

and will praise You more and more.

Late afternoon on a bare limestone slope: one old man in a plain wool cloak, seen from behind, walks slowly up a stony path with a staff, his long thin shadow stretching far behind him across the pale rock.

My mouth will declare Your righteousness

and Your salvation all day long,

though I cannot know their full measure.

I will come in the strength of the Lord GOD;

I will proclaim Your righteousness—Yours alone.

O God, You have taught me from my youth,

and to this day I proclaim Your marvelous deeds.

Even when I am old and gray,

do not forsake me, O God,

until I proclaim Your power to the next generation,

Your might to all who are to come.

Your righteousness reaches to the heavens, O God,

You who have done great things.

Who, O God, is like You?

Live it

The next generation

Who is younger than you? What have you told them that God has done? Choose one person and one story, and tell it this week.

Looking up the worn steps of a deep rock-cut stairway toward daylight at the top.

Though You have shown me many troubles and misfortunes,

You will revive me once again.

Even from the depths of the earth

You will bring me back up.

You will increase my honor

and comfort me once again.

An old white-haired man sits on a stone bench by his doorway, playing a small wooden lyre with knotted fingers, a calm wall and sky above.

So I will praise You with the harp

for Your faithfulness, O my God;

I will sing praise to You with the lyre,

O Holy One of Israel.

When I sing praise to You

my lips will shout for joy,

along with my soul,

which You have redeemed.

My tongue will indeed proclaim

Your righteousness all day long,

for those who seek my harm

are disgraced and confounded.

0:25

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

You’ve experienced

Psalm 71

0 of 150 psalms read

A verse to carry with you

Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, until I proclaim Your power to the next generation, Your might to all who are to come.

Psalm 71:18

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