Tuesday Prior to Epiphany 4

 

[1]

Psalm 71:1-6 (7-11); key verse,  verse 12, Be not far from me O God; come quickly O my God to help me. This verse is a part of a prayer the psalmist prays in the waning years of his life. He knows his shepherd’s voice. He has the experience of the Good Shepherd’s guiding hand. Nothing will befall him without the Savior’s will being perfected in his life. In a quiet confidence, he waits patiently upon the Lord. In like manner, we commit our circumstances into the Lord’s safekeeping.

Psalm 71 – Older in years strong in faith

Many commentators believe this is a psalm of David and is his prayer and trust in God in his latter years under the crisis of Absalom’s rebellion. Since there is no title and the text of the psalm does not say this, we will not speculate and treat Psalm 71 as if it were written under those circumstances. Instead, we regard it as an anonymous composition.

Of interest in this psalm are the many references and allusions to other psalms.

Psalm 71:1-3 is quoted almost exactly from Psalm 31:1-3.

The thoughts of Psalm 71:5 seem to be suggested by Psalm 22:9-11.

Do not be far from me (Psalm 71:12a) echoes Psalm 22:11.

My God, make haste to help me! (Psalm 71:12b) takes the thought of Psalm 70:1.

Psalm 71:13 is similar to Psalm 35:26.

Psalm 71:18 carries the thoughts of Psalm 22:22 and 22:30-31.

Psalm 71:19 uses the phrasing of Exodus 15:11.

It is reasonable to think the author of Psalm 71 made study and meditation upon God’s word a priority through his life, and the result is that he naturally used the phrases and vocabulary of the Scriptures to pray and praise.[2]

Collect for Psalm 71: Lord God of he living, do not desert us in old age, but helkp us to follow your will in both good and bad times, so that forever we may praise your faithfulness; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. [3] -25 January 2022

---

[1] The Crucifixion, Schnorr Von Carolsfeld woodcuts © WELS permission granted for personal and congregational use
[2] https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/psalm-71/
[3] Collect for Psalm 71, For All the Saints, A Prayer Book For and By the Church, Vol. I © 1994 The American Lutheran Publicity Bureau, Delhi, NY