Bible Commentaries
Psalms 71

Verse 3

DISCOURSE: 615
GOD A HABITATION FOR HIS PEOPLE

Psalms 71:3. Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort.

NO one can enter into the spirit of David’s psalms, unless he himself have been sorely persecuted and severely tried. A very great number of the Psalms were written under circumstances of deep affliction; and record either the prayers of David for protection from his enemies, or his thanksgivings for deliverance from them. This psalm was written when David, far advanced in life, was driven from his throne by his son Absalom, and was in the most imminent dan ger of falling by the hands of his blood-thirsty pursuers. But as in early life, when menaced by Saul, he had besought the Lord, saying, “Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to save me [Note: Psalms 31:1-2.];” so now, in nearly the same terms, he repeats the cry: “In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion. Deliver me in thy righteousness, and cause me to escape: incline thine ear to me, and save me. Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort [Note: ver. 1–3.].” Now though, through the goodness of God, we are not brought into such imminent perils as David, yet have we occasion to adopt his language, and to seek in God that protection which no created power can afford.

Let us, in discoursing on his words, consider,

1.

The sentiment propounded—

Accustomed as we are to hear the language of the Psalms, we pass by, without any particular notice, expressions which, if duly considered, will appear truly wonderful. How extraordinary is the idea, for instance, of making Jehovah, the Creator of heaven and earth, “our habitation!” Contemplate, I pray you,

1.

The condescension of God in suffering himself to be so addressed—

[Consider, for a moment, what a habitation is. Whether it be greater or less in point of magnificence or strength, if it be ours, we have access to it as our own; we gain a ready admission to it at all seasons; we expect to find in it all the accommodations which our necessities require: we regard every chamber of it as destined for our use; we shut the door against every unwelcome intruder; and whatever storms may rage without, we lie down to rest in it, in perfect peace and safety. If we superadd the idea of a fortress, we deride the vain attempts of our enemies, and defy all the power that can be brought against us. Now, think of God as revealing himself to us under such an image; and permitting every sinner in the universe, who will but enter in by Christ as the door, to take to himself this mansion as his own. Truly, if God himself had not authorised such a representation of his character, we should have been ready to denounce it as blasphemy. That the Most High God should give even to the vilest of the human race such intimate access unto himself, seems to be perfectly incredible. Even an earthly monarch could not endure such humiliation as this: and yet the God of heaven and earth feels it to be not unworthy of him. Truly, I say again, this condescension far exceeds all that could ever have entered into the mind of man to conceive, if the voice of inspiration itself had not announced it to us. And this is the very view in which David himself speaks of it in another psalm: “Blessed be the Lord, my strength, my goodness, and my fortress; my high tower and deliverer; my shield, and He in whom I trust; who subdueth my people under me. Lord, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him; or the son of man, that thou makest account of him [Note: Psalms 144:1-3.]?”]

2.

The comfort which man derives from this view of the Deity—

[Every one, the meanest as well as the greatest of men, knows what is comprehended in the idea of a “habitation.” It requires no stretch of thought to grasp it: the image is familiar to every mind; and presents itself in all its bearings to every one that has felt the blessings of civilized society. But if we suppose a person to be under the pressure of heavy affliction, whether from the persecutions of men or the assaults of devils, what a comfort must it be to him to contemplate the wisdom, the power, the goodness, the mercy, the love, the faithfulness of Almighty God; and to hear him saying, “Come, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut the doors about thee, and hide thyself for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast [Note: Isaiah 26:20.]!” how joyfully will he “hide himself in the secret of this tabernacle;” and, like the manslayer that has got within the city of his refuge, lift up his soul in adoring gratitude to God, and look with exultation on his disappointed foe!

The more we contemplate the sentiment that is here propounded, the more we shall see occasion to admire the condescension of our God, and to congratulate man upon the high privilege which is thus accorded to him.]
But it is not as an abstract sentiment that this truth is declared: it is embodied in a petition that is presented to God himself: and therefore, to view it aright, we must contemplate,

II.

The petition urged—

That it is such a petition as every one will do well to offer, will appear, if we mark,

1.

The wisdom of it—

[Every man has enemies to encounter; nor can any one encounter them in his own strength. But we have a vantage ground to which we may repair, a fortress that is absolutely impregnable. In our God we have not only a wall, but “a wall of fire;” which, whilst it protects his people, will devour their assailants. With such a habitation open to us, would it not be madness to neglect it? Should we not rather “resort to it continually,” yea, and abide in it, that we may enjoy the safety which is thus provided for us? If, indeed, there were any other means of safety, an option would be left us: but not all the powers of heaven and earth can save us, if we turn our back on God, to rely upon an arm of flesh. God has said, “Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm: but blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is [Note: Jeremiah 17:5-8.].” To every one, therefore, I would say, Flee to your mountain, that the flames overtake you not; and “look not back in all the plain, lest ye be consumed [Note: Genesis 19:17.].”]

2.

The piety of it—

[David renounced every other hope but that which he had in God. Nor, indeed, did he wish for any other; because he saw that God was all-sufficient for him. He saw in God a sufficiency of grace to receive him, of power to protect him, of love to supply his every need; and hence it was that he was emboldened to offer the petition which we are now contemplating. In truth, without such news of God, no one would over think of addressing him in such terms as these. There must be a just knowledge of God’s character, with suitable affections towards him, else we could never entertain such a desire as is here expressed: it is this apprehension of his excellency that could alone inspire a wish to make him, even his very bosom, our continual resort. But all who have those views of him will unite in that grateful acknowledgment, “Lord, thou hast been our dwelling-place in all generations [Note: Psalms 90:1.].”]

Address—
1.

Those who have never yet had these views of God—

[Truly, you are greatly to be pitied. For who amongst you can hope to escape all trouble, when it is said that “we are born to trouble as the sparks fly upward?” And whither will you go, when enemies assail you? where will you flee for refuge? or in whom will you find the aid which you will stand in need of? Alas! your state, whatever it may now be, will be terrible beyond expression. You will resemble the host of Pharaoh, who found at last that the God with whom they had presumed to contend was mightier than they. On the other hand, “acquaint yourselves with God, and you shall be at peace,” both now and in the eternal world.]

2.

Those who have resorted to him under this character—

[Hear what the Psalmist says concerning you: “Because thou hast made the Lord, who is my refuge, even the Most High, thy habitation, there shall no evil befall thee [Note: Psalms 91:9-10.].” Truly, “his name is a strong tower, to which you may run at all times, and be safe [Note: Proverbs 18:10.]:” and whatever your circumstances may be, “he will be to you as a hiding-place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest, as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land [Note: Isaiah 32:2.].” Enjoy, then, the exalted privilege which is here vouchsafed unto you. And let there not be a day, or an hour, wherein you do not resort to God under this endearing character, dwelling in him, abiding in him, and finding in him all that your necessities can require.]

Verses 7-9

DISCOURSE: 616
THE KING’S ACCESSION

Psalms 71:7-9. I am as a wonder unto many: but thou art my strong refuge. Let my mouth be filled with thy praise and with thy honour all the day. Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth.

THIS day being called The Jubilee [Note: Oct. 25, 1809.], it will be proper

to inform you whence that name is given to it. By the Mosaic law, every seventh year was a sabbatical year, or year of rest. At the end of the seventh sabbatical year, that is the 49th, there was a year of universal rest, not to the land only, but to persons of every description: debtors were released, captives liberated, and inheritances restored. This was, as might be expected, a season of peculiar joy. The connexion between that day, and this which we now celebrate, is only in the time, the grounds of joy being altogether different. We are called to celebrate the fiftieth year of our Monarch’s reign. On this account, I have chosen a subject which I consider as appropriate to the occasion. The psalm before us was written (we apprehend) after Absalom’s rebellion. In discoursing on that portion of it which we have read to you, it will be proper,

I.

To consider it in reference to David—

Absalom being dead, and the rebellion suppressed, David finds himself firmly seated on his throne; on which occasion,

1.

He acknowledges the mercies he had received—

[He felt himself most peculiarly circumstanced: his trials had been great, and his deliverances most extraordinary. His hair-breadth escapes from Saul, and afterwards from foreign and domestic enemies, were very numerous — — — He had recently been even driven from his throne by his son Absalom, the partisans of whom were ordered to direct their efforts exclusively against him: yet from this danger also had he been delivered: so that he seemed to all to be under the peculiar protection of Heaven. His mind too had in all these trials been wonderfully preserved from any thing vindictive, or unworthy of his high character. On all these accounts he was “a wonder unto many.”
There was indeed a reason for these mercies, which his enemies had no idea of: “he had made God his refuge.” When persecuted by men, he betook himself to prayer, and “encouraged himself in God.” Thus, under all circumstances, he had “God for his glory and defence.”]

2.

He makes a suitable improvement of them—

[He renders thanks to God for his past favours.—In this the Psalmist was so exemplary, that he seems frequently to breathe almost the very language of heaven itself — — — In this too he is distinguished from almost all other saints: others abound in prayer, but he in praise — — —

He next prays for a continuance of these favours.—He well knew that he could no longer be safe than whilst he was under the care of the Almighty; and that now in his advanced age he needed, if possible, more than ever the guidance and protection of Heaven — — — Hence he prayed that God would “not cast him off in his old age, nor forsake him when his strength failed him.”]

Such is the import of the passage. Let us now,

II.

Accommodate it to the circumstances of this day—

Well may we at this time acknowledge the mercies of God to us—
[Our king may truly be said to be “a wonder unto many,” whether we consider the length, or the prosperity, of his reign. Twice only, within the space of a thousand years, has any monarch of ours reigned so long as to see a jubilee kept on his account. And if we consider the state of the world, it is truly wonderful, that, after so many difficulties as we have encountered, we should stand so eminent among the nations. Some indeed are fond of representing us as in a distressed and fallen state. But let such persons compare us with all the other nations of Europe, and they will see, that, whilst all of them have fallen a sacrifice to the politics or arms of France, we are as rich and potent as at any period of our history. That we have burthens to bear, is certain: but it is very unfair to ascribe them to our governors. They have arisen out of the circumstances of the world around us; in which we were of necessity involved; and from which we could no more disengage ourselves, than we could exempt our nation from the physical motion of the globe.]

We should also make a similar improvement of them—
[Many are the grounds which we have for praise and thanksgiving: and our mouths may well “be filled with God’s praise all the day.” On this day especially we are called to manifest our gratitude both in a way of spiritual, and, if I may so speak, of carnal joy. Some, in their zeal for spiritual joy, forget that we consist of body as well as of a spiritual part; and that in the Scriptures we have numerous instances of national gratitude expressed by the combined exercise of spiritual and carnal joy. Such was that holy feast which David himself, together with his people, kept, not long after he had written this psalm [Note: 1 Chronicles 29:20-22.]. And it is truly gratifying to think, that, through the benevolence of the rich, all the poorer classes of society are enabled to participate, in a more than ordinary measure, the bounties of Providence, and to share in the general joy.

Yet have we also peculiar need of prayer.—At this moment our enemy is disengaged from other contests, and enabled to direct all his force against us. Our own government also is unhappily disunited, and our aged king begins to find “his strength fail him.” What, in such a state, shall we do, if God forsake us? We have need to pray unto him “not to cast us off.” Our prosperity hitherto has doubtless been in a great measure owing to this, that we “have made. God our refuge.” Both king and people, when compared with other nations, have been exemplary in this. Let us continue to seek Him more and more: and then, whatever be our state on earth, we shall keep an eternal jubilee in heaven.]

Verse 15

DISCOURSE: 617
SALVATION A GROUND OF JOY

Psalms 71:15. My mouth shall shew forth thy righteousness and thy salvation all the day; for I know not the numbers thereof.

PERHAPS, of all mankind, no one person ever experienced more signal deliverances than David. In his early life he was exposed to the most imminent dangers from Saul. During his whole reign he was engaged in almost one continual scene of warfare: and in his old age, his own son Absalom conspired against him, and sought his life. It was on this last occasion that he penned this psalm; and gave it to the Church, as a memorial of God’s unbounded mercy and faithfulness towards him.
The spirit which he breathes in the words before us shews,

I.

What should be the subjects of our daily contemplation—

We, like David, have numberless mercies to acknowledge at God’s hands. Could we but see one half of the deliverances we have received, we should be perfectly overwhelmed with wonder and astonishment. From our youth up, even to the present moment, his care of us has been unintermitted, and his interpositions truly wonderful. But still greater has been his care for our souls. Behold the “salvation” he has revealed to us: truly, we “cannot know the numbers thereof.” Behold, I say,

1.

How inestimable are its blessings!

[Who can ever declare the value of pardon or peace, or holiness or glory? Go down to the dread abodes of hell, and see the misery of unpardoned sin: or go up to the regions of bliss in heaven, and see the joys that are at God’s right hand for evermore: or take the state of God’s people here on earth: and contrast the liberty enjoyed by his children with the bondage endured by the slaves of Satan; and you will see what unspeakable obligations we owe to God for his converting and saving grace.]

2.

How incalculable the price paid for them!

[Truly, “it is not with corruptible things, as silver and gold, that we have been redeemed, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot [Note: 1 Peter 1:10.].” In comparison of this, ten thousand worlds would have been a worthless sacrifice. How inconceivable the cost! Truly, “We know not the numbers thereof;” nor could all the angels in heaven count the mighty sum.]

3.

How unsearchable the grace displayed in them!

[All of them are the fruits of sovereign grace; and all are bestowed on the very chief of sinners; yea, and bestowed, not only unmerited by us, but unsought and unsolicited. In the first instance, they were given to man when he was risen up in rebellion against his Maker: and even still are they conferred on men, “not according to their works, but according to God’s purpose and grace, which he purposed from all eternity in Christ Jesus” our Lord [Note: 2 Timothy 1:9.].]

Let us, then, consider,

II.

What should be the frame of our minds in relation to them?

Our determination should resemble that of David “Our mouth should shew forth this salvation from day to day”—

1.

In grateful acknowledgments to God—

[It seems really wonderful, that men so indebted to their God should be able to find time for any thing but praise. David in his Psalms, sets us a good example: “I will extol thee, my God, O King; and I will bless thy name for ever and ever [Note: ver. 8. with Psalms 145:1-2.].” Let us only learn to appreciate aright the mercies we have received, and there will be no bounds to our gratitude, no end to our praise.]

2.

In affectionate commendations to men—

[David desired to make known to others the goodness of his God. In the psalm just cited, hear how he dilates upon this subject: “I will speak of the glorious honour of thy majesty, and of thy wondrous works: and men shall speak of the might of thy terrible acts; and I will declare thy greatness — — — They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, and talk of thy power; to make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of thy kingdom [Note: ver. 24. with Psalms 145:5-6; Psalms 145:11-12. See also Psalms 40:9-10.].” And what other subject of conversation can we ever find so interesting, so useful, so worthy of a rational being, and, above all, so suitable to a redeemed soul?]

Behold, then,
1.

Whatglorioussubjectshaveministerstoproclaim!

[The Apostles “preached to men the unsearchable riches of Christ [Note: Ephesians 3:8.].” And so filled with this subject was the Apostle Paul, that “he determined to know nothing among his people but Jesus Christ, and him crucified [Note: 1 Corinthians 2:2.].” This is a subject utterly inexhaustible: in it “are contained all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge [Note: Colossians 2:3.].” O, that every minister would bring it forth to his people! Surely his hearers should soon be enriched; for it cannot be that the Saviour should ever be exhibited in vain, and his salvation be offered unto men in vain. But,]

2.

How unlike to David are the generality of men!

[David would think and speak of nothing else but God’s righteousness and salvation; but the generality of men scarcely ever speak or think of it at all. Indeed, this is the one subject which, beyond all others, is, as it were, by universal consent, proscribed: so that we may mix in company for years and scores of years, and never once hear it brought forward in the way that David and the Apostles spake of it. And even good men are too little impressed with it, either in their conversations with men, or in their secret addresses at the Throne of Grace. Mark the frame of your minds, Brethren, from day to day, and see whether you have not reason to blush and be ashamed for the little impression which this subject makes upon your minds. But as for the world at large, if any thing under heaven can shew them how far they are from God, methinks they must see it by comparing their experience with that of David in our text.]

3.

What a resemblance to heaven is the saint’s life on earth!

[Let us suppose a saint resembling David, and uttering from his inmost soul the expressions in my text; and you will immediately be reminded of the heavenly host, who “rest not day and night,” ascribing, without a moment’s intermission, and with all the powers they possess, “salvation to God and to the Lamb.” Take this view, then, of real piety, and seek, my Brethren, to begin your heaven upon earth.]