Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary
Psalms 71:3

Clarke's Commentary

Verse Psalms 71:3. Be thou my strong habitation — Instead of מען maon, habitation, many of Kennicott's and De Rossi's MSS. read מעז maoz, munition or defence. Be thou my rock of defence.

Thou hast given commandment to save me — Thou hast determined my escape, and hast ordered thy angels to guard me. See Psalms 91:11-12.

Bridgeway Bible Commentary

Psalms 70-71 A lifetime of faithful service

Psalms 70:0 is the same as Psalms 40:13-17 (see notes). It appears in the collection as a separate psalm probably because it was short and suitable for use in temple services on certain occasions.

In Psalms 71:0 the believer is pictured looking back on a long life and recalling how the wicked always have opposed him. But just as God has protected him since childhood, so he will continue to do so now (71:1-6). The psalmist’s life has been a constant example of the believer’s trust and God’s faithfulness (7-8). He prays that now, at this late stage in life, God will not withdraw his protective care. He wants no one to have cause to accuse him or God of unfaithfulness (9-13). From his youth he has proclaimed the great saving acts of God. He prays that God will not disappoint him now, and that he will continue to proclaim the message of divine salvation till life’s end (14-18).

The psalmist is confident that God will give him the extra years and added strength that he needs to complete his life’s work (19-21). Such assurance leads him to a final outburst of praise to this God of faithfulness and righteousness (22-24).

Coffman's Commentaries on the Bible

A PLEA FOR DELIVERANCE

"In thee, O Jehovah, do I take refuge: Let me never be put to shame. Deliver me in thy righteousness, and rescue me: Bow down thine ear unto me, and save me. Be thou to me a rock of habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: Thou hast given commandment to save me; For thou art my rock and my fortress. Rescue me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked; Out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man."

"Verses 1-3 here are quoted from Psalms 31."W. E. Addis, p. 385. Most of the terminology here actually has the significance of a Davidic signature.

"Thou art my rock and my fortress" This is a quotation from David's Psalms 18:2.

"Deliver me out of the hand of the wicked… out of the hand… of the cruel man" Here is another undeniable earmark of David's writing. "It is characteristic of David to single out from his adversaries an individual enemy from whom he prays to be delivered."The Pulpit Commentary, Vol. 8-B, p. 60. In fact, six of the psalms accredited to David show that he did that very thing: Psalms 13:2; Psalms 17:13; Psalms 18:17; Psalms 18:48; Psalms 35:8; Psalms 41:6; Psalms 41:9; Psalms 41:11; Psalms 55:13-14.

Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible

Be thou my strong habitation - Margin, as in Hebrew, “Be thou to me for a rock of habitation.” That is, a rock where I may safely make my abode, or to which I may resort and feel safe. In Psalms 31:2, this is, “Be thou my strong rock, for an house of defense to save me.” The idea is the same. See the notes at that passage, and compare the notes at Psalms 18:2.

Whereunto I may continually resort - Where I may take refuge at all times, in all circumstances of danger.

Thou hast given commandment to save me - There was some command, or some promise, on which the psalmist relied, or which he felt he might plead as the ground of his appeal. This may refer to some “special” promise or command made to the author of the psalm - and, if the psalm was composed by David, there were many such; or the reference may have been to the general commands or promises made to the people of God as such, which he felt he was at liberty to plead, and which all may plead who are the friends of God. “We” cannot refer, as David could, to any special promise made to “us” as “individuals;” but, in proportion as we have evidence of piety, we can refer to the promises made to alI the people of God, or to all who devote themselves to him, as a reason why he should interpose in our behalf. In this respect the promises made in the Scriptures to the children of God, may be pleaded by us “as if” they were made personally to ourselves, for, if we are his, they are made to us - they are intended for us.

For thou art my rock and my fortress - See the notes at Psalms 18:2.

Smith's Bible Commentary

Shall we turn now in our Bibles to Psalms 71:1-24 .

Psalms 71:1-24 is the psalm of the aged man. Probably David as he was getting up into years, and his reddish colored hair had turned gray. David's life was a tough life. He had many devoted friends, but also many avowed enemies. And David is always praying concerning those enemies that are seeking his hurt, seeking to destroy him. And even up into the elder years, as the Lord said to David, "The sword shall not depart from thy house." And so in the elder years of David, there was still that problem of the sword, that problem of enemies. And so a psalm of again calling upon the Lord for His help, for His protection, even in his older years.

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, and save me. Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: for thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou art my rock and my fortress ( Psalms 71:1-3 ).

David's prayer that God would be his strong habitation whereunto I may continually resort. We read in the scriptures, "The name Jehovah is a strong tower, the righteous runneth into it and is safe" ( Proverbs 18:10 ). How many times have we run into the protection of the name of the Lord. How many times when faced by danger, just automatically almost, the name of Jesus escapes our lips. We are facing a real problem, and we just sort of unconsciously say, "Oh Jesus." The strong tower, I run in to it for a place of safety, a place of refuge. "Thou art my rock, my fortress, my dwelling place." And how wonderful it is when we have found that glorious dwelling place in Christ Jesus of which the psalmist wrote, "He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty" ( Psalms 91:1 ). And so he declares the Lord is his habitation. "I continually resort," constantly finding that place of help and strength, comfort and refuge in the Lord. "I continually resort."

Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, and out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man. For thou art my hope, O Lord my God: thou art my trust from my youth ( Psalms 71:4-5 ).

So God is not just a place of hope, but He is also the place of trust. I have learned to trust in the Lord, but I am also hoping for His deliverance.

By thee have I been held up from the womb: you took me out of my mother's womb: my praise shall be continually of thee. For I am as a wonder unto many; but thou art my strong refuge. Let my mouth be filled with thy praise and with thy honor all the day. Cast me not off in the time of old age ( Psalms 71:6-9 );

And so here is a hint to the time of the writing of the psalm, and later on he will refer to his gray hairs.

forsake me not when my strength fails ( Psalms 71:9 ).

The weakening position of the old age.

For mine enemies speak against me; and they that lay wait for my soul take counsel together, Saying, God has forsaken him: persecute and take him; for there is none to deliver him. O God, be not far from me: O my God, make haste for my help. Let them be confounded and consumed that are adversaries to my soul; let them be covered with reproach and dishonor that seek my hurt ( Psalms 71:10-13 ).

So, again, David's prayers for his enemies that God would take care of them. But, again, the tragedy that in the older years, there are still those enemies of David. No rest. Because of the sin with Bathsheba, the sword is not to depart from his house.

But I will hope continually, and will yet praise thee more and more ( Psalms 71:14 ).

David, a man after God's own heart, even though he was oppressed by the enemy, yet he was close to the heart of God. And part of the reason for that is David's continual praise. "Lord, I will praise You more and more."

My mouth shall show forth your righteousness and thy salvation all the day; for I know not the numbers. I will go in the strength of the Lord God: I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only. O God, thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works. Now also when I am old and gray haired, O God, forsake me not; until I have showed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power unto all that is to come. Thy righteousness also, O God, is very high, who hast done great things: O God, who is like unto thee! Thou, which hast showed me great and sore troubles, shalt quicken me again, and shalt bring me up again from the depths of the eaRuth ( Psalms 71:15-20 ).

So here is David's declaration concerning his confidence in the resurrection. "Lord, You will make me alive again. You will bring me up from the depths of the earth." Again, we read, and it is, of course, declared to be prophetic concerning Christ, "Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption." But there was that belief in the resurrection from the dead. "You will make me alive again. You will bring my soul up from the depths of the earth."

The Bible teaches that the place of the grave, Sheol, or Hades, is more than just the grave where a body is buried, a sepulcher, a sarcophagus, where a body is placed. But there is a place of consciousness in the heart of the earth. And when David said, "You will make me alive again, that You shall bring me up again from the depths of the earth," he is actually making reference to this place where the spirit of man went upon death. Prior to the resurrection of Jesus Christ, there were two areas divided by a gulf. One, a place of comfort with Abraham; the other, a place of torment. Jesus, when asked for a sign, said, "A wicked and an adulterous generation seeks after a sign, but no sign will be given except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the whale, so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the depths, or in the heart of the earth" ( Matthew 12:39-40 ). So Jesus went down and preached to those souls that were in prison, and He led them from that captivity. "He who is ascended is the same one who first of all descended into the lower parts of the earth. And when He ascended, He led the captives from their captivity" ( Ephesians 4:8-9 ), fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah 61:1-11 .

So David makes mention here of his hope in the resurrection. You will not find much in the Old Testament written concerning the resurrection from the dead. Job made mention, "I know that though the worms eat this body, yet in my flesh I am going to see Him when He stands upon the earth in the last days," and so forth. And his hope of the resurrection, and yet Job vacillated so much. But David, here he is old now, and he is thinking of death, "But You are going to make me alive again."

Thou shalt increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side. I will also praise thee with the psaltery, even the truth, O my God: unto thee will I sing with the harp, O thou Holy One of Israel. My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto thee; and my soul, which thou hast redeemed. My tongue also shall talk of thy righteousness all the day long: for they are confounded, for they are brought unto shame, that seek my hurt ( Psalms 71:21-24 ).

So David, speaking of praising the Lord with a psaltery. That is, praising Him with the music, praising Him with the song, accompanied by the harp. Singing of God, greatly rejoicing and talking of God's righteousness all day long. "

Dr. Constable's Expository Notes

1. A prayer for the Lord’s help 71:1-4

The writer began by reaffirming his confidence in God, in whom he had trusted in the past (cf. Psalms 31:1-3). He wanted God’s deliverance from the attacks of wicked people so that his confidence in God would not prove in vain. He spoke of the Lord as a refuge, a rock, and a fortress. We do not know if he was under verbal, or physical attack, or both types.

Dr. Constable's Expository Notes

Psalms 71

This individual lament psalm expresses the faith of an older person in need who had trusted in God for many years. The writer is unknown to us. He combined elements that we find in several other psalms to communicate his thoughts (cf. Psalms 22; Psalms 31; Psalms 35; Psalms 40).

Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

Be thou my strong habitation,.... This is very appropiately said, when David was driven out of his dwelling place, and palace at Jerusalem, by his son, as Kimchi observes. When God's people have no certain dwelling place, which is sometimes their case, they always find one in the Lord; particularly in his heart's love; for he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, 1 John 4:16; and a strong habitation he is: wherefore he is called a strong rock, a strong hold, a strong tower; he is as a wall of fire around his people, a munition of rocks; his salvation is as walls and bulwarks, and his power as a garrison in which they are kept. The psalmist adds,

whereunto I may continually resort; or "may go into daily" r, in times of danger and distress, for safety; the name of the Lord being a strong tower, whither the righteous run, and are safe, Proverbs 18:10; and his perfections, his power, faithfulness, lovingkindness, and unchangeableness, being as so many secret chambers, where they may enter into, and hide themselves, till calamities are over, Psalms 57:1; and every day indeed for food, for comfort, for refreshment and pleasure, through communion with him; and God in Christ is always to be come at: Christ is the way of access and acceptance; and through his blood, sacrifice, and righteousness, the believer has boldness to enter into the holiest of all, and go up to the seat of God, the throne of his grace; and even to enter into him himself, who has been the dwelling place of his people in all generations, Psalms 90:1;

thou hast given commandment to save me; either to the ministering angels, as Aben Ezra and Kimchi interpret it, comparing it with

Psalms 91:11; or rather to his Son, in the council and covenant of grace and peace; when he enjoined him the salvation of his people, which he readily agreed to, and with which David was acquainted,

Psalms 40:7; of this command our Lord speaks, John 10:18; and to which he was obedient, Philippians 2:8; it may respect David's salvation from present trouble, and his assurance of it, believing that the Lord had determined it, and by his mighty power would effect it; see Psalms 44:4;

for thou [art] my rock and my fortress; see Psalms 18:2.

r לבוא תמיד "ut ingrediar jugiter", Pagninus; so Junius & Tremellius, Piscator.

Henry's Complete Commentary on the Bible

      1 In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion.   2 Deliver me in thy righteousness, and cause me to escape: incline thine ear unto me, and save me.   3 Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou art my rock and my fortress.   4 Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man.   5 For thou art my hope, O Lord GOD: thou art my trust from my youth.   6 By thee have I been holden up from the womb: thou art he that took me out of my mother's bowels: my praise shall be continually of thee.   7 I am as a wonder unto many; but thou art my strong refuge.   8 Let my mouth be filled with thy praise and with thy honour all the day.   9 Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth.   10 For mine enemies speak against me; and they that lay wait for my soul take counsel together,   11 Saying, God hath forsaken him: persecute and take him; for there is none to deliver him.   12 O God, be not far from me: O my God, make haste for my help.   13 Let them be confounded and consumed that are adversaries to my soul; let them be covered with reproach and dishonour that seek my hurt.

      Two things in general David here prays for--that he might not be confounded and that his enemies and persecutors might be confounded.

      I. He prays that he might never be made ashamed of his dependence upon God nor disappointed in his believing expectations from him. With this petition every true believer may come boldly to the throne of grace; for God will never disappoint the hope that is of his own raising. Now observe here,

      1. How David professes his confidence in God, and with what pleasure and grateful variety of expression he repeats his profession of that confidence, still presenting the profession of it to God and pleading it with him. We praise God, and so please him, by telling him (if it be indeed true) what an entire confidence we have in him (Psalms 71:1; Psalms 71:1): "In thee, O Lord! and in thee only, do I put my trust. Whatever others do, I choose the God of Jacob for my help." Those that are entirely satisfied with God's all-sufficiency and the truth of his promise, and in dependence upon that, as sufficient to make them amends, are freely willing to do and suffer, to lose and venture, for him, may truly say, In thee, O Lord! do I put my trust. Those that will deal with God must deal upon trust; if we are shy of dealing with him, it is a sign we do not trust him. Thou art my rock and my fortress (Psalms 71:3; Psalms 71:3); and again, "Thou art my refuge, my strong refuge" (Psalms 71:7; Psalms 71:7); that is, "I fly to thee, and am sure to be safe in thee, and under thy protection. If thou secure me, none can hurt me. Thou art my hope and my trust" (Psalms 71:5; Psalms 71:5); that is, "thou hast proposed thyself to me in thy word as the proper object of my hope and trust; I have hoped in thee, and never found it in vain to do so."

      2. How his confidence in God is supported and encouraged by his experiences (Psalms 71:5; Psalms 71:6): "Thou hast been my trust from my youth; ever since I was capable of discerning between my right hand and my left, I stayed myself upon thee, and saw a great deal of reason to do so; for by thee have I been holden up from the womb." Ever since he had the use of his reason he had been a dependent upon God's goodness, because ever since he had had a being he had been a monument of it. Note, The consideration of the gracious care which the divine Providence took of us in our birth and infancy should engage us to an early piety and constant devotedness to his honour. He that was our help from our birth ought to be our hope from our youth. If we received so much mercy from God before we were capable of doing him any service, we should lose no time when we are capable. This comes in here as a support to the psalmist in his present distress; not only that God had given him his life and being, bringing him out of his mother's bowels into the world, and providing that he should not die from the womb, nor give up the ghost when he came out of the belly, but that he had betimes made him one of his family: "Thou art he that took me out of my mother's bowels into the arms of thy grace, under the shadow of thy wings, into the bond of thy covenant; thou tookest me into thy church, as a son of thy handmaid, and born in thy house, Psalms 116:16. And therefore," (1.) "I have reason to hope that thou wilt protect me; thou that hast held me up hitherto wilt not let me fall now; thou that madest me wilt not forsake the work of thy own hands; thou that helpedst me when I could not help myself wilt not abandon me now that I am as helpless as I was then." (2.) "Therefore I have reason to resolve that I will devote myself unto thee: My praise shall therefore be continually of thee;" that is, "I will make it my business every day to praise thee and will take all occasions to do it."

      3. What his requests to God are, in this confidence.

      (1.) That he might never be put to confusion (Psalms 71:1; Psalms 71:1), that he might not be disappointed of the mercy he expected and so made ashamed of his expectation. Thus we may all pray in faith that our confidence in God may not be our confusion. Hope of the glory of God is hope that makes not ashamed.

      (2.) That he might be delivered out of the hand of his enemies (Psalms 71:2; Psalms 71:2): "Deliver me in thy righteousness. As thou art the righteous Judge of the world, pleading the cause of the injured and punishing the injurious, cause me in some way or other to escape" (God will, with the temptation, make a way to escape, 1 Corinthians 10:13): "Incline thy ear unto my prayers, and, in answer to them, save me out of my troubles, Psalms 71:4; Psalms 71:4. Deliver me, O my God! out of the hands of those that are ready to pull me in pieces." Three things he pleads for deliverance:-- [1.] The encouragement God had given him to expect it: Thou hast given commandment to save me (Psalms 71:3; Psalms 71:3); that is, thou hast promised to do it, and such efficacy is there in God's promises that they are often spoken of as commands, like that, Let there be light, and there was light. He speaks, and it is done. [2.] The character of his enemies; they are wicked, unrighteous, cruel men, and it will be for the honour of God to appear against them (Psalms 71:4; Psalms 71:4), for he is a holy, just, and good God. [3.] The many eyes that were upon him (Psalms 71:7; Psalms 71:7): "I am as a wonder unto many; every one waits to see what will be the issue of such extraordinary troubles as I have fallen into and such extraordinary confidence as I profess to have in God." Or, "I am looked upon as a monster, am one whom every body shuns, and therefore am undone if the Lord be not my refuge. Men abandon me, but God will not."

      (3.) That he might always find rest and safety in God (Psalms 71:3; Psalms 71:3): Be thou my strong habitation; by thou to me a rock of repose, whereto I may continually resort. Those that are at home in God, that live a life of communion with him and confidence in him, that continually resort unto him by faith and prayer, having their eyes ever towards him, may promise themselves a strong habitation in him, such as will never fall of itself nor can ever be broken through by any invading power; and they shall be welcome to resort to him continually upon all occasions, and not be upbraided as coming too often.

      (4.) That he might have continual matter for thanksgiving to God, and might be continually employed in that pleasant work (Psalms 71:8; Psalms 71:8): "Let my mouth be filled with thy praise, as now it is with my complaints, and then I shall not be ashamed of my hope, but my enemies will be ashamed of their insolence." Those that love God love to be praising him, and desire to be doing it all the day, not only in their morning and evening devotions, not only seven times a day (Psalms 119:164), but all the day, to intermix with all they say something or other that may redound to the honour and praise of God. They resolve to do it while they live; they hope to be doing it eternally in a better world.

      (5.) That he might not be neglected now in his declining years (Psalms 71:9; Psalms 71:9): Cast me not off now in the time of my old gage; forsake me not when my strength fails. Observe here, [1.] The natural sense he had of the infirmities of age: My strength fails. Where there was strength of body and vigour of mind, strong sight, a strong voice, strong limbs, alas! in old age they fail; the life is continued, but the strength is gone, or that which is his labour and sorrow,Psalms 90:10. [2.] The gracious desire he had of the continuance of God's presence with him under these infirmities: Lord, cast me not off; do not then forsake me. This intimates that he should look upon himself as undone if God should abandon him. To be cast off and forsaken of God is a thing to be dreaded at any time, especially in the time of old age and when our strength fails us; for it is God that is the strength of our heart. But it intimates that he had reason to hope God would not desert him; the faithful servants of God may be comfortably assured that he will not cast them off in old age, nor forsake them when their strength fails them. He is a Master that is not wont to cast off old servants. In this confidence David here prays again (Psalms 71:12; Psalms 71:12): "O God! be not far from me; let me not be under the apprehension of thy withdrawings, for then I am miserable. I my God! a God in covenant with me, make haste for my help, lest I perish before help come."

      II. He prays that his enemies might be made ashamed of their designs against him. Observe, 1. What it was which they unjustly said against him, Psalms 71:10; Psalms 71:11. Their plot was deep and desperate; it was against his life: They lay wait for my soul (Psalms 71:10; Psalms 71:10), and are adversaries to that, Psalms 71:13; Psalms 71:13. Their powers and policies were combined: They take counsel together. And very insolent they were in their deportment: They say, God has forsaken him; persecute and take him. Here their premises are utterly false, that because a good man was in great trouble and had continued long in it, and was not so soon delivered as perhaps he expected, therefore God had forsaken him and would have no more to do with him. All are not forsaken of God who think themselves so or whom others think to be so. And, as their premises were false, so their inference was barbarous. If God has forsaken him, then persecute and take him, and doubt not but to make a prey of him. This is talking to the grief of one whom God has smitten,Psalms 69:26. But thus they endeavour to discourage David, as Sennacherib endeavoured to intimidate Hezekiah by suggesting that God was his enemy and fought against him. Have I now come up without the Lord against this city, to destroy it?Isaiah 36:10. It is true, if God has forsaken a man, there is none to deliver him; but therefore to insult over him ill becomes those who are conscious to themselves that they deserve to be for ever forsaken of God. But rejoice not against me, O my enemy! though I fall, I shall rise. He that seems to forsake for a small moment will gather with everlasting kindness. 2. What it was which he justly prayed for, from a spirit of prophecy, not a spirit of passion (Psalms 71:13; Psalms 71:13): "Let them be confounded and consumed that are adversaries to my soul. If they will not be confounded by repentance, and so saved, let them be confounded with everlasting dishonour, and so ruined." God will turn into shame the glory of those who turn into shame the glory of God and his people.