A person who fears God knows how to find strength and help from the God of his life. Psalm 71 depicts the lament and plea of the Psalter in the face of life’s problems. There are three key observations that we can draw from this Psalm.

First, it is not stated who the author is. But from the way that he describes his walk with God from “my youth… my birth… my mother’s womb” (verses 5 and 6) to “old age… my strength is spent” (verses 9), these verses tell us that he is probably in his later years of his life. He reiterates this timeline by repeating “my youth” (verse 17) and “old age and gray hairs” (verse 18).

As the Psalmist defines this timeline of his entire life with God, we can also observe two highlights in the way he lived up his faith when he encountered problems. On the one hand he cried out to God for His help, “do not cast me off… forsake me not” (verse 9) and this is repeated in verse 18, “do not forsake me.” On the other hand, as a person who fears God, the Psalmist’s did not waver in his focus towards God. He is able to still praise God in the midst of his difficulties (verses 6b and 8). This idea is repeated in verse 17 and 18b when he says he would still proclaim God’s wondrous deeds, might and power to the next generation.

The second observation is how the Psalmist calls out to God by claiming upon the righteousness of God. The expressions – righteousness, righteous help or righteous acts are being used five times through this Psalm of twenty four verses. We can learn that when we encounter unfair or unjust circumstances and feel disheartened, we can call upon God like the Psalter, who is righteous and just - for His intervention.

The third observation is the name of God, “the Holy One of Israel” in verse 22. One commentator says,

“Holy,” first and foremost describes the very essence of God. His holiness is unrivaled (Exodus 15:11), awe-inspiring (Psalm 99:3), morally flawless (Habakkuk 1:13) and eternally constant (Isaiah 57:15). The thrice-repeated acclamation of the seraphim—“Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Hosts” (Isaiah 6:3)—underscores the idea that no attribute of God is more defining than His holiness. This holiness radiates moral perfection and utter set-apartness, demanding reverence from all creation (Psalm 22:3; 99:9).”

The major prophet Isaiah uses this name of God – 25 times in his book. In the midst of the Judah’s heightened spiritual idolatry and rampant sins against God, Isaiah remembers the holiness of God. The phrase “the Holy One of Israel” (Isaiah 1:4; 41:14; 43:3, etc.) binds together God’s transcendent purity with His covenantal faithfulness. This is yet another encouragement to us not to lose heart when we face problems of any kind in our life. Though the people around us might do things that are not to our advantage, let us be steadfast and continue to turn our eyes from God.

Prayer

Dear God, thank you for reminding us how to respond in the face of life’s problems. Help us to be steadfast and not waver from our faith in times like these. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.