Be my rock of refuge, where I can always go. Give the command to save me, for You are my rock and my fortress. Sermons
I. HIS SUBLIME FAITH." In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust" (ver. 1). Here is the secret of his character. "Trust" gave strength to his heart, and unity and completeness to his life. In this he was in sympathy with others who had gone before (cf. Psalm 31:1-3). II. HIS EARNEST PRAYERS. The godly are ever given to prayer. It is their great resource. It is the never failing means of obtaining mercy and grace. They learnt to call upon God at their mother's knee (cf. Psalm 116:16; 2 Timothy 1:5), and all through life they have found the virtue and the blessedness of prayer. In old age the cry of the godly is, "I must pray more." III. HIS VARIED EXPERIENCES. Often, when looking back, there is dimness, or many things have fallen out of sight, or there is a confusion in the perspective; but events that have made a deep impression stand out clearly. Memory goes back to the time of youth, and traces life onward, with all the great changes, the dangers and adventures, the attempts and the achievements, the joys and sorrows. There are grateful recollections of kindness and help from many; but above all, there is praise to God for his goodness and wonderful works (vers. 5, 6; cf. Isaiah 44:4). IV. HIS SETTLED CONVICTIONS. Experience is a great teacher. The man who has seen many days has learned much, and is able to bear witness as one that speaketh with authority (Job 32:7; Leviticus 19:32; 2 Peter 1:13). One thing that the godly old man testifies is that God is worthy of trust; another thing is that the Word of God is not a cunningly devised fable, but truth; another thing is that religion is not a delusion, but a reality - the power of God unto salvation; another thing is that the most pleasant memories are of loyalty to God, and of good done to men, even to enemies, and that the saddest thoughts are of times when self prevailed over love and duty, and opportunities were lost from neglect and sloth. V. HIS UNFALTERING RESOLUTION. The old have their regrets. They have also their times of trial and weakness. In another place the psalmist says, "I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken" (Psalm 37:25), and yet here he seems just for a moment to falter; but if he trembles at the thought of being a "castaway," as Paul also did (1 Corinthians 9:27), he renews his strength by prayer (vers. 17, 20). Then having gained courage, he pledges himself with fresh ardour to be true to God. Instead of wavering, he will press on. Instead of keeping silence, he will testify, by word and deed, to the strength and power of God. This was beautifully seen in Polycarp, "Eighty and six years have I served him, and he never wronged me; and shall I forsake my God and my Saviour?" VI. HIS GLORIOUS PROSPECTS. For the old the end is near. They know that soon they must die, and have no more to do with anything under the sun. This seems a dismal condition. But for the godly there is not only hope in death, but the bright prospect of a blessed immortality. "The end of that man is peace," yea, more, far more, the future is glorious. - W.F.
I will also praise Thee with the psaltery, even Thy truth, O my God: unto Thee will I sing with the harp, O Thou Holy One of Israel Dr. Sanday has remarked that, "on the great world-stage different races have different functions," and that "for the Hebrew it was reserved beyond all other peoples to teach the world what it knew of religion."I. THREE FEATURES OF THE DIVINE CHARACTER. 1. Holiness. "O Thou Holy One of Israel." The root idea is separation. The Most High forbids the people to follow certain practices then in vogue among the surrounding heathen, and the reason given is because He is holy, and they, His people, are to be like Him (Leviticus 19:2). In every case where such prohibitions occur, we find that the practices condemned are morally alike, that they are mischievous and vile; and therefore by such teaching the Hebrew rose to the conception of a God altogether different from the gods of the heathen — of a Being who had no pleasure in selfishness or cruelty or hatred. Further, it is clear that such a doctrine put honour upon men as well as upon God. When the command was understood, "Ye shall be holy: for I am holy," the Jews must have seen that they were created for better things than hatred, malice, or lust. They were fulfilling the end of their creation when they conquered such passions, when they were ruled by kindness, honour, and purity. 2. Truth. "I will praise Thee with the psaltery, even Thy truth, O my God." The want of this virtue has often made the world a pandemonium. We can scarcely conceive a worse condition of things than when men are unable to trust their fellows — when men's word is not their bond, and their most solemn pledges are no guarantee whatever that they will act accordingly. Sir Richard Burton once said that "to the Oriental lying was meat and drink and the roof that covered him." Strong words, and yet a statement confirmed by multitudes of others who have lived in the midst of them. Such a condition of things undoubtedly existed among the neighbours of the Jews; they were false in word and deed, cunning, deceitful, treacherous. Here again the Hebrew stood alone in splendid isolation from his neighbours. His God was the "Strength of Israel, who will not lie," the "God of truth, and without iniquity." His promises held good; His threats were fulfilled. No wonder, then, when men believed thus, that their conduct should differ from that of others; and hence we find, among the characteristics of the perfect man of the Scriptures, truthfulness both without and within: "he that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not"; "he that speaketh the truth in his heart." 3. Love. Notice the boldness of the psalmist's claim — "my God"; and his grateful acknowledgment of the redemption of his soul — "my soul, which Thou hast redeemed." To the writer of this psalm, God was the Father of His creatures, One who had lovingly watched over the psalmist himself from his birth, and to whom in distress he could turn with the certain assurance of help. II. THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PRAISE WHICH THE PSALMIST RESOLVED TO OFFER. 1. Sincere. "My lips shall greatly rejoice," etc. Let us see that we do not grieve our heavenly Father by insincere praise; however successful song may be as an artistic performance, it is abhorrent to God if words which mean so much are uttered with lips which do not greatly rejoice — lips which would be as readily used in the service of him who is the great Father's adversary and ours. 2. Hearty. Not merely should the psalmist's lips be made to rejoice, but all the powers of his redeemed soul; and, that he might present a worthy offering to God, both psaltery and harp should be called into service Evidently he believed that music might be the handmaid of worship, and that the skill of man in the production of sweet sounds ought to be consecrated to the service of God. (W. Scott Page.). Give the king Thy judgments, O God, and Thy righteousness unto the king's son. Homilist. Society cannot exist without laws: these laws require to be expressed and enforced, and whoever does this is ruler. Again, whilst the millions have the instinct of obedience, and lack the faculty to rule, there are always some, on the other hand, in whom there is the tendency and the power to govern. Let us look at the reign of this ideal king as here sketched.I. It is characterized by RIGHTEOUSNESS AND COMPASSION (vers. 1-4). This compassion, this tender, practical sympathy for the woes of the indigent and oppressed, is not something opposed to righteousness. It is but a modification of righteousness, or rather, another phase of righteousness. Justice is but love sternly opposing all that is injurious to the universe, and benevolently encouraging all that is promotive of happiness. Justice is like some Alpine hill, when the sun is descending in the West" on one side it is dark, frowning, terrific, on the other side it glows in brightness, disports in beauty. This compassion, this mercy, "becomes the throned monarch better than his crown." II. It is characterized by the HIGHEST NATIONAL BLESSINGS (vers. 3, 7). 1. General peace. The prevalence of universal good-will is essential to universal peace. Men not seeking their own as the grand end, but seeking the good of each other. 2. Spiritual vitality. 3. The prosperity of the righteous. Men will be considered great, useful, and honourable in proportion to the amount of rectitude that lives in their hearts and comes out in their daily life. III. It is characterized by its MORAL COMMAND OVER ALL PEOPLES (vers. 9-11). Moral worth is always mighty; like the sun, no man can ignore it, no man can disregard its influence, or deny its value. But moral worth in a king is especially mighty, it is seen, and wherever seen is felt. Moral worth is moral sovereignty. IV. It is characterized by its EXPANSIBILITY AND DURATION (vers. 8, 16, 17). The language does not mean that the king himself is to live and reign for ever, but that his name, his moral character, will be held in everlasting remembrance and will work on the earth for good as long as the sun and moon shall last. V. It is characterized by its DIVINE ESTABLISHMENT (vers. 18, 19). For such a king as this the mighty Sovereign of the universe deserves the devoutest praises of men. He alone can form the character of such a king. (Homilist.) 1. Righteousness (ver 2). (Isaiah 11:1-5; Isaiah 32:1, 17). Not till He comes whose right it is to reign will there be on earth a king whose judgments shall be based on an absolute knowledge of men, independent of the sensual judgment of sight and hearing. Then, and then only, will the people have righteousness meted out to them; then only will the poor be perfectly defended from the oppression of the rich. 2. Strength (Revelation 12:10). In the day of Christ's reign oppression shall not only come to an end, but the saints shall inherit the kingdom and the oppressor shall be cast out of power. 3. Gentleness (ver. 6). Not with the sword does Christ win His kingdom, nor by such means will He execute righteousness in the deliverance of His poor and in the breaking of the tyrant's power, but by the almighty strength of truth itself. 4. Peace and prosperity (vers. 8, 10, 16). This can only indicate an abundance of every supply, both for the people in country and city, and for all purposes of state and kingdom. II. EXTENT. 1. Duration. An everlasting reign (vers. 15, 17). His Kingship, as well as His Priesthood, is in the power of an endless life (Psalm 21:4; Psalm 61:6, 7). 2. Subjects. Not only of all nations, but of every class of men in all nations. 3. Territory (ver. 8). What a heaven this earth will be with the curse removed, all wickedness and evil taken out of the hearts and lives of all people; waters shall break out in the desert, and the very beasts of the field and the forest shall rest at peace each side with the others. III. UNIVERSAL ADORATION. 1. Prayer. "Prayer shall be made to Him continually." Every want shall be presented to Him, in the spirit of constant and humble, yet confident supplication, and no good thing will be witheld from those who pray. 2. Praise. "And daily shall He be praised." Eternity will not be too long wherein to praise Him who shall have delivered our souls from death, from the deceit and oppression of the wicked, especially from the power of our great enemy, the devil; to praise Him for the unspeakable blessings of forgiveness, justification, regeneration, sanctification. 3. Gifts. "To Him shall be given the gold of Sheba." The people will themselves be a free-will offering to their Lord and King; all that they are and have shall be laid at His feet as being worth nothing apart from Him and His blessing. Who shall say that in the age of glory there shall not be vast fields and unknown opportunities for the employment of all the redeemed and sanctified powers of man? (G. F. Pentecost, D. D.) "The king — the king's son." We see that our Lord is here termed both "king" and "the king's son"; both as respect to His human nature and also as to His Divine origin; for the Father of the universe may, of course, be properly denominated King. Agreeably to this designation we find on Turkish coins the inscription, "Sultan, son of Sultan."(George Phillips.) People Psalmist, SolomonPlaces JerusalemTopics Always, Appointed, Bulwark, Command, Commandment, Continually, Fortress, Habitation, Hast, Refuge, Resort, Rock, Safe, Salvation, Save, Sheltering, Strong, WhereuntoOutline 1. David, in confidence of faith, and experience of God's favor, prays both for himself, 10. and against the enemies of his soul 14. He promises constancy 17. He prays for perseverance 19. He praises God, and promises to do it cheerfully Dictionary of Bible Themes Psalm 71:3 1240 God, the Rock Library December 22. "My Tongue Also Shall Talk of Thy Righteousness all the Day Long" (Ps. Lxxi. 24). "My tongue also shall talk of Thy righteousness all the day long" (Ps. lxxi. 24). It is a simple law of nature, that air always comes in to fill a vacuum. You can produce a draught at any time, by heating the air until it ascends, and then the cold air rushes in to supply its place. And so we can always be filled with the Holy Spirit by providing a vacuum. This breath is dependent upon exhausting the previous breath before you can inhale a fresh one. And so we must empty our hearts of the last breath … Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth More and More Of Four Things which Bring Great Peace Of the Day of Eternity and of the Straitnesses of this Life For Old Age. --Ps. Lxxi. They all Hold Swords, Being Expert in War; Every Man Hath his Sword Upon his Thigh Because of Fear in the Night. Letter Xlv (Circa A. D. 1140) to the Canons of Lyons, on the Conception of S. Mary. The Baptismal Covenant Can be Kept Unbroken. Aim and Responsibility of Parents. But Concerning True Patience, Worthy of the Name of this virtue... The Christian's Hope Let Thus Much have Been Said with Regard to Charity... 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