Psalms

Psalms 71: God keeps His servants through life

Begin in prayer

Before we hear an aged worshipper's prayer, let us remember how much care we have already received. Ask God to sustain His people through Christ and give them words that tell another generation of His faithfulness.

For you are my lamp, Yahweh. Yahweh will light up my darkness.

2 Samuel 22:29

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word, and help us to see Christ. Show us that God remains His people's refuge when their strength fails and gives them His faithfulness to tell. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

An ageing worshipper asks the LORD to be the refuge to which he can always come and rescue him from cruel enemies. His confidence reaches back to youth and birth, through a lifetime sustained by God. As his strength fails, enemies say God has forsaken him and urge one another to seize him. He answers with urgent prayer and a resolve to keep hoping and speaking of God's righteousness and salvation. Remembering what God has taught him, he asks for help to tell the next generation of His strength. He trusts God to bring him through bitter troubles and promises joyful praise for the faithfulness that has redeemed his soul.

As you read Psalms 71, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

God remains His servant's refuge through failing strength, giving hope and a testimony for the next generation.

The old worshipper seeks rescue in God's righteousness, resting his hope on the faithful character of the One he calls his fortress. A rock to which he can always go pictures refuge still open to him when cruel hands threaten his life. His dependence reaches back to birth, for God brought him into the world and has been his confidence from youth. Now failing strength gives his enemies an opening to claim that God has abandoned him. Their accusation drives him to ask God to come near, consume his accusers and cover those seeking his harm with disgrace. He resolves to keep hoping and praising, confessing that God's saving goodness exceeds his ability to measure it. The request for help in old age serves a purpose, that another generation should hear the strength God has shown. Bringing him up from the depths pictures restoration from bitter and nearly fatal trouble, giving hope of renewed honour and comfort. His joy rests in the Holy One of Israel who has redeemed him, whose faithfulness deserves the testimony of his whole remaining life.

How does Psalm 71 show us that God remains His servant's refuge through failing strength, giving hope and a testimony for the next generation?

God remains His servant's refuge when strength fails.

The worshipper remembers depending on God from youth and asks for that same care in old age. Enemies read weakness as abandonment. He brings their words before the Lord who has always been his refuge.

God gives His people a testimony to pass on.

The aged man asks for time to tell another generation what God has done. His hope rests on the Lord's righteousness alone. Renewed life and comfort will give his voice fresh reason for joyful praise.

Memorise

For you are my hope, Lord Yahweh; my confidence from my youth.

Psalm 71:5

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, what am I telling others about the care I have received from Jesus?

The ageing worshipper prays, “Don’t forsake me when my strength fails.” He has depended on God throughout his life and longs to tell another generation of His might. Weakness has given his testimony urgency.

Our need includes the guilt that no lifetime of religious activity can erase. Jesus died for His people, bearing the punishment they deserved so that they could be welcomed before the holy God. The Father raised Him to life. His people have pardon and everlasting acceptance through a rescue fully accomplished, even when their earthly strength fails.

Turn from your sin and trust the Lord Jesus for mercy. He forgives everyone who comes to Him. Bring Him the fears you have about weakness and age, asking for faith to depend on His care. Those who belong to Him have a saving kindness worth telling to children, grandchildren and all who come after them.

Parent's note

Tell your children that God remains His people's refuge when their strength fails and gives them His faithfulness to tell. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God for His lifelong care and ask for help to tell another generation of His saving strength. Bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

The thief only comes to steal, kill, and destroy. I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly.

John 10:10

Faithful God, please lead us to Jesus for the pardon only He can give. Thank You for the care You have shown through every stage of life. Sustain Your people when strength fails and protect those threatened by cruel enemies. Give young and old hearts that trust You, and help us tell another generation of Your saving goodness. Amen.