The Gospel of Grace According to David IV Psalm 71
Psalm 71:1-24 (NIV)
In you, O Lord, I have taken refuge;
let me never be put to shame.
[2] Rescue me and deliver me in your righteousness;
turn your ear to me and save me.
[3] Be my rock of refuge,
to which I can always go;
give the command to save me,
for you are my rock and my fortress.
[4] Deliver me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked,
from the grasp of evil and cruel men.
[5] For you have been my hope, O Sovereign Lord,
my confidence since my youth.
[6] From birth I have relied on you;
you brought me forth from my mother's womb.
I will ever praise you.
[7] I have become like a portent to many,
but you are my strong refuge.
[8] My mouth is filled with your praise,
declaring your splendor all day long.
[9] Do not cast me away when I am old;
do not forsake me when my strength is gone.
[10] For my enemies speak against me;
those who wait to kill me conspire together.
[11] They say, "God has forsaken him;
pursue him and seize him,
for no one will rescue him."
[12] Be not far from me, O God;
come quickly, O my God, to help me.
[13] May my accusers perish in shame;
may those who want to harm me
be covered with scorn and disgrace.
[14] But as for me, I will always have hope;
I will praise you more and more.
[15] My mouth will tell of your righteousness,
of your salvation all day long,
though I know not its measure.
[16] I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, O Sovereign Lord;
I will proclaim your righteousness, yours alone.
[17] Since my youth, O God, you have taught me,
and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds.
[18] Even when I am old and gray,
do not forsake me, O God,
till I declare your power to the next generation,
your might to all who are to come.
[19] Your righteousness reaches to the skies, O God,
you who have done great things.
Who, O God, is like you?
[20] Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter,
you will restore my life again;
from the depths of the earth
you will again bring me up.
[21] You will increase my honor
and comfort me once again.
[22] I will praise you with the harp
for your faithfulness, O my God;
I will sing praise to you with the lyre,
O Holy One of Israel.
[23] My lips will shout for joy
when I sing praise to you--
I, whom you have redeemed.
[24] My tongue will tell of your righteous acts
all day long,
for those who wanted to harm me
have been put to shame and confusion.
Psalm 71:9, 18 (NLT)
And now, in my old age, don't set me aside. Don't abandon me when my strength is failing...Now that I am old and gray, do not abandon me, O God."
Psalm 71:14 (NIV)
But as for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more.
As a result of suffering, some hearts change for the worst, become self-absorbed, waste their lives or drift away from God
1. Relocate our hearts back to the unshakable and assured foundation of God’s love
Psalm 71:5 (NLT)
O Lord, you alone are my hope. I've trusted you, O Lord, from childhood.
Psalm 71:3 (NIV)
Be my rock of refuge, to which I can always go; give the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress.
Wisdom will move us towards self-correction of our hearts before we live by painful consequences and public correction
2. Do not dwell on what is past, lost, or disappointing but refocus on all I have yet to become, and all the gifts and blessings I have yet to claim in Christ
Philip. 3:13 (NLT)
No, dear brothers and sisters, I am still not all I should be, but I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead,
Psalm 71:23-24 (NLT)
I will shout for joy and sing your praises, for you have redeemed me…I will tell about your righteous deeds all day long…
Psalm 71:18 (NLT)
Now that I am old and gray, do not abandon me, O God. Let me proclaim your power to this new generation, your mighty miracles to all who come after me.
1 John 4:18 (NASB)
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear…
Decide the priorities to live for, even in the midst of suffering – that include living for others and the things we have yet to adventure towards in God
Learn to praise and worship God in order to exchange our mental screensaver with God’s presence and promises instead
Psalm 71:14 (NIV)
But as for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more.
Choose to be renewed during our suffering!
Acts 13:36 (NIV)
"For when David had served God's purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep…
Psalm 71:19-21 (NIV)
Your righteousness reaches to the skies, O God, you who have done great things. Who, O God, is like you?
3. Only when we realize and encounter the deep love of God and understand the kind of death that made that love possible will suffering be endurable
[20] Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up. You will increase my honor and comfort me once again.