Introduction

The writer asks for help to withstand his enemies despite his increasing age.

Verses
1In you, LORD, I take refuge.
Never let me be disappointed.
2Deliver me in your righteousness, and rescue me.
Turn your ear to me, and save me.
3Be to me a rock of refuge to which I may always go.
Give the command to save me,
for you are my rock and my fortress.
4Rescue me, my God, from the hand of the wicked,
from the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man.
5For you are my hope, Lord GOD,
my confidence from my youth.
6I have relied on you from the womb.
You are he who took me out of my mother’s womb.
I will always praise you.
7I am a marvel to many,
but you are my strong refuge.
8My mouth shall be filled with your praise,
with your honour all day long.
9Don’t reject me in my old age.
Don’t forsake me when my strength fails.
10For my enemies talk about me.
Those who watch for my soul conspire together,
11saying, “God has forsaken him.
Pursue and take him, for no one will rescue him.”
12God, don’t be far from me.
My God, hurry to help me.
13Let my accusers be disappointed and consumed.
Let them be covered with disgrace and scorn who want to harm me.
14But I will always hope,
and will add to all of your praise.
15My mouth will tell about your righteousness,
and of your salvation all day,
though I don’t know its full measure.
16I will come with the mighty acts of the Lord GOD.
I will make mention of your righteousness, even of yours alone.
17God, you have taught me from my youth.
Until now, I have declared your wondrous works.
18Yes, even when I am old and grey-haired, God, don’t forsake me,
until I have declared your strength to the next generation,
your might to everyone who is to come.
19Your righteousness also, God, reaches to the heavens;
you have done great things.
God, who is like you?
20You, who have shown us many and bitter troubles,
you will let me live.
You will bring us up again from the depths of the earth.
21Increase my honour
and comfort me again.
22I will also praise you with the harp for your faithfulness, my God.
I sing praises to you with the lyre, Holy One of Israel.
23My lips shall shout for joy!
My soul, which you have redeemed, sings praises to you!
24My tongue will also talk about your righteousness all day long,
for they are disappointed, and they are confounded,
who want to harm me.

Questions

1. Why is the writer confident that God will deliver him from the wicked, unrighteous and cruel man?

v 4 to 6 Rescue me, my God, from the hand of the wicked,
from the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man.
For you are my hope, Lord GOD,
my confidence from my youth.
I have relied on you from the womb.
You are he who took me out of my mother’s womb.
I will always praise you.

2. What does the writer say to God about old age?

v 9 Don’t reject me in my old age.
Don’t forsake me when my strength fails.

3. Where does the writer show that he believes in resurrection of the dead?

v 20 ... you will let me live. You will bring us up again from the depths of the earth.

Summary Points

  • v 1 to 6 The writer expresses his confidence in God from past experience
  • v 7 to 13 He praises God but asks for protection from all his enemies
  • v 14 to 24 He continues to want to tell everyone, including the next generation, about God and salvation and everything God has done

 Timeline 1050 to 850 BC

The audio version uses Yahweh instead of LORD. This reflects the original Hebrew language.

Audio