REFLECTIONS FROM PSALM 71

Along with the Old Testament book of Numbers, I’m reading a psalm a day this summer.  Today’s reading was Psalm 71, written by David.  A few things leapt out from his words.  

David begins: 

“In you, O LORD, I have taken refuge, let me never be put to shame.”

It’s such an encouragement to me to read this because there are times when I, as an evangelical, get tired of the negative press we get in the media.  We aren’t all the kind of people who level abuse at those who attend military funerals, or tell homosexuals that God hates them.   We do endeavor to live by the standards of the Bible ourselves, while hopefully administering the love and grace of God toward those who don’t hold to those standards.

What a comfort to know that with God as my refuge, I need not fear that I will ever be put to shame by men.  When Abraham, in Genesis 15, had passed up material reward from the King of Sodom because he didn't want the King to say, "I made Abram rich", the Lord gave him this encouragement:  "I am your shield and very great reward."  God Himself is my reward even if the whole world should be against me.

In verse 2 David asks of God: “turn your ear to me”.   As soon as I read that, I thought of our cat, Pippin.  Cats have amazing ears!  Not only do they have keen hearing, they actually have swiveling ears to catch sounds!  Pippin can look as if he’s fast asleep until he hears something interesting.  Then his ears pick up and swivel in the direction of the sound.  I think God’s "ears" must be like that. 

I think of God as the ultimate multi-tasker.  It has always amazed me that with all those who petition the Lord in prayer, God hears ME, His ears are attentive to the sound of MY voice, as He was with David’s.  Not only does HE hear ME, I can hear HIM as well.  Jesus, in John's gospel, chapter 10, is speaking of Himself as the Good Shepherd and His children His sheep, says: “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”

This kind of intimacy of hearing and being heard is possible because God is both personal and relational.  He wants a relationship with us more than anything else.  He sent His Son to make that relationship possible.  This is why when people ask me if I'm religious, I say no.  I'm not religious, I have a relationship with the Living God through faith in Jesus.  What a difference that makes!

I also love verse 18 which says: “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.”

Although I don’t FEEL 64, and use a “cover the gray” rinse on my hair, I still have to face the fact that I am getting to the place where I fit into the “old” category.   I’m confident because of the promise of Jesus never to forsake His own, that God will NEVER forsake me, and I hope that I will remain true to Him until I breathe my last breath.  But it’s the last phrase of David’s prayer that I hope will be true of me as well, I will: “declare your power to the next generation, your might to all who are to come.”

I believe this is one of God’s assignments for me at this stage of life – to point the next generation to the glory and power of God so that they will submit their lives to Him.  I can’t think of a more important life decision for them – or a more important life goal for me.

David ends his psalm with this: 

"My tongue will tell of your righteous acts all day long".  

May that be true of me.