Have
you ever been afraid?
It
doesn’t have to be an occasion when you were physically scared. It can be an
occasion where you were afraid for your health or your finances or even for a
loved one. How did you feel? How
did you react?
There
are different ways to react. Some say God is dead. Some say God is in control.
Some can withstand the grasp of their situation because they pray to God like
the writer of Psalm 71 did. They pray to be delivered from their situation, and
if we are Christians that is the proper way to respond.
Psalm
71 is an individual lament. It’s suitable for a faithful person who is in
danger. The psalm seems to be an elderly person’s plea. One of our greatest
challenges as we get older is the decline of our physical strength. For
example, those of us who (like me) lead worship services in nursing homes, care
facilities and hospitals know the staying power of the psalms and familiar
hymns. People who struggle with Alzheimer’s or dementia may have forgotten
almost everything, but some of them still remember the psalms and hymns they
learned as children.
The
psalmist’s enemies plan to hurt him by taking advantage of his weaknesses. The
Hebrew word for cruel suggests leaven or yeast, and just like yeast ferments, the
wickedness of the psalmist enemies was fermenting. One of the reasons for
life’s trials is ungodly foes. Our wise response is to fully rely on the
character and compassion of God. James reminds us in James 1:2 and 12 that God
uses trials to refine our faith. God can take someone who is overcome by stress
and build into his/her life insights which will enable them to live above and
beyond its paralyzing grip. The faithful person receives assurance from God’s
covenant promises. God is faithful. He keeps his promises, and these promises
give us hope.
If
we have faith in God and believe in his kingdom, we will face hardships,
including hatred and persecution. God will deal with those who attack and
persecute him and his followers. These hardships won’t last, but God’s strength
will last. The psalmist’s cry for deliverance is based on God’s character. When
he delivers his people, the results will be praise and worship. God has been
faithful, he is faithful and he will be faithful.
The
psalm is a declaration of our trust and the hope we have in God throughout our
lives. Psalm 71 is a sturdy statement of hope and trust. It will only happen
when we depend on God and his righteousness.
It’s
in God’s nature to provide refuge, deliverance and rescue to those who believe
in him. In return, we are to depend on him. He is our one true source of hope
and support. The only possible response to God’s steadfastness and grace is to
make praising God the most important part of our lives.
Psalm
71 brings forth the theme of childlike trust. We have to trust God just like a
child trusts a parent. Trust is not easy. We have to confront our reluctance to
trust God. That reluctance is a barrier and an enemy to our faith. We have to
confront all of our enemies constantly. When we fail to praise God, frustration
builds. God is saddened. We miss a great opportunity to be blessed. God has
been with us forever. He never forgets his promises. He never abandons us when
we need him, and that gives us confidence.
Children
build their child-like trust in God by coming to God, and that is how we as
Christians are to build our trust in God. Some people argue against leading
children to Christ at an early age, and some denominations will not baptize
children or infants. If we don’t teach our children to have faith in Jesus,
someone else or something else will convince them to trust something else or
someone else.
When
we take time to praise God, fear, doubt and frustration fade. Praising God
doesn’t mean that our problems aren’t serious or that our problems won’t go
away, but praising God forces us to lift our eyes to God. He has the power to
lift our hearts and offer us eternal hope. He is our refuge and our strength,
especially in times of trouble.
Bibliography
1.
Jeremiah,
David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, NKJV (Brentwood,
TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013; pp. 751-752)
2.
ESV Study
Bible. Part of Wordsearch 11 Bible software package.
3.
Williams, D.
& Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s
Commentary Series, Vol. 13: Psalms 1-72 (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.;
1986; pp. 511-514)
4.
MacArthur,
J.F. Jr.: The MacArthur Study Bible, New
American Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publisher; 2006)
5.
Eric Mathus,
“Commentary on Psalm 71:1-6.” Retrieved from http://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=2753
6.
Bobby Morris,
“Commentary on Psalm 71:1-6.” Retrieved from http://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=1532
10.
Rev. Mark Ellingson, “Lectionary Scripture Notes,
Proper 16, Ordinary Time 21, Pentecost 13, Cycle C (2016).” Retrieved from http://www.lectionaryscripturenotes.com
11.
W. Johnson, “Bible Study, Proper 16(C)-August 21,
2016.” Retrieved from http://episcopaldigitalnetwork.com/stw/2016/08/01/bible-study-proper-16c-august-21-2016
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