O God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds. Psalm 71:17

In this Psalm, the author shares with us the basic life principles that guided him through the ups and downs of life.

In this Psalm, the author recounts all the wonderful things that God had done for him over the years and he asks God to intervene on his behalf. He is an old man with many trials and problems, but he is obviously a joyful man who is able to put his focus on the Lord in the midst of these trials.

In Psalm 71, King David has come to this last stage of his life. In this Psalm, he’s affirming his life and his accomplishments. He’s saying to us: “This is who I am. This is what I believe. And this is what really matters to me.”

David tells us, to put it simply, that God’s way to grow old is to develop a walk with Him now. The reason that the psalmist could handle his problems so well as an old man was that he had developed a walk with God in the years leading up to this time. He had a proven resource in the Lord which enabled him to be strong inside, even though his body was growing weaker and his enemies were powerful.

Let’s look at three aspects of David’s walk with God – which we need to develop in our lives.

1. We need to develop a deep knowledge of God.

The psalm is permeated with a deep personal understanding and practical knowledge of the Lord God.

He had been taught of God even from his youth (71:17). David says that God brought him forth from the womb. In other words, God was with him from the first day of his life. And God would continue to be with him always. The man knew God as his refuge (71:1; “strong refuge,” 71:7) and his righteous Savior (71:2). John Calvin (Commentary, pp. 632, 633) argues that God’s righteousness, frequently mentioned here (71:2, 15, 16, 19, 24), refers to His faithfulness to His own people in keeping His promises. He calls God his rock of habitation, his rock and fortress (71:3); his hope and confidence (71:5). He talks of God’s mighty deeds (71:16), His strength and power (71:18), and the great things He has done (71:19). He realized that it was God who brought him into trouble and God who delivered and restored him (71:20). God was his source of comfort in this trial (71:21). God had redeemed his soul (71:23). As he exclaims, “O God, who is like You?” (71:19). He could testify that his mouth was filled with God’s praise and glory and righteousness all day long (71:8, 22, 23, 24). (Steven Cole, 1993)

According to David, God is consistent and unchanging. His people can always depend on Him. They know they can approach Him with their prayers. David says that God is the One “to whom I can always go…” God is faithful. He keeps His promises. By means of His Word, He teaches His people what they need to know.

May I ask: Do you know God like that? Are you growing in the process of developing such knowledge through His Word and through applying His Word to your experience?

Lynne Jahns
Christian Counselor

Resources
“Growing Old God’s Way” Steven J. Cole, 1993.
“A Life Well Lived” Terry DeFoe, 2010.
“The Old Man’s Sermon” C.H. Spurgeon, 1875.