My wife and I are reading through the Psalms in our evening reading and occasionally a nugget of the Psalms jumps out of the page. Don’t you love it when, after years of reading the “Old Book” passages become alive, reinforcing old teachings or simply warming your heart.
This is the book of Psalms, and it is rich.
I pray I can communicate a portion of the blessing we receive from this wonderful book.
Psalm 71 is a psalm written by an aged saint, a man who had walked with the Lord through many trials and triumphs. Some think this psalm represents David’s thoughts as he approaches the grave, as he ages and finds his life coming to a close.
One thing that is obvious in this psalm, that whoever wrote this psalm had an intimate experience with the Word of God. I have heard the claim that in the 24 verses of this psalm, there are up to 25 references, allusions and hints of other psalms within this reflection of an old saint. He has saturated his life with the Word, to the point that even phrasing of the old book comes through this old man’s message.
It is truly a witness of the wisdom to engage in an early and consistent immersion into the Word of God for every saint.
Let’s take a moment to consider
Psalm 71:12 O God, be not far from me; O my God, make haste to help me!
Psalm 71:13 May my accusers be put to shame and consumed; with scorn and disgrace may they be covered who seek my hurt.
The psalmist has revealed his enemies thoughts in the previous verses, speaking of how God had forsaken him, and that this was the perfect opportunity to strike.
Psalm 71:11 and say, “God has forsaken him; pursue and seize him, for there is none to deliver him.”
Remember, this psalmist is a man who is aged, with grey hair and strength that was fading, as with all men who age. If this was David, he was a mighty warrior, and in his old age, had lost capabilities to defend as before. His mental and physical energy, stamina and strength has decreased, and for a warrior, this strikes at the heart of who he was.
With his weakening, and the constant trials he had went through, remaining faithful to God, it appears to be a perfect opportunity for his enemies to strike. After all, those outside of faith do not understand that the trial we as believers go through is a proof of God’s commitment to us, no a denial of His loving concern.
Hebrews 12:6 – 7
For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.”
It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?
Truly, those of the world do not understand the life of a believer.
1 Corinthians 2:14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.
Nevertheless, as the psalmist ages, and his enemies are emboldened, he cries out to God. He cries out to God, and you can almost hear his voice cracking as he begs for God to be near, and then again, but with even greater passion, owning the God he has followed all his life. O my God, make haste to help me!
The psalmist has less strength, the enemies have greater confidence, and who does this aged man of faith turn to? The One he has followed since his birth, the God who has led him through many trials.
I imagine this man to be without resource, without strength, without defense and without support. At the very least he has judged his situation to be dire and immediate. He cries out to his God for immediate help, that God would make haste!
It is true that the more immediate the need, the greater passion I have expressed to the God who is timeless. When I have plenty of time, and things are not crushing down on me, I tend to be somewhat lassiez-faire, somewhat indifferent, but let the pressure build, and then the passion erupts. Often times, in those times of crushing, God has provided his answer and provision, his wisdom and thankfully His peace. Rarely though, when my self imposed deadline for deliverance comes and goes, the Lord is in the midst of it, allowing for a period of instruction, or a realignment of my priorities.
But back to our couple verses!
Our aged man is looking for some answers to his prayers, that his śāṭan (for that is the transliteration of accusers in our verse) would experience shame.
This is a tantamount harm to inflict on an enemy, for our psalmist lived in a shame based society, a culture that defined success and failure though the estimation of a mans honor. Wealth and family were important, but nothing came close to the need for honor in a man’s life. It was the paramount goal of a man to gain honor, in the midst of all other goals.
Note also that this aged saint is praying against the śāṭan of his soul. A few of the more literal word for word translations include this idea.
Psalm 71:13 (NASB) May those who are enemies of my soul be put to shame and consumed;
Psalm 71:13 (ASV) They are ashamed, they are consumed, Who are opposing my soul, They are covered with reproach and blushing, Who are seeking my evil,
He is concerned about the only thing in this world that will last beyond the grave, for he sees this trial coming and understands the situation as an attack on his soul, not as the theft or loss of his wealth, or possibly even the harming of his family, but an attack on his very person. This is, in his cry to God, a critical fight, a fight that will cost him his own soul if he looses it.
Understanding what is at stake, he looks to God, crying out that his adversaries (śāṭan) would be covered with reproach and dishonor. Note that the honor of his enemies is the psalmist’s focus, for this is what is at stake, the highest estimation of a man’s social standing, and this is our psalmist’s desire, that the adversaries fall into disgrace.
And what is worse, (or better, depending on your point of view) is that when he seeks them to be covered, he is speaking of their very plans to backfire on them. To be covered in this verse, is to wrap oneself up, to enwrap. A self inflicted harm. Some act or plan that not only avoids harming the psalmist but falls on the protagonist, the adversary essentially falling into his own trap.
How often we see this in the Word, where the saint stands back, and the very trap the antagonist lays for the saint is the very trap the antagonist suffers. Without a doubt, I think of Esther and Haman as an example of this principle. How utterly satisfying, to not take revenge, and yet see justice!
How critical it is for us as believers that we find our strong refuge in God Himself and not our own strength, our own cunning, our own abilities. In a very real and personal way, as I am entering my sunset years, I need to view this weakening, this loss of ability as one of God’s intended gifts to a receptive believer. May it be so!
I had also hoped, as I aged, that my adversaries may also weaken with me. If this psalm has wakened me to a specific truth, it may be that according to the wisdom of God, my adversaries may not lessen. They may increase in confidence over me, increase in ability compared to my strengths. They may see weakness, well and true, yet I have a strong tower to resort to.
May we all, as we travel through our last years, though we be 18 or 80, have the clarity of mind and desire of heart to cling to the One who gave it all for us.
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