The writer of Psalm 71 was a regular person—just like me. He lived in a time when the moral compass of society was upside down, much like today. He recognized the threats, traps, and pressures around him, and he knew he needed supernatural help and confidence to endure.

Psalm 71:1–5: “In YOU, O LORD, I put my trust; Let me never be put to shame. Deliver me in YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS, and cause me to escape; Incline YOUR ear to me, and save me. Be my strong refuge, to which I may resort CONTINUALLY; YOU have given the commandment to save me, for YOU are my rock and my fortress. Deliver me, O my GOD, out of the hand of the wicked, out of the hand of the UNrighteous and cruel man. For YOU are my hope, O LORD GOD; YOU are my TRUST from my youth.”

This Psalmist was likely older, embattled by temptations, peer pressure, and personal attacks—just like we are. Yet in the midst of it all, he clearly identified what was righteous and what was unrighteous. There was no gray area. Everything boiled down to one or the other.

That clarity is essential for me too. I must be able to rightly discern what is right and wrong, what is righteous and what is unrighteous—according to God’s standard, not the shifting norms around me.

Continual Faithfulness

The Psalmist also understood the importance of consistency in his walk with God. He didn’t rely on occasional inspiration—he resorted to the Lord continually.

Psalm 71:3–14: “Be my strong refuge, to which I may resort CONTINUALLY…”
Psalm 71:12: “O GOD, do not be far from me; O my GOD, make haste to help me… But I will hope CONTINUALLY, and will praise YOU yet more and more.”

Even in the face of trouble, the Psalmist clung to what he had learned from youth. He didn’t waver when the world around him did. He held fast to the truth of God’s Word as the unchanging measure of righteousness.

Psalm 71:17–20: “O GOD, YOU have taught me from my youth; and to this day I declare YOUR wondrous works… YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS, O GOD, reaches HEAVEN, YOU have done great things, GOD, who is like YOU… YOU who have shown me great and severe troubles, SHALL REVIVE me again, and bring me up again from the depths of the earth.”

Two Anchors of Faith

For this Psalmist, the foundation of his faith walk came down to two essentials:

• Unwavering trust in the Lord and His Word.
• Clear discernment between righteousness and unrighteousness.

These must be solid in my life too—if I want to live with endurance and finish well.

Psalm 71:18: “Even when I am old and gray, GOD, do not forsake me. Then I will proclaim YOUR POWER to another generation, YOUR STRENGTH to all who are to come.”

Prayer

Dear Lord Jesus, this Psalm exposes the lacking in me—the kind of steadfastness I need if I’m going to endure and persevere. If I’m ever going to say what Paul said in 2 Timothy 4:7: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith,” then I need Your help. Lord, this is not me so far. I pray for Your grace to make the course corrections I need, so that I may finish well—enabled by You alone. Amen.