O God, be not far from me; O my God, make haste to help me!
Though this psalm bears no title, the tradition of the Church ascribes it to David in his old age, likely during Absalom's uprising. He opens by casting himself entirely upon God's faithfulness, then mingles petition for deliverance with complaint against his enemies' arrogance, before resolving to praise God for mercies already received.
AI summary
Commenting on Psalm 71:1-24
O God, be not far from me. Nearness to God is our conscious security. A child in the dark is comforted by grasping its father's hand. O my God, make haste for my help. To call God ours, as having entered into covenant with us, is a mighty plea in prayer, and a great stay to our faith.
David prays two things: that he be never ashamed of trusting God, and that his persecutors be confounded. He who has truly chosen the God of Jacob for his help, who is entirely satisfied with God's all-sufficiency and the truth of His promise, will freely do and suffer all for Him and may boldly say, In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust.
AI summary
Commenting on Psalm 71:1-13