I have discovered again Psalm 71. I realized that it is written by a senior citizen and is both a prayer of praise and a petition. Since I am a card-carrying AARP member, I can identify with much that is expressed here. This Psalm 71 would be a good one for every senior Christian to read on a regular basis.
It begins with a confession of surrender and submission to God (v.1) that is the basis for the whole prayer.
There follows the petition that God would be his strong protector and defender. God must be the deliverer for every evil attack (v.4) or he simply will not be able to bear it. (By the way, if you get out your Bible and read this Psalm, you will note some similarities to The Lord’s Prayer.)
There comes in verses 5 thru 8 an ejaculation of praise, a fountain of praise for all of God’s goodness to him, and even a note about how unbelievers have noticed God’s personal care in his life. Unbelievers are amazed at the work of God even though they do not understand it.
In verse 9 he begins a very human concern about this old age. What will happen to him? Who will care for him? How can he survive? He requests God to please look out for him as his strength fails and his faculties betray him.
But he soon returns to his song of hope in God. He promises God that he will always hope in Him, always praise Him, always testify to God’s salvation, always be sure that the generation to come will hear from him about God’s great work. In spite of the increase of problems and trouble that comes with old age, he knows that in God’s strength, he will conquer them all.
Call a Senior Citizen and tell him or her about this Psalm.
“How good to know, Eternal God, that we can trust you at every
stage of life; especially as we get older. Amen”
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