A Prayer of trust in a time of trouble

   

    Sunday, August 19

Pastor Oliver R. Blosser, M.Div., Ph.D.

     Faith Community Church

Pipestone, MN

 

Psalm 71:1-5; 1 In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion.   2 Deliver me in thy righteousness, and cause me to escape: incline thine ear unto me, and save me.   3 Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou art my rock and my fortress.   4 Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man.   5 For thou art my hope, O Lord GOD: thou art my trust from my youth.

       Psalm 71 is believed to be a psalm of David. It was written at a time in David’s life when he was elderly. David prays this beautiful prayer in a time of trouble. The historical background of the psalm is not known. However, the Psalmist prays for strength and deliverance from evil; trusting God for security throughout life. This is a psalm of trust.

       In the Hebrew Bible, ‘trust in the Lord’ means confidence in God’s promises and reliance upon God’s character. It is faith in the God who always delivers His people from evil. Faced with evil and enemies, who would destroy him, David, weakened by old age, prays with faith that he be not forsaken by the Lord.

       The  psalm divides nicely into six sections and provides principles of life application for the believer.

 

1.  Trust in the Lord brings deliverance from evil, Psalm 71:1-3.

       David places his trust in the Lord who is His righteousness, strong habitation, rock and fortress, Psalm 71:1. There is no confusion in life when the believer trusts the Lord and His Word. Because of God’s character, He always delivers His people from evil.

Life Application: Trouble in this life is inevitable. We face difficulty, because we are fallen, sinful people living in a fallen, sinful world. But we are reminded that there is no need for confusion and worry in the face of those troubles. We know God is greater than any problem we face, and in His time and in His way, He will deliver us from our troubles. Trust in the Lord is essential at every turn of life.

 

2.  Hope in God brings deliverance from enemies, Psalm 71:4-6.

       With his hope in God, David asks for deliverance from enemies, particularly an unrighteous and cruel man. He acknowledges that both his hope and trust is in the Lord; whom he has trusted since his youth. The Lord’s faithfulness causes David to continually praise the Lord.

Life Application: God does not deliver us, until we recognize Him as our refuge and go to Him in prayer! When we ask for His deliverance, He is faithful and will help us. David was able to look back through his life and see the hand of God at work in many situations that he faced. As we grow older in the Lord, we can look back and see God’s faithfulness, and we will have strengthened confidence to call out to Him for help in the present!

 

3.  The nearness of God provides security throughout life, Psalm 71:7-15.

       The believer’s praise brings God’s presence and His nearness to the believer as he faces the difficult situations of life. David’s life was a wonder in Israel as he became a man after God’s own heart. David frequently faced oppression and trouble so that his enemies were saying, “God has forsaken him!” Also, because of his age, David’s enemies thought this was a good time to destroy David.

       However, David believes that there is Someone who can deliver him even in old age and that is why David prays; O God, be not far from me: O my God, make haste for my help, Psalm 71:12. Because David trusts that God will consume his enemies, he continues to have hope and to praise the Lord yet more and more, even though he doesn’t know how long his life will last.

Life Application: As we face the trials and troubles of life, we may feel discouraged, and begin to think that God has forsaken us! But this is never the case. As we call on the Lord in prayer and develop a close personal relationship with Him, we will know His nearness and our confidence and hope will grow. God’s will is best for us, and His will is to help us. But we must go to Him in prayer!

 

4.  Faith in God produces strength for life to do God’s work, Psalm 71:16-18.

       Robbed of his physical strength, David recognizes that his comings and goings are in the Lord’s strength. David’s one concern was that he would be robbed of life before he was able to relate the power and glory of God to the present generation. This is why he prays; Now also when I am old and greyheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have showed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come, Psalm 71:18. How important it is for the next generation to learn of the Lord!

Life Application: One of the great benefits of answered prayer in our lives is the testimony of victory given to younger people around us. As they see God at work, their faith is strengthened as well! But when we are spiritually weak, the next generation has no example to encourage them. It is vital that we maintain a victorious Christian life through prayer so that the next generation can also grow in grace.

 

5.  God will not forsake the believer in old age, Psalm 71:19-21.

       The aged saint was confident in God’s help for his situation. Heavy and severe trials would not claim his life until the Lord was ready to take him to Heaven. Even in old age, as he remained true and faithful to the Lord, his influence and consolation would only increase.

Life Application: There is no time when God cannot bring victory to us! Old age can be a time of physical and emotional illness. It can be a time of discouragement, loneliness and hardship. But God never fails us, and wants to be our Helper at every stage of life. Even in death, we are victorious as we enter eternity, secure in our everlasting life! The prayer ministry of the older generation is so urgently needed today! God is wanting to demonstrate His faithfulness throughout all of life.

6.  Praise the Lord for His deliverance, Psalm 71:22-24.

       David praises the Lord because He always delivers his people from evil. The God of righteousness in His character will make all of the wrong of life right in the end. Yes, all of David’s enemies, those who have tried to hurt him, will be brought to shame. Trust and hope in God always brings help in a time of trouble! Because of His character and nature, the Lord must be praised!

Life Application: What a privilege it is to rejoice in the victory that comes in answer to our prayers! It is a tragic fact that we often forget to give God praise when He meets our needs and delivers us from trouble. Never fail to give God the praise for all He does in your life!

       What the Lord did for David in both the time of old age and in the time of trouble, He will do for you! How important it is to acknowledge your own helplessness and the need for the Lord’s help at every turn of life. The Lord challenges you to ask for His hope when the trials, troubles and temptations of life come your way.

       Trust and hope in the Lord will bring God’s safety and strength into your life as you face the various life situations. Praise will bring God’s presence to you! His good and righteous character will deliver you from all evil.

Psalm 50:15 ; And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.