Commentary LibraryCommentaries on Psalms 71:12
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John Gill
INTRODUCTION TO Psalms 71 This psalm is without a title, but is thought to be David's: the Septuagint and Vulgate Latin versions, and all the Oriental ones, ascribe it to him; and both the subject and style show it to be his. According to the title of the Syriac version, it was composed by him when Saul made war against the house of David; but this is not likely, since it was written by him in...
John Gill
O God, be not far from me,.... God is everywhere, at hand and afar off, with regard to his being, power, and providence; his glorious presence is in heaven, his gracious presence is with his people; but, when he hides his face, he seems to be at a distance; and this they cannot bear, and therefore deprecate it; see Psalms 10:1; O my God, make haste for my help; he knew that his help was in God,...
Matthew Henry
David penned this psalm in his old age, as appears by several passages in it, which makes many think that it was penned at the time of Absalom's rebellion; for that was the great trouble of his later days. It might be occasioned by Sheba's insurrection, or some trouble that happened to him in that part of his life of which it was foretold that the sword should not depart from his house. But he is...
Charles H. Spurgeon
Ver. 12. 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. The cry of "make haste" has occurred many times in this portion of the Psalms, and it was evoked by the...
Charles H. Spurgeon
Ver. 11-12. Two great lies and two sweet prayers. Psa_71:13*
Charles H. Spurgeon
For mine enemies speak against me and they that lay wait for my soul take counsel together, saying, God hath forsaken him: persecute and take him; for there is none to deliver him. O God, be not far from me: O my God, make haste for my help. Let them be confounded and consumed that are adversaries to my soul; let them be covered with reproach and dishonour that seek my hurt. But I will hope...
Charles H. Spurgeon
O God, be not far from me: O my God, make haste for my help. Notice the still more intense grip of faith in the second clause. The psalmist first says, “O God,” then he says, “O my God.” It is grand pleading when we so grasp God with the personal grip of faith that we cry, “O my God, make haste for my help.”
Charles H. Spurgeon
O God be not far from me: O my God, make haste for my hell. Let them be confounded and consumed that are adversaries to my soul; let them be covered with reproach and dishonour that seek my hurt. But I will hope continually, and will yet raise thee more and more. How was he going to do it? Already his mouth was filled with God’s praise, so, surely, he would fill his whole life with it, and his...