Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 71:24
My tongue also shall talk of thy righteousness all the day long: for they are confounded, for they are brought unto shame, that seek my hurt.
24. My tongue &c.] From Psa 35:28. The word for talk denotes musing, meditative speech.
for they &c.] For they are ashamed, for they are confounded, that seek my hurt (R.V.). A reminiscence of Psa 35:4; Psa 35:26; Psa 40:14 (Psa 70:2). His faith realises the discomfiture of his enemies as though it had already taken place.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
My tongue also shall talk of thy righteousness – Thy righteous character; the truthfulness, the goodness, the fidelity which thou hast manifested in delivering me. The word rendered talk means properly to meditate; then, to think aloud, to talk to oneself; and the idea may be, that his mind would be so full of the subject that he would give utterance to his thoughts in audible expressions when alone. It denotes fullness of heart, and language naturally flowing out from a full soul.
All the day long – Continually. This shall occupy my mind at all times. See the notes at Psa 1:2.
For they are confounded … – That is, they are put to confusion; they are disappointed in their hopes; they are defeated in their plans. The psalmist sees this to be so certain that he speaks of it as if it were already done. The Psalms often conclude in this way. They begin in trouble, they end in joy; they begin in darkness, they end in light; they begin with a desponding mind, they end with a triumphant spirit; they begin with prayer, they end in praise. On the language used here, see the notes at Psa 71:13. On such a close of the Psalms, see Psa 3:7-8; Psa 6:9-10; Psa 7:17; Psa 17:15; Psa 22:30-31; Psa 26:12; Psa 42:11; Psa 43:5; Psa 52:8-9.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 24. Talk of thy righteousness] The righteousness of God is frequently used in this Psalm, and in other places, to signify his justice, judgments, faithfulness, truth, mercy, c. There are few words of more general import in the Bible.
They are confounded] The counsel of Ahithophel is confounded, and turned to foolishness, and he was so ashamed that he went and hanged himself. As to the vain and wicked Absalom, he met with the fate that he had meditated against his father. Though not yet done, David sees all these things as actually accomplished for he had got a Divine assurance that God would bring them to pass.
ANALYSIS OF THE SEVENTY-FIRST PSALM
The parts of this Psalm, generally, are these two: –
I. A prayer that God would help and deliver him, which he urges by many arguments, Ps 71:1-21.
II. His vow of thanksgiving, Ps 71:22-24.
I. 1. His petition in general: “Let me never be put to confusion.”
2. He intimates the cause: “I put my trust in thee,” c., Ps 71:2.
To induce the Lord to hear, he uses many arguments, drawn, –
1. From his justice and equity: “Deliver me in thy righteousness.”
2. From his word and promise: “Thou hast given commandment,” c.
3. From his power: “Thou art my rock,” &c.
4. From his relation to him: “My God, my hope.”
5. From the qualities of his adversaries: “They were wicked, unrighteous, and cruel.”
6. From his confidence: “Thou art my hope.”
7. From his gracious providence: “By thee have I been holden up,” &c.
8. From his thankful heart: “My praise shall be continually,” &c.
9. He had none to trust to but GOD: “Thou art my refuge.”
3. He resumes his prayer: “Cast me not off in the time of old age,” &c.
He describes his enemies: –
1. They were continual calumniators: “Mine enemies speak against me.”
2. They laboured to take away his life.
3. They studied mischief against him: “They take counsel together.”
4. Their words were cruel: “God hath forsaken him persecute,” c.
4. He resumes his prayer, and predicts his enemies’ downfall: “O my God, be not far from me make haste for my help.”
He prays against his enemies, –
1. “Let them be confounded,” c.: they shall be confounded.
2. He expresses his hope: “I will hope continually.”
3. And his purpose of gratitude: “I will praise thee more and more.”
4. He pleads from his past experience of God’s mercy to him.
1. God had “taught him from his youth” both by his word and Spirit.
2. Hitherto he had “declared God’s wondrous works.”
3. Therefore, “forsake me not now that I am old and grey-headed.”
4. I have still much to do: “Until I have showed thy strength,” &c.
From all these considerations he feels gratitude, and praises God.
1. Thy righteousness is very high. There is nothing like IT.
2. God is wonderful: “There is none like HIM.”
Of all this he had full and satisfactory proof.
1. Thou hast showed me troubles – “sore troubles.”
2. Yet thou shalt revive me.
3. Thou “shalt bring me from the depths of the earth.”
4. “Thou shalt increase my greatness.”
5. “Thou shalt support me on every side.”
II. The SECOND part contains David’s thanksgiving.
1. He will praise the truth of the “Holy One of Israel:” not only with nebel and kinnor – instruments of music then used, –
2. But with his lips and soul heart and mouth going together.
3. With his tongue speaking of God’s goodness to others.
4. And for this reason, “They are confounded, for they are brought to shame that seek my hurt.”
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
My tongue also shall talk of thy righteousness all the day long,…. [See comments on Ps 71:16];
for they are confounded; his adversaries, for whose confusion he prayed, Ps 71:13;
for they are brought unto shame that seek my hurt; as Absalom and Ahithophel, being both brought to a shameful end.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(24) My tongue.Comp. this with the conclusion of Psalms 35
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
24. For they are confounded The preterit tense of the verb contemplates the act as past have been ashamed, have been confounded, which illustrates the vigour of his faith, and, like its author, “calleth those things which be not as though they were,” (Rom 4:17😉 or, possibly the tidings of victory had even now reached him. See introductions to this and the two preceding psalms. It is true, however, that David often uses the historic sense to express the lively assurance of his faith, in events yet to come, or the evidence that his prayer is answered.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
REFLECTIONS
LORD Jesus! may I always find grace, while beholding thee going before thy people in all the exercises to which our nature is called, to follow thee on, thou perfect pattern, in all that is amiable and lovely, until I arrive, in thy strength and righteousness, to dwell with thee and in thee forever. Blessed be thy name! I do behold thee in this sweet Psalm, while acting as our Representative and Surety, and fulfilling all righteousness for thy people, leaning upon the covenant-faithfulness of thy Father, and trusting in him for every suited support through all the periods of thy undertaking. And as God, thy God and Father, had given commandment to save thee, and given his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy way; so I see, blessed Lord, that to this promise as to thy rock and fortress, thou hadst recourse in every time of need. Precious Jesus! give me grace to learn from it to whom I am to look, and from whom I am to expect aid, whenever the enemies of my salvation encompass me around. And surely I shall find grace equal to my need, and as my day is, my strength will be. Tell me, O Lord, as thou didst thy servant the apostle, that thy grace is sufficient for me; and that thy strength is made perfect in my weakness. Yes! thou almighty Redeemer! I will humbly adopt thine own words, and in thy grace and strength say, But I will hope continually; yea, I will praise thee more and more. My mouth shall show forth thy righteousness, and thy salvation, all the day long; for I know not the numbers thereof. I will go in thy strength, O Lord God, and I will make mention of thy righteousness. even of thine only. Amen.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Psa 71:24 My tongue also shall talk of thy righteousness all the day long: for they are confounded, for they are brought unto shame, that seek my hurt.
Ver. 24. My tongue also shall talk of thy righteousness ] Advisedly talk, and upon due deliberation. What a mad edict was that of Henry II of France, that men should not talk at all of Scriptural matters! And that of the Jesuits at Dola, forbidding any talk of God, either in good sort or in bad!
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
My tongue: Psa 71:8, Psa 71:15, Psa 37:30, Deu 11:19, Pro 10:20, Pro 10:21, Mat 12:35, Eph 4:29
for they: Psa 71:13, Psa 18:37-43, Psa 92:11, 1Co 15:25
Reciprocal: 2Sa 4:8 – sought Est 9:2 – as sought Psa 31:17 – wicked Psa 35:4 – confounded Psa 35:28 – General Psa 71:16 – thy righteousness Psa 73:28 – that I may Psa 77:12 – talk Psa 108:1 – my glory Psa 119:171 – my lips Psa 145:5 – will speak Psa 145:21 – My mouth Son 4:11 – lips Col 4:6 – your Jam 3:9 – Therewith