Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 71:14
But I will hope continually, and will yet praise thee more and more.
14. But as for me, I will hope continually,
And will praise thee yet more and more.
He contrasts his own future with that of his enemies.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
14 16. Vows of praise and thanksgiving.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
But I will hope continually – I will always cherish hope; I will not give up to despair. I will trust in God whatever may be the number, the power, and the confidence of my enemies. None of these things shall make me despair, for as long as I have a God, I have every ground for hope. No man should despair who has God for his Friend. Compare Psa 42:5, Psa 42:11; Psa 43:5.
And will yet praise thee more and more – literally, I will add upon all thy praise. That is, I will accumulate it; I will increase it. He saw abundant cause in the past for praising God; he had such confidence in him, and he felt such an assurance that he would interpose in his behalf, that he did not doubt that in the future dealings of God with him, he would have every reason to add to that praise.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Psa 71:14
But I. . . will yet praise Thee more and more.
More and more
When sin conquered the realm of manhood, it slew all the minstrels except those of the race of Hope. For humanity, amid all its sorrows and sins, hope sings on. To believers in Jesus there remains a royal race of bards, for we have a hope of glory, a lively hope, a hope eternal and divine.
I. Our first business shall be, to urge ourselves to this resolution.
1. It is humbling to remember that we may very well praise God more than we have done, for we have praised Him very little as yet. What we have done, as believers, in glorifying God falls far, far short of His due.
2. Another argument which presses upon my mind is this: that wherein we have praised God up till now, we have not found the service to be a weariness to ourselves, but it has ever been to us both a profit and a delight. I would not speak falsely even for God, but I bear my testimony that the happiest moments I have ever spent have been occupied with the worship of God. I have never been so near heaven as when adoring before the eternal throne. I think every Christian will bear like witness.
3. We ought surely to praise God more to-day than at any other previous day, because we have received more mercies. Even of temporal favours we have been large partakers. Begin with these, and then rise higher.
4. We have been proving through a series of years the faithfulness, immutability, and veracity of our God–proving these attributes by our sinning against God, and their bearing the strain of our misbehaviour–proving them by the innumerable benefits which the Lord has bestowed upon us. Shall all this experience end in no result? Shall there be no advance in gratitude where there is such an increase of obligation? God is so good that every moment of His love demands a life of praise.
5. It should never be forgotten that every Christian as he grows in grace should have a loftier idea of God. Our highest conception of God falls infinitely short of His glory, but an advanced Christian enjoys a far clearer view of what God is than he had at the first, Now, the greatness of God is ever a claim for praise. Great is the Lord, and–what follows?–greatly to be praised. If, then, God is greater to me than He was, let my praise be greater.
6. It is a good reason for praising God more that we are getting nearer to the place where we hope to praise Him, world without end, after a perfect sort.
II. Let us in the Spirits strength drive away that which hinders us from praising God more and more.
1. One of the deadliest things is dreaminess, sleepiness. A Christian readily falls into this state. I notice it even in the public congregation. Very often the whole service is gone through mechanically. A sleepy seraph before the throne of Jehovah, or a cherub nodding during sacred song, it were ridiculous to imagine. And shall such an insult to the majesty of heaven be seen on earthy No! Let us say to all that is within us, Awake! awake!
2. The next hindrance would be divided objects. We cannot, however we may resolve, praise God more and more, if, as we grow older, we allow this world to take up our thoughts. If I say, I will praise God more and more, and yet I am striking out right and left with projects of amassing wealth, or I am plunging myself into greater business cares unnecessarily, my actions belie my resolutions.
3. To rest on the past is another danger as to this matter.
III. Let us apply ourselves to the practical carrying out of this resolution. How shall I begin to praise God more and mercy Earnestness says: I shall undertake some fresh duty this afternoon. Stop just a minute. If you want to praise God, would not it be as well first to begin with yourself? The musician said: I will praise God better; but the pipes of his instrument were foul; he had better look to them first. If the strings have slipped from their proper tension, it will be well to correct them before beginning the tune. No; prepare yourself; make your heart ready. Thou needest the Spirits aid to make thy soul fit for praising God. Go then to thy chamber, confess the sins of the past, and ask the Lord to give thee much more grace that thou mayest begin to praise Him. These inner matters being considered, let us go on to increase our actual and direct service of God. Let us quicken our speed. Or suppose we are already doing so much that all the time we can possibly spare is fully occupied, let us do what we do better. We should praise God much more if we threw more of His praise into our common conversation–if we spoke more of Him when we are by the way or when we sit in the house. We should praise Him more and more if we fulfilled our consecration, and obeyed the precept, Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. (C. H. Spurgeon.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 14. I will hope continually] I shall expect deliverance after deliverance, and blessing after blessing; and, in consequence, I will praise thee more and more. As thy blessings abound, so shall my praises.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
For which I know thou wilt yet give me abundant occasion.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
14-16. The ruin of his enemies,as illustrating God’s faithfulness, is his deliverance, and a reasonfor future confidence.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
But I will hope continually,…. For deliverance and salvation from present outward troubles, for; more grace here and glory hereafter: it is the excellency of the grace of hope to be exercised in times of affliction and distress, and with Abraham to believe in hope against hope; and then it is that this grace is eminently and remarkably useful: it is an anchor to the soul when in distress, which keeps it firm and steadfast; and an helmet, which covers the head in the day of battle; in the exercise of which the believer glories in tribulation: it is an abiding grace, and should be continually exercised by those that have it, which is to abound in it; but this must be through the power of the Holy Ghost, Ro 15:13;
and will yet praise thee more and more; or “will add to all thy praise” b; to former praises and thanksgivings, fresh ones, as his mercies were renewed to him, and he was daily loaded with benefits.
b “omnibus laudibus tuis adjiciam”, Tigurine version.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
| Joyful Praises; Rejoicing in Hope. | |
14 But I will hope continually, and will yet praise thee more and more. 15 My mouth shall show forth thy righteousness and thy salvation all the day; for I know not the numbers thereof. 16 I will go in the strength of the Lord GOD: I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only. 17 O God, thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works. 18 Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have showed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come. 19 Thy righteousness also, O God, is very high, who hast done great things: O God, who is like unto thee! 20 Thou, which hast showed me great and sore troubles, shalt quicken me again, and shalt bring me up again from the depths of the earth. 21 Thou shalt increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side. 22 I will also praise thee with the psaltery, even thy truth, O my God: unto thee will I sing with the harp, O thou Holy One of Israel. 23 My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto thee; and my soul, which thou hast redeemed. 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.
David is here in a holy transport of joy and praise, arising from his faith and hope in God; we have both together v. 14, where there is a sudden and remarkable change of his voice; his fears are all silenced, his hopes raised, and his prayers turned into thanksgivings. “Let my enemies say what they will, to drive me to despair, I will hope continually, hope in all conditions, in the most cloudy and dark day; I will live upon hope and will hope to the end.” Since we hope in one that will never fail us, let not our hope in him fail us, and then we shall praise him yet more and more. “The more they reproach me the more closely will I cleave to thee; I will praise thee more and better than ever I have done yet.” The longer we live the more expert we should grow in praising God and the more we should abound in it. I will add over and above all thy praise, all the praise I have hitherto offered, for it is all too little. When we have said all we can, to the glory of God’s grace, there is still more to be said; it is a subject that can never be exhausted, and therefore we should never grow weary of it. Now observe, in these verses,
I. How his heart is established in faith and hope; and it is a good thing that the heart be so established. Observe,
1. What he hopes in, v. 16. (1.) In the power of God: “I will go in the strength of the Lord God, not sit down in despair, but stir up myself to and exert myself in my work and warfare, will go forth and go on, not in any strength of my own, but in God’s strength–disclaiming my own sufficiency and depending on him only as all-sufficient–in the strength of his providence and in the strength of his grace.” We must always go about God’s work in his strength, having our eyes up unto him to work in us both to will and to do. (2.) In the promise of God: “I will make mention of thy righteousness, that is, thy faithfulness to every word which thou hast spoken, the equity of thy disposals, and thy kindness to thy people that trust in thee. This I will make mention of as my plea in prayer for thy mercy.” We may very fitly apply it to the righteousness of Christ, which is called the righteousness of God by faith, and which is witnessed by the law and the prophets; we must depend upon God’s strength for assistance and upon Christ’s righteousness for acceptance. In the Lord have I righteousness and strength, Isa. xlv. 24.
2. What he hopes for.
(1.) He hopes that God will not leave him in his old age, but will be the same to him to the end that he had been all along, Psa 71:17; Psa 71:18. Observe here, [1.] What God had done for him when he was young: Thou hast taught me from my youth. The good education and good instructions which his parents gave him when he was young he owns himself obliged to give God thanks for as a great favour. It is a blessed thing to be taught of God from our youth, from our childhood to know the holy scriptures, and it is what we have reason to bless God for. [2.] What he had done for God when he was middle-aged: He had declared all God’s wondrous works. Those that have not good when they are young must be doing good when they are grown up, and must continue to communicate what they have received. We must own that all the works of God’s goodness to us are wondrous works, admiring he should do so much for us who are so undeserving, and we must make it our business to declare them, to the glory of God and the good of others. [3.] What he desired of God now that he was old: Now that I am old and gray-headed, dying to this world and hastening to another, O God! forsake me not. This is what he earnestly desires and confidently hopes for. Those that have been taught of God from their youth, and have made it the business of their lives to honour him, may be sure that he will not leave them when they are old and gray-headed, will not leave them helpless and comfortless, but will make the evil days of old age their best days, and such as they shall have occasion to say they have pleasure in. [4.] What he designed to do for God in his old age: “I will not only show thy strength, by my own experience of it, to this generation, but I will leave my observations upon record for the benefit of posterity, and so who it to every one that is to come.” As long as we live we should be endeavouring to glorify God and edify one another; and those that have had the largest and longest experience of the goodness of God to them should improve their experiences for the good of their friends. It is a debt which the old disciples of Christ owe to the succeeding generations to leave behind them a solemn testimony to the power, pleasure, and advantage of religion, and the truth of God’s promises.
(2.) He hopes that God would revive him and raise him up out of his present low and disconsolate condition (v. 20): Thou who hast made me to see and feel great and sore troubles, above most men, shalt quicken me again. Note, [1.] The best of God’s saints and servants are sometimes exercised with great and sore troubles in this world. [2.] God’s hand is to be eyed in all the troubles of the saints, and that will help to extenuate them and make them seem light. He does not say, “Thou hast burdened me with those troubles,” but “shown them to me,” as the tender father shows the child the rod to keep him in awe. [3.] Though God’s people be brought ever so low he can revive them and raise them up. Are they dead? he can quicken them again. See 2 Cor. i. 9. Are they buried, as dead men out of mind? he can bring them up again from the depths of the earth, can cheer the most drooping spirit and raise the most sinking interest. [4.] If we have a due regard to the hand of God in our troubles, we may promise ourselves, in due time, a deliverance out of them. Our present troubles, though great and sore, shall be no hindrance to our joyful resurrection from the depths of the earth, witness our great Master, to whom this may have some reference; his Father showed him great and sore troubles, but quickened him and brought him up from the grave.
(3.) He hopes that God would not only deliver him out of his troubles, but would advance his honour and joy more than ever (v. 21): “Thou shalt not only restore me to my greatness again, but shalt increase it, and give me a better interest, after this shock, than before; thou shalt not only comfort me, but comfort me on every side, so that I shall see nothing black or threatening on any side.” Note, Sometimes God makes his people’s troubles contribute to the increase of their greatness, and their sun shines the brighter for having been under a cloud. If he make them contribute to the increase of their goodness, that will prove in the end the increase of their greatness, their glory; and if he comfort them on every side, according to the time and degree wherein he has afflicted them on every side, they will have no reason to complain. When our Lord Jesus was quickened again, and brought back from the depths of the earth, his greatness was increased, and he entered on the joy set before him.
(4.) He hopes that all his enemies would be put to confusion, v. 24. He speaks of it with the greatest assurance as a thing done, and triumphs in it accordingly: They are confounded, they are brought to shame, that seek my hurt. His honour would be their disgrace and his comfort their vexation.
II. Let us now see how his heart is enlarged in joy and praises, how he rejoices in hope, and sings in hope for we are saved by hope.
1. He will speak of God’s righteousness and his salvation, as great things, things which he was well acquainted with, and much affected with, which he desired God might have the glory of and others might have the comfortable knowledge of (v. 15): My mouth shall show forth thy righteousness and thy salvation; and again (v. 24), My tongue shall talk of thy righteousness, and this all the day. God’s righteousness, which David seems here to be in a particular manner affected with, includes a great deal: the rectitude of his nature, the equity of his providential disposals, the righteous laws he has given us to be ruled by, the righteous promises he has given us to depend upon, and the everlasting righteousness which his Son has brought in for our justification. God’s righteousness and his salvation are here joined together; let no man think to put them asunder, nor expect salvation without righteousness, Ps. l. 23. If these two are made the objects of our desire, let them be made the subjects of our discourse all the day, for they are subjects that can never be exhausted.
2. He will speak of them with wonder and admiration, as one astonished at the dimensions of divine love and grace, the height and depth, the length and breadth, of it: “I know not the numbers thereof, v. 15. Though I cannot give a particular account of thy favours to me, they are so many, so great (if I would count them, they are more in number than the sand, Ps. xl. 5), yet, knowing them to be numberless, I will be still speaking of them, for in them I shall find new matter,” v. 19. The righteousness that is in God is very high; that which is done by him for his people is very great: put both together, and we shall say, O God! who is like unto thee? This is praising God, acknowledging his perfections and performances to be, (1.) Above our conception; they are very high and great, so high that we cannot apprehend them, so great that we cannot comprehend them. (2.) Without any parallel; no being like him, no works like his: O God! who is like unto thee? None in heaven, none on earth, no angel, no king. God is a non-such; we do not rightly praise him if we do not own him to be so.
3. He will speak of them with all the expressions of joy and exultation, Psa 71:22; Psa 71:23. Observe,
(1.) How he would eye God in praising him. [1.] As a faithful God: I will praise thee, even thy truth. God is made known by his word; if we praise that, and the truth of that, we praise him. By faith we set to our seal that God is true; and so we praise his truth. [2.] As a God in covenant with him: “O my God! whom I have consented to and avouched for mine.” As in our prayers, so in our praises, we must look up to God as our God, and give him the glory of our interest in him and relation to him. [3.] As the Holy One of Israel, Israel’s God in a peculiar manner, glorious in his holiness among that people and faithful to his covenant with them. It is God’s honour that he is a Holy One; it is his people’s honour that he is the Holy One of Israel.
(2.) How he will express his joy and exultation. [1.] With his hand, in sacred music–with the psaltery, with the harp; at these David excelled, and the best of his skill shall be employed in setting forth God’s praises to such advantage as might affect others. [2.] With his lips, in sacred songs: “Unto thee will I sing, to thy honour, and with a desire to be accepted of thee. My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto thee, knowing they cannot be better employed.” [3.] In both with his heart: “My soul shall rejoice which thou hast redeemed.” Note, First, Holy joy is the very heart and life of thankful praise. Secondly, We do not make melody to the Lord, in singing his praises, if we do not do it with our hearts. My lips shall rejoice, but that is nothing; lip-labour, though ever so well laboured, if that be all, is but lost labour in serving God; the soul must be at work, and with all that is within us we must bless his holy name, else all about us is worth little. Thirdly, Redeemed souls ought to be joyful thankful souls. The work of redemption ought, above all God’s works, to be celebrated by us in our praises. The Lamb that was slain, and has redeemed us to God, must therefore be counted worthy of all blessing and praise.
Fuente: Matthew Henry’s Whole Bible Commentary
14. But I will hope continually. David again, as having obtained the victory, prepares himself for thanksgiving. There is, however, no doubt, that during the time when the wicked derided his simplicity, he struggled manfully amidst his distresses, as may be gathered from the word hope. Although, to outward appearance, there was no prospect of deliverance from his troubles, and although the wicked ceased not proudly to pour contempt upon his trust in God, he nevertheless determined to persevere in the exercise of hope; even as it is a genuine proof of faith, to look exclusively to the Divine promise, in order to be guided by its light alone amidst the thickest darkness of afflictions. The strength, then, of the hope of which David speaks, is to be estimated by the conflicts which he at that time sustained. In saying, I will add to all thy praises, he shows the confidence with which he anticipated a desirable escape from his troubles. It is as if he had said — Lord, I have been long accustomed to receive benefits from thee, and this fresh accession to them, I doubt not, will furnish me with new matter for celebrating thy grace.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
Psa 71:14 But I will hope continually, and will yet praise thee more and more.
Ver. 14. But I will hope continually ] I will lengthen out mine hope, as a line drawn out. Tremellius renders it, I am in expectation still of completing thy praise, and will go on therein, viz. when thou shalt have completed my deliverance
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Psa 71:14-16
Psa 71:14-16
A PLEDGE TO KEEP ON PRAISING AND TRUSTING GOD
“But I will hope continually,
And will praise thee yet more and more.
My mouth shall tell of thy righteousness,
And of thy salvation all the day;
For I know not the numbers thereof.
I will come with the mighty acts of the Lord Jehovah:
I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only.”
“I will hope … my mouth shall tell … I will come … I will make mention” (Psa 71:14-16). These verbs are all future; and they amount to a pledge that David who has always praised and trusted God will continue to do so “more and more.”
“I will praise thee more and more” (Psa 71:14). What a marvelous answer is this to the inevitable encroachments upon life of age and infirmity. It is not a time for slowing down in the pursuit of holiness; it is not a time for leaving everything to the next generation; it is not a time for slackening zeal in our faithfulness to Christ and his Church. Indeed no! It is time for trusting God, “more and more.” It is time for greater fidelity, more loving devotion, and “more and more” constancy in our adherence to the “Faith once for all delivered to the saints.”
“I know not the numbers thereof” (Psa 71:15). This is David’s admission that, “The blessings of God upon him were innumerable.
“Even of thine alone” (Psa 71:16). This simply means that David promised not to make any mention at all of “his” righteousness, and that he would speak only of the marvelous righteousness of God. David had already learned the truth, mentioned in later generations by Isaiah, that, “All our righteousnesses are as a polluted garment” (Isa 64:6).
E.M. Zerr:
Psa 71:14. David’s constant trust in the Lord was his greatest quality. During his darkest periods of distress he always turned to God for relief.
Psa 71:15. Know not the numbers was used in the same sense as we say “too numerous to mention.” It referred to the manifold instances of God’s righteous favors.
Psa 71:16. David’s reliance on the strength of God has a parallel thought in Eph 6:10. The latter part of this verse means David would not claim any merit for his own righteousness; only for the Lord’s.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
But: Psa 43:5, Job 13:15, Lam 3:21, Lam 3:26, Heb 10:35, 1Pe 1:13, 1Jo 3:3
praise: Psa 71:6, Phi 1:9, 1Th 4:10, 2Pe 3:18
Reciprocal: Psa 30:12 – I will Psa 34:1 – General Psa 42:5 – hope Psa 119:49 – upon which Psa 145:1 – extol thee Psa 146:2 – While I live Son 4:11 – lips Dan 6:20 – servest Rom 5:4 – and experience 1Th 3:9 – what
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Psa 71:14-16. But I will hope continually Although in the greatest straits and difficulties; and will yet praise thee more and more For which I know thou wilt yet give me abundant occasion. My mouth shall show forth thy righteousness Thy truth, justice, and mercy, manifested in all thy dispensations toward me; and thy salvation Temporal and spiritual, wrought out for me; all the day long It shall be the subject of all my songs, and my continual employment to publish it abroad. For I know not the number thereof Of the instances in which thou hast manifested thy righteousness, that is, thy mercy and truth in delivering me. I will go I will not sit down in despair, but I will go on in my work and warfare; in the strength of the Lord God Relying, not on any strength of my own, or any efforts I can make, but disclaiming my own sufficiency, and depending on God only as all-sufficient: looking to and trusting in his providence and grace. Observe, reader, we must always go about Gods work in his strength, having our eyes up unto him, to work in us both to will and to do. I will make mention of thy righteousness Of thy mercy and goodness; or, rather, of thy faithfulness in making good all thy promises, of thy equity in all thy dispensations, and of thy kindness to thy people that trust in thee. Of this righteousness, including these thy perfections, I will make mention, partly to praise and celebrate it, and partly to support and comfort myself with the remembrance of it, and what it implies.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
3. A new commitment to continued trust 71:14-24
Fuente: Expository Notes of Dr. Constable (Old and New Testaments)
Regardless of the outcome in his case, the writer determined to continue trusting and praising God. The Lord had demonstrated His righteousness, salvation, and mighty deeds for a long time and in many ways. Therefore, the psalmist vowed to speak of them forever, even if he could not tally up all of God’s faithful acts. If God forsook him, he could not fully relate these testimonials to the present generation of his people.