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New Defender's Study Bible Notes
71:5 from my youth. The writer of this psalm is unknown, but he has trusted in the true God from youth to old age. He still faces similar problems to those faced by believers of all seasons of life, and must still call on God for deliverance, protection and opportunities for service.
71:9 time of old age. See notes on Psalm 37:25; 92:14. Many have been the Christians who have been fruitful servants of Christ in old age.
71:18 old and grayheaded. This is a worthy prayer for all elderly believers, as well as a reminder to younger Christians that the older generation still has much to contribute to the present spiritual conflict in terms of accumulated experience and wisdom. “There is no discharge in that war” (Ecclesiastes 8:8). A concerned Christian should continue to serve the Lord, in prayer if nothing else, as long as he has breath.
71:20 bring me up again. A life lived for the Lord will not end, nor will its testimony, even after death. There is ongoing life with the Lord beyond the grave, with future resurrection of the body also. In the meantime, “Thou shalt increase my greatness” (Psalm 71:21).
Psalm 72 (title). This psalm, like Psalm 2, does not list David as author in its heading, but its final verse confirms the Davidic authorship.