Outside Reading - Psalm 71

Psalm 71 has brought me some serious comfort for some reason. The Psalm is all about the struggle the author is in and most of the psalm is him crying out to God to save him. The author uses terms such as, rescue me, be to me a rock of refuge, you have given the command to save me, do not case me off in the time of old age, you are my strong refuge, and I will hope continually. To me when I read the passage I see a man who can not handle life and it at the very end of his power and life these are the words he chooses to use. It is filled with honesty and pure crying from the heart, I think this gives me comfort because I see someone who seems to be done at the very core of him and he continues to praise God and cry out to him for help because he knows that will be and is the only place that will rescue him. He is so contrasting with his words using phrases like: Be to me a rock of refuge and then a couple verses later said you are my strong refuge.

The author clearly has hope in something much deeper than the visible world. I think I get a taste of that confidence he has when I read this psalm. The phrase, "I will hope continually" is something that struck me and something I ponder often.

What does it look like to hope continually? How would my life change if I was filled with hope at all time and was also looking for hope in my life. I guess life is for trying these things out.


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