◄ Psalm 71:16 ►
I will enter in the strength of the Lord GOD; I will proclaim Your righteousness--Yours alone.
Study Bible
I will enter
The phrase "I will enter" signifies a deliberate and conscious decision to approach or engage in an action. In the Hebrew context, the verb often implies movement towards a sacred space or a divine presence. This reflects the psalmist's intentionality in seeking God's presence and strength. The act of entering is not passive but an active pursuit of communion with God, highlighting the importance of personal agency in one's spiritual journey.

in the strength
The word "strength" in Hebrew is often associated with might, power, and the ability to overcome obstacles. It is not merely physical strength but encompasses moral and spiritual fortitude. The psalmist acknowledges that true strength comes from God, and it is in His power that one can face life's challenges. This reliance on divine strength underscores a theme prevalent throughout the Psalms: human weakness contrasted with God's omnipotence.

of the Lord GOD
The use of "Lord GOD" combines two significant names of God: "Adonai" (Lord) and "Yahweh" (GOD). "Adonai" emphasizes God's sovereignty and authority, while "Yahweh" is the covenant name of God, highlighting His eternal and unchanging nature. Together, they remind the reader of God's supreme power and His faithful commitment to His people. This duality assures the believer of God's ability and willingness to provide strength and support.

I will proclaim
To "proclaim" is to announce or declare publicly. In the Hebrew tradition, proclamation is an act of worship and testimony. It involves speaking forth God's deeds and attributes, thereby glorifying Him and encouraging others. The psalmist's commitment to proclaiming God's works reflects a heart of gratitude and a desire to share the goodness of God with others, fulfilling the call to be a witness to His greatness.

Your righteousness
"Righteousness" in the biblical sense refers to God's moral perfection and justice. It is an attribute of God that denotes His faithfulness to His promises and His just dealings with humanity. The psalmist's focus on God's righteousness highlights the assurance that God acts rightly and justly in all circumstances. This serves as a foundation for trust and hope, knowing that God's actions are always aligned with His holy character.

and Yours alone
The phrase "and Yours alone" emphasizes exclusivity and singularity. It acknowledges that the righteousness and strength the psalmist relies on are solely God's, not shared with any other deity or human source. This declaration of God's unique and unparalleled nature reinforces the monotheistic belief central to the Hebrew faith. It calls believers to recognize and honor God as the sole source of righteousness and strength in their lives.

Persons / Places / Events
1. The Psalmist
Traditionally attributed to David, the psalmist is expressing trust and reliance on God's strength and righteousness.

2. The Lord GOD
Refers to Yahweh, the covenant-keeping God of Israel, emphasizing His power and faithfulness.

3. Righteousness
The psalmist speaks of God's righteousness, highlighting His moral perfection and justice.
Teaching Points
Dependence on Divine Strength
The psalmist models a life of reliance on God's strength rather than personal ability. In our daily lives, we should seek God's strength in our weaknesses and challenges.

Proclaiming God's Righteousness
The focus on God's righteousness alone reminds us to give glory to God in all circumstances, acknowledging His perfect justice and moral integrity.

Exclusive Trust in God
The phrase "Yours alone" emphasizes the exclusivity of trust and worship that should be directed to God. We are called to avoid idolatry and place our faith solely in Him.

Spiritual Boldness
Entering in the strength of the Lord encourages believers to act with boldness and confidence in their spiritual walk, knowing that God empowers them.

Witnessing to Others
Proclaiming God's righteousness is an act of witnessing. We are encouraged to share our faith and God's attributes with others, reflecting His character in our lives.
Bible Study Questions
1. How can you practically "enter in the strength of the Lord" in your daily life and challenges?

2. In what ways can you proclaim God's righteousness in your community or workplace?

3. Reflect on a time when you relied on your own strength rather than God's. What was the outcome, and how might it have been different if you had relied on God?

4. How does understanding God's righteousness impact your view of justice and morality in today's world?

5. What are some practical steps you can take to ensure that your trust and worship are directed to God alone, avoiding modern forms of idolatry?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Isaiah 40:31
This verse speaks of those who wait on the Lord renewing their strength, similar to the psalmist's reliance on God's strength.

Philippians 4:13
Paul echoes the theme of divine strength, stating he can do all things through Christ who strengthens him.

Romans 1:17
Discusses the righteousness of God revealed in the gospel, connecting to the psalmist's proclamation of God's righteousness.

2 Corinthians 12:9
Paul speaks of God's grace being sufficient and His power made perfect in weakness, paralleling the psalmist's dependence on God's strength.
Sermons
Faith's Firm ResolvePsalm 71:16
God the Source of the Minister's StrengthJames Sherman.Psalm 71:16
The Christian's Duty and DependenceThomas Gordon.Psalm 71:16
A Picture of a Pious Old ManHomilistPsalm 71:1-24
Godly Old AgeW. Forsyth Psalm 71:1-24
The Vow of FaithR. C. Ford, M. A.Psalm 71:1-24
Persistent Hope and Increasing PraiseC. Short Psalm 71:14-24
People
Psalmist, Solomon
Places
Jerusalem
Topics
Acts, Alone, Deeds, Mention, Mighty, News, O, Praise, Proclaim, Recall, Righteousness, Sovereign, Strength, Yours
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Psalm 71:15

     1125   God, righteousness
     5167   mouth
     8496   witnessing, importance

Library
December 22. "My Tongue Also Shall Talk of Thy Righteousness all the Day Long" (Ps. Lxxi. 24).
"My tongue also shall talk of Thy righteousness all the day long" (Ps. lxxi. 24). It is a simple law of nature, that air always comes in to fill a vacuum. You can produce a draught at any time, by heating the air until it ascends, and then the cold air rushes in to supply its place. And so we can always be filled with the Holy Spirit by providing a vacuum. This breath is dependent upon exhausting the previous breath before you can inhale a fresh one. And so we must empty our hearts of the last breath …
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

More and More
David had not been slack in praise: indeed, he was a sweet singer in Israel, a very choir-master unto the Lord yet he vowed to praise him more and more. Those who do much already, are usually the people who can do more. He was old. Would he praise God more when he was infirm than he had done when he was young and vigorous? If he could not excel with loudness of voice, yet would he with eagerness of heart; and what his praise might lack in sound, it should gain in solemn earnestness. He was in trouble …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 17: 1871

Of Four Things which Bring Great Peace
"My Son, now will I teach thee the way of peace and of true liberty." 2. Do, O my Lord, as Thou sayest, for this is pleasing unto me to hear. 3. "Strive, My Son, to do another's will rather than thine own. Choose always to have less rather than more. Seek always after the lowest place, and to be subject to all. Wish always and pray that the will of God be fulfilled in thee. Behold, such a man as this entereth into the inheritance of peace and quietness." 4. O my Lord, this Thy short discourse …
Thomas A Kempis—Imitation of Christ

Of the Day of Eternity and of the Straitnesses of this Life
Oh most blessed mansion of the City which is above! Oh most clear day of eternity which the night obscureth not, but the Supreme Truth ever enlighteneth! Day always joyful, always secure and never changing its state into those which are contrary. Oh would that this day might shine forth, and that all these temporal things would come to an end. It shineth indeed upon the Saints, glowing with unending brightness, but only from afar and through a glass, upon those who are pilgrims on the earth. …
Thomas A Kempis—Imitation of Christ

For Old Age. --Ps. Lxxi.
For Old Age.--Ps. lxxi. Lord, I have put my trust in Thee, Turn not my confidence to shame; Thy promise is a rock to me, A tower of refuge is Thy name. Thou hast upheld me from the womb; Thou wert my strength and hope in youth; Now trembling, bending o'er the tomb, I lean upon Thine arm of truth. Though I have long outlived my peers, And stand amid the world alone, (A stranger left by former years), I know my God,--by Him am known. Cast me not off in mine old age, Forsake me not in my last hour; …
James Montgomery—Sacred Poems and Hymns

They all Hold Swords, Being Expert in War; Every Man Hath his Sword Upon his Thigh Because of Fear in the Night.
They all hold swords to engage in combat with the soul which, by a secret presumption, attributes to self what belongs to God only; and this causes them to exclaim with united voice; Who is like unto God? The Divine Righteousness is the first that comes to fight with and destroy the self-righteousness of the creature, and then comes strength to bring to naught the power of man, and causing him to enter by experience of his own infinite weakness into the strength of the Lord (Psalm lxxi. 16), teaches …
Madame Guyon—Song of Songs of Solomon

Letter Xlv (Circa A. D. 1140) to the Canons of Lyons, on the Conception of S. Mary.
To the Canons of Lyons, on the Conception of S. Mary. Bernard states that the Festival of the Conception was new; that it rested on no legitimate foundation; and that it should not have been instituted without consulting the Apostolic See, to whose opinion he submits. 1. It is well known that among all the Churches of France that of Lyons is first in importance, whether we regard the dignity of its See, its praiseworthy regulations, or its honourable zeal for learning. Where was there ever the vigour …
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux—Some Letters of Saint Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux

The Baptismal Covenant Can be Kept Unbroken. Aim and Responsibility of Parents.
We have gone "to the Law and to the Testimony" to find out what the nature and benefits of Baptism are. We have gathered out of the Word all the principal passages bearing on this subject. We have grouped them together, and studied them side by side. We have noticed that their sense is uniform, clear, and strong. Unless we are willing to throw aside all sound principles of interpretation, we can extract from the words of inspiration only one meaning, and that is that the baptized child is, by virtue …
G. H. Gerberding—The Way of Salvation in the Lutheran Church

But Concerning True Patience, Worthy of the Name of this virtue...
12. But concerning true patience, worthy of the name of this virtue, whence it is to be had, must now be inquired. For there are some [2650] who attribute it to the strength of the human will, not which it hath by Divine assistance, but which it hath of free-will. Now this error is a proud one: for it is the error of them which abound, of whom it is said in the Psalm, "A scornful reproof to them which abound, and a despising to the proud." [2651] It is not therefore that "patience of the poor" which …
St. Augustine—On Patience

The Christian's Hope
Scripture references: 1 Timothy 1:1; Colossians 1:27; Psalm 130:5; 43:5; Proverbs 10:8; Acts 24:15; Psalm 71:5; Romans 5:1-5; 12:12; 15:4; 1 Corinthians 9:10; Galatians 5:5; Ephesians 1:18; Philippians 1:20; Colossians 1:5; 1 Thessalonians 1:3; 2:19; Titus 1:2; 2:13; 3:7; Psalm 31:24; 71:14,15. HOPE IN THE PRESENT LIFE That which a man ardently hopes for he strives to realize. If he desires fame, office or wealth he will seek to set forces in motion, here and now, which will bring him that which …
Henry T. Sell—Studies in the Life of the Christian

Let Thus Much have Been Said with Regard to Charity...
20. Let thus much have been said with regard to charity, without which in us there cannot be true patience, because in good men it is the love of God which endureth all things, as in bad men the lust of the world. But this love is in us by the Holy Spirit which was given us. Whence, of Whom cometh in us love, of Him cometh patience. But the lust of the world, when it patiently bears the burdens of any manner of calamity, boasts of the strength of its own will, like as of the stupor of disease, not …
St. Augustine—On Patience

Psalms
The piety of the Old Testament Church is reflected with more clearness and variety in the Psalter than in any other book of the Old Testament. It constitutes the response of the Church to the divine demands of prophecy, and, in a less degree, of law; or, rather, it expresses those emotions and aspirations of the universal heart which lie deeper than any formal demand. It is the speech of the soul face to face with God. Its words are as simple and unaffected as human words can be, for it is the genius …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

Links
Psalm 71:16 NIV
Psalm 71:16 NLT
Psalm 71:16 ESV
Psalm 71:16 NASB
Psalm 71:16 KJV

Psalm 71:16 Commentaries

Bible Hub
Psalm 71:15
Top of Page
Top of Page