My mouth is filled with Your praise and with Your splendor all day long. Sermons
I. HIS SUBLIME FAITH." In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust" (ver. 1). Here is the secret of his character. "Trust" gave strength to his heart, and unity and completeness to his life. In this he was in sympathy with others who had gone before (cf. Psalm 31:1-3). II. HIS EARNEST PRAYERS. The godly are ever given to prayer. It is their great resource. It is the never failing means of obtaining mercy and grace. They learnt to call upon God at their mother's knee (cf. Psalm 116:16; 2 Timothy 1:5), and all through life they have found the virtue and the blessedness of prayer. In old age the cry of the godly is, "I must pray more." III. HIS VARIED EXPERIENCES. Often, when looking back, there is dimness, or many things have fallen out of sight, or there is a confusion in the perspective; but events that have made a deep impression stand out clearly. Memory goes back to the time of youth, and traces life onward, with all the great changes, the dangers and adventures, the attempts and the achievements, the joys and sorrows. There are grateful recollections of kindness and help from many; but above all, there is praise to God for his goodness and wonderful works (vers. 5, 6; cf. Isaiah 44:4). IV. HIS SETTLED CONVICTIONS. Experience is a great teacher. The man who has seen many days has learned much, and is able to bear witness as one that speaketh with authority (Job 32:7; Leviticus 19:32; 2 Peter 1:13). One thing that the godly old man testifies is that God is worthy of trust; another thing is that the Word of God is not a cunningly devised fable, but truth; another thing is that religion is not a delusion, but a reality - the power of God unto salvation; another thing is that the most pleasant memories are of loyalty to God, and of good done to men, even to enemies, and that the saddest thoughts are of times when self prevailed over love and duty, and opportunities were lost from neglect and sloth. V. HIS UNFALTERING RESOLUTION. The old have their regrets. They have also their times of trial and weakness. In another place the psalmist says, "I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken" (Psalm 37:25), and yet here he seems just for a moment to falter; but if he trembles at the thought of being a "castaway," as Paul also did (1 Corinthians 9:27), he renews his strength by prayer (vers. 17, 20). Then having gained courage, he pledges himself with fresh ardour to be true to God. Instead of wavering, he will press on. Instead of keeping silence, he will testify, by word and deed, to the strength and power of God. This was beautifully seen in Polycarp, "Eighty and six years have I served him, and he never wronged me; and shall I forsake my God and my Saviour?" VI. HIS GLORIOUS PROSPECTS. For the old the end is near. They know that soon they must die, and have no more to do with anything under the sun. This seems a dismal condition. But for the godly there is not only hope in death, but the bright prospect of a blessed immortality. "The end of that man is peace," yea, more, far more, the future is glorious. - W.F.
Be Thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort. David knew what it was to hide himself away in the great caverns and rocks of his native land. He had done so in the cave of Adullam. And such residences are never forgotten. You may live for an age in such a town as this, and forget it all. What is there to remember in this labyrinth of bricks and mortar? But when you get into the clear bracing atmosphere of the hills, amid these crags and glens, and you spend a night in some mountain cave, you will never forget that. And David never did. And in his loftiest songs he speaks of God in language culled from the cave. And what a gracious heart he must have had to be able to speak like this. He desired not merely to dwell with, but in, God. He would have the Lord to be his house, his home, whereunto he might continually resort. The text suggests —I. THE DELIGHTFUL REPOSE THAT DAVID FOUND IN GOD. Be Thou my strong habitation: that is, be my house and home. 1. What wonderful condescension he had experienced from God. That he should be allowed to think of the great and glorious God as his home. And he did so, for — 2. He had realized in God peculiar love. In a man's own home he expects to find love. Pity the poor wretch who is disappointed therein. In the world we do not expect it, we reckon on rough treatment; but within our own doors we enter the sanctuary of love. And David had dwelt in God as in the abode of love. 3. And home is the place of special rest. We lay aside our working dress. The advocate takes off his gown, and says, "Lie there, Mr. Barrister, and let the father come to the front." The tradesman takes off his apron, the warrior his harness, the bearer his yoke, for he is at home. And so we have rest in God. 4. And of joyful freedom. Religious people sometimes start back from the prayers of a true saint, and say, "He is too familiar." Of course a child is too familiar for the imitation of a stranger; but have you ever blamed a child for clambering on his father's knee? And yet you would not think of copying him. "Boy, dost thou know what thou art at? Thou art playing with a learned judge, before whom prisoners tremble, and courts are hushed. Even wise counsellors speak to him as "my lord." But that urchin does not say, "My lord." Look, he is plucking him by the beard; he is kissing his cheek. What presumption! No! he is the judge's child; he who is to judge others is "father" to him. So the saints of God say, "Our Father, which art in heaven," ever reverentially, but yet with sweet familiarity. They are at home with Him. 5. And of intimate knowledge. David knew the Lord even as he knew the eaves in which he had sheltered. David could have served as a guide to the great hollow of Adullam. 6. Of tender care. We may get more skill elsewhere, perhaps, but what can make up for the tenderness of home? One would like to die there when our time comes. II. DAVID HAD REALIZED IN GOD POWERFUL SECURITY. He felt then, and so does the child of God, perfectly safe. III. GOD WAS TO HIM A PLACE OF CONTINUAL RESORT. The gate of communion with God is never locked. There is joy in such resort itself, and as an outlook for the unknown future; and it is a joy which answers so many blessed purposes. Let us continually resort unto God as we ever may. Let us come now. ( C. H. Spurgeon.) Homilist. I. A SENSE OF THE SOUL'S NEED. The soul needs a "habitation." It is a homeless wanderer.1. It wants a home for protection. How exposed is a guilty soul? 2. It wants a home for comfort. Home is the scene of comfort. But the guilty soul is comfortless. 3. It wants a home for settledness. It is a restless wanderer. II. A FAITH IN GOD'S SUFFICIENCY. God is just the "habitation" which the soul wants, affording security, comfort, and permanent residence. 1. God is an accessible habitation. The doors of infinite love are ever open to welcome all who come. This habitation is ever near to us. 2. God is a secure habitation. Those who are in Him are safe from all dangers and all foes. "God is our refuge and strength." 3. God is a blessed habitation. In Him is found infinitely more than all we want to perfect us in everlasting bliss. 4. God is an enduring habitation. "The eternal God is our refuge," etc. Return, O prodigal, to thy Father's house. (Homilist.) I. HOME IS A PLACE OF SHELTER AND SECURITY. Every boy and girl feels safe at home. Now, there are a great many dangers and troubles in the world that grasp us, and threaten us, and frighten us; but if we only get into this home of which I am speaking, they can't harm us. God is a sure refuge for His children. Long ago, rich people lived in castles built of strong stone walls, and frequently surrounded by a deep broad ditch, so that robbers and enemies would not be able to enter and despoil them of their property. They used to fight with each other, and when the battle began to turn against them, they would flee into their castles, and there they were safe. New, God is a great castle; He is a "strong habitation." If you once get inside of it, no enemy can harm you. II. HOME IS A PLACE OF SUPPLY. I know that there are homes where children do not have many nice things, where they have at times to suffer hunger. But such is not the case with this home of which I am speaking. This home has everything to make those who live in it satisfied and happy. III. HOME IS A PLACE OF LOVE. Mother, father, wife, children, are but faint, faint images of God. He is the fountain of all their affection. There is no place in the universe so safe and so delightful. (B. D. Thomas.) People Psalmist, SolomonPlaces JerusalemTopics Beauty, Declaring, Filled, Full, Glory, Honor, Honour, Mouth, Praise, SplendorOutline 1. David, in confidence of faith, and experience of God's favor, prays both for himself, 10. and against the enemies of his soul 14. He promises constancy 17. He prays for perseverance 19. He praises God, and promises to do it cheerfully Dictionary of Bible Themes Psalm 71:8Library 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 Of Four Things which Bring Great Peace Of the Day of Eternity and of the Straitnesses of this Life For Old Age. --Ps. Lxxi. They all Hold Swords, Being Expert in War; Every Man Hath his Sword Upon his Thigh Because of Fear in the Night. Letter Xlv (Circa A. D. 1140) to the Canons of Lyons, on the Conception of S. Mary. The Baptismal Covenant Can be Kept Unbroken. Aim and Responsibility of Parents. But Concerning True Patience, Worthy of the Name of this virtue... The Christian's Hope Let Thus Much have Been Said with Regard to Charity... Psalms Links Psalm 71:8 NIVPsalm 71:8 NLT Psalm 71:8 ESV Psalm 71:8 NASB Psalm 71:8 KJV Psalm 71:8 Bible Apps Psalm 71:8 Parallel Psalm 71:8 Biblia Paralela Psalm 71:8 Chinese Bible Psalm 71:8 French Bible Psalm 71:8 German Bible Psalm 71:8 Commentaries Bible Hub |
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