“For thou art my hope, O Lord GOD: thou art my trust from my youth. By thee have I been holden up from the womb: thou art he that took me out of my mother’s bowels: my praise shall be continually of thee.” (Psalm 71:5,6)
The Psalmist’s prayer is for God’s continual help. “In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion” (Ps. 71:1). To that end, he affirms who God is to him and what he must do: “Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort …” (Ps. 71:3).
Who can predict what trials or perils are in store for them as they advance through life? The Psalmist reminds himself of one thing: the God who held him up in his mother’s womb will be there to hold him up in his old age. “Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth” (Ps. 71:9).
In its literal sense, the word “hope” in verse 5 of Psalm 71 means a cord which attaches one thing to another. Hope in God is our lifeline that attaches us to Him and His gracious help. “Let thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in thee” (Ps. 33:22). If we are looking anywhere else we are hoping in vain. We will perish.
We need the strong consolation and hope that only faith in Christ can bring us. This hope is where our potential to mess things up meets His power to clean things up; and our inclination to go wrong meets His grace to turn us right. Our hope must be built on Christ and nothing else.
God forbid those who have such a strong lifeline thrown out to them should drown in a sea of despair. Hope continually, and praise Him more and more.
“But I will hope continually, and will yet praise thee more and more. My mouth shall shew forth thy righteousness and thy salvation all the day; for I know not the numbers thereof. I will go in the strength of the Lord GOD: I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only.” (Psalm 71:14-16)