“You know my reproach,
and my shame and my dishonor;
my foes are all known to you.” Psalm 69:19
“Be to me a rock of refuge,
to which I may continually come;
you have given the command to save me,
for you are my rock and my fortress...
For you, O Lord, are my hope,
my trust, O Lord, from my youth.
Upon you I have leaned from before my birth;
you are he who took me from my mother’s womb.
My praise is continually of you...
My mouth is filled with your praise,
and with your glory all the day.
Do not cast me off in the time of old age;
forsake me not when my strength is spent.
But I will hope continually
and will praise you yet more and more.
My mouth will tell of your righteous acts,
of your deeds of salvation all the day,
for their number is past my knowledge.
With the mighty deeds of the Lord God I will come;
I will remind them of your righteousness, yours alone.
O God, from my youth you have taught me,
and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds.
So even to old age and gray hairs,
O God, do not forsake me,
until I proclaim your might to another generation,
your power to all those to come.
Your righteousness, O God,
reaches the high heavens.
You who have done great things,
O God, who is like you?
You who have made me see many troubles and calamities
will revive me again;
from the depths of the earth
you will bring me up again.
You will increase my greatness
and comfort me again.
And my tongue will talk of your righteous help all the day long,
for they have been put to shame and disappointed
who sought to do me hurt.” Psalm 71:3,5-6,8-9,14-21,24
Considering his many years with the Lord, the psalmist sings a song both plaintive and petitionary. His words acknowledge both calamity and comfort, troubles and great deeds, frailty and faithfulness as they praise God’s constancy in matching his every care and need. He who had been his trust from youth would be his trust forever. Continually he had come, and continually he would hope in this righteous, great God.
There is nothing like a life lived long with Jesus. No experience compares with a history imprinted with His faithful presence and loving care. As our rock and trust, He envelops our hearts, fortifies our faith, laces our words, speckles our view, and stands sentry over present concerns and future unknowns. Those who continually come to Him are blessed with continual hope, which is an invaluable gift for generations that follow.
How steadfastly do we lean on the Lord who knows us perfectly? In our every reproach, have we known His sympathy? In shame, His forgiveness? In pain, His balm? In wonderment, His teaching? In weariness, His revival? God’s mighty deeds on our behalf are ours to treasure and pass on to future generations. (Psalm 69:9; Matthew 11:28-30; 1 Peter 5:7; 1 John 1:9)
What is my song today? To whom will I proclaim God’s wondrous, trustworthy acts? In what promises will I put my hope?
Lord, keep me continually coming, hoping, and telling so many will know, trust, and praise You.
As the rain and snow 