Welcome to Day 2653 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom

Day 2653 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 71:12-16 – Daily Wisdom

Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2653

Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2653 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before.

Today’s Wisdom Nugget is titled: Hope Amidst Hostility, Praise Without End - A Trek Through Psalm 71:12-16 as we continue our deeply personal trek through Psalm 71 in the New Living Translation.

Guthrie Chamberlain: Welcome to Wisdom-Trek, your guide for navigating the profound landscapes of faith and life. I’m your guide, Guthrie Chamberlain, and today, we continue our deeply personal trek through Psalm 71 in the New Living Translation.

We’ve already heard the psalmist, an older individual, express his lifelong trust in God as his unshakeable refuge, even as he faces the vulnerability of old age and the cruel mockery of his enemies. He shared his deep fear of being abandoned by God when his strength fails, and how his adversaries plot against him, falsely claiming that God has deserted him. Now, as we delve into verses 12 through 16, the psalmist’s plea intensifies, explicitly asking God to confront his foes, but then pivots to a renewed and powerful declaration of unending hope and boundless praise for God’s righteousness and salvation.

This section highlights the dynamic nature of a lament psalm – moving from raw complaint to resolute faith. It underscores the psalmist’s conviction that God will indeed act, and that this divine intervention will not only bring justice to his enemies but will also become the very fuel for his continuous, overflowing praise. It’s a testament to the power of shifting our focus from the problem to the character of our delivering God.

So, let’s immerse ourselves in these words, allowing their urgency and their resolute hope to resonate within our own hearts.

(Reads Psalm 71:12-13 NLT)

O God, do not abandon me now! Come quickly, my God, to help me. May those who slander me and try to destroy me be disgraced and humiliated. May those who want to harm me be covered with scorn and shame.

Guthrie Chamberlain: The psalmist opens this section by reiterating his most profound fear and his most urgent request: “O God, do not abandon me now! Come quickly, my God, to help me.” This echoes his earlier plea in verse 9, underscoring the persistent anxiety of being left alone and the immediate danger he faces. The urgency is palpable; he needs God to come swiftly, to act without delay, because his situation is critical. He addresses God intimately as “my God,” emphasizing the personal nature of their relationship and his absolute reliance on Him.

This desperate call for help is immediately followed by a fervent prayer for justice against his enemies: “May those who slander me and try to destroy me be disgraced and humiliated. May those who want to harm me be covered with scorn and shame.” This is an imprecatory prayer, a call for divine retribution against those who maliciously seek his ruin. “Slander” here refers to false accusations and malicious gossip that aim to destroy his reputation, as we saw earlier in Psalm 69. To “try to destroy me” signifies their ultimate, deadly intent.

In the ancient Israelite worldview, “disgrace” and “humiliation,” “scorn” and “shame,” were severe public consequences. The psalmist isn’t asking to personally inflict these punishments; he’s asking God to bring about a public reversal of fortunes. He wants their evil plots to backfire so dramatically that those who gloated over his perceived misfortune are themselves utterly put to shame. Their public triumph over him should turn into their own public humiliation, demonstrating God’s righteous vindication of His servant. This is a prayer for God to re-establish justice and moral order in the world, starting with his own situation. It’s a conviction that God is the ultimate Judge who will not allow wickedness to triumph indefinitely.

Think of a courtroom drama where an innocent person has been slandered and framed, and just when all hope seems lost, a crucial piece of evidence emerges that not only proves their innocence but exposes the malice and deception of their accusers, leaving them utterly disgraced in the public eye. The psalmist is praying for that kind of divine intervention and exposure.

Now, let’s pivot to verses 14 through 16, where the psalmist shifts from a focus on his enemies to a powerful declaration of his unending hope and commitment to praise God for His boundless righteousness and salvation.

 

 

(Reads Psalm 71:14-16 NLT)

But as for me, I will always hope in you; I will praise you more and more. I will tell everyone about your righteousness. All day long I will proclaim your saving power, though I am unable to count all your mighty acts. I will come in the strength of the Lord GOD. I will proclaim your righteousness, yours alone.

Guthrie Chamberlain: After the urgent plea for God’s swift justice, the psalmist makes a profound and resolute declaration of faith: “But as for me, I will always hope in you; I will praise you more and more.” The “But as for me” signifies a deliberate choice, a turning away from despair or fear, and a firm commitment to God. This is the bedrock of his faith. Even amidst ongoing danger and the lingering fear of abandonment, he chooses to “always hope” in God. This hope isn’t a passive wish; it’s an active, expectant trust in God’s faithfulness and power to deliver.

And from this hope flows an ever-increasing praise: “I will praise you more and more.” This isn’t just a commitment to praise, but to an increasing volume and intensity of praise. As he experiences God’s deliverance and sustains his hope, his praise will grow, becoming more abundant and overflowing. This is a testament to resilient faith – finding reasons to praise God even when trials persist and recognizing that God’s faithfulness warrants ever-greater adoration.

The psalmist then outlines the content of his continuous praise: “I will tell everyone about your righteousness. All day long I will proclaim your saving power, though I am unable to count all your mighty acts.” His praise is not self-focused; it is entirely God-focused. He commits to speaking of God’s “righteousness” – His perfect justice, His moral integrity, His faithfulness to His covenant promises. He will also proclaim God’s “saving power” – His ability to deliver, rescue, and redeem.

The phrase “all day long” again emphasizes the unceasing nature of this declaration. It will be a constant, ongoing testimony. And he acknowledges the immense scope of God’s acts: “though I am unable to count all your mighty acts.” This is a beautiful expression of humility and awe. God’s interventions, His deeds, His salvations, are so numerous, so vast, that they are beyond human enumeration. This recognition of God’s infinite power and goodness fuels an unending wellspring of praise, because there’s always more to praise Him for.

The psalmist then solidifies the source of his ability to do all this: “I will come in the strength of the Lord GOD. I will proclaim your righteousness, yours alone.” He recognizes that he cannot fulfill these commitments in his own power, especially as an older individual facing formidable enemies. He will come, he will live, he will proclaim, “in the strength of the Lord GOD.” “Lord GOD” (Adonai Yahweh) emphasizes God’s sovereign authority and His covenant faithfulness. All his ability, all his power, all his effectiveness, flows from God.

This is a crucial truth for our lives as well. Our strength for the journey, for enduring trials, for praising God in adversity, and for proclaiming His truth, does not come from within us but from the inexhaustible wellspring of God’s might. He relies not on his own righteousness, but proclaims God’s righteousness, “yours alone.” This is a powerful shift from any hint of self-reliance to complete dependence on God’s character as the foundation for his standing and his mission. It’s a recognition that his worth and his ability come solely from God.

Psalm 71:12-16 portrays a magnificent act of faith. Even as the psalmist cries out for urgent rescue and just retribution for his enemies, he resolves to anchor his hope firmly in God, allowing that hope to overflow into continuous, expanding praise for God’s unsearchable righteousness and boundless saving power. He understands that his ability to do so comes solely from God’s strength.

What profound wisdom can we draw from this section for our Wisdom-Trek today?

Firstly, these verses model resilient hope. Even when we are desperate for God’s swift intervention against our adversaries, and when we feel vulnerable, we can choose to “always hope” in Him. Our hope in God is a decision, not just a feeling.

Secondly, they teach us that praise should not be limited by our circumstances but should expand and grow, becoming “more and more.” As we reflect on God’s past faithfulness and His countless mighty acts, we find an endless source of praise, even amidst ongoing challenges.

Thirdly, our proclamation of God’s righteousness and saving power is a continuous, lifelong task. We are called to “tell everyone” about Him, knowing that His acts are “too numerous to count.” Our life becomes a testimony to His immeasurable goodness.

Finally, and most practically, this psalm reminds us that all our ability to endure, to hope, to praise, and to proclaim, comes “in the strength of the Lord GOD.” We are not called to live the Christian life in our own power, but in His. His righteousness, not our own, is the foundation for our standing and our proclamation.

Let us embrace the psalmist’s resolute hope and his commitment to ever-increasing praise, knowing that our strength for the journey comes solely from our faithful God, whose saving acts are truly beyond measure.

Guthrie Chamberlain: Thank you for joining me on this powerful trek through Psalm 71:12-16. I trust that this exploration of resilient hope and boundless praise has deepened your understanding of God’s power and faithfulness. Join me again next time as we continue to seek and apply the timeless truths of God’s Word.

Reflect…

If you found this podcast insightful, subscribe and leave us a review, then encourage your friends and family to join us and come along tomorrow for another day of ‘Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy.’.

Thank you so much for allowing me to be your guide, mentor, and, most importantly, I am your friend as I serve you through this Wisdom-Trek podcast and journal.

As we take this Trek together, let us always:

Live Abundantly (Fully)

Love Unconditionally

Listen Intentionally

Learn Continuously

Lend to others Generously

Lead with Integrity

Leave a Living Legacy Each Day

I am Guthrie Chamberlain….reminding you to’ Keep Moving Forward,’ ‘Enjoy your Journey,’ and ‘Create a Great Day…Everyday! See you next time for more daily wisdom!