Psalm 71:1
71:1 In {a} thee, O LORD, do I put my trust: let me never be put
     to confusion.

     (a) He prays to God with full assurance of faith, that he
         will deliver him from his adversaries.

Psalm 71:2
71:2 Deliver me in thy {b} righteousness, and cause me to
     escape: incline thine ear unto me, and save me.

     (b) By declaring yourself true to your promises.

Psalm 71:3
71:3 Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually
     resort: thou {c} hast given commandment to save me; for
     thou [art] my rock and my fortress.

     (c) You have infinite means and all creatures are at your
         commandment; therefore show some sign by which I will
         be delivered.

Psalm 71:4
71:4 Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand {d} of the wicked,
     out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man.

     (d) That is, from Absalom, Ahithophel and that conspiracy.

Psalm 71:5
71:5 For thou [art] my hope, O Lord GOD: [thou art] my {e} trust
     from my youth.

     (e) He strengthens his faith by the experience of God's
         benefits, who not only preserved him in his mother's
         womb, but took him from there, and ever since has
         preserved him.

Psalm 71:7
71:7 I am as a {f} wonder unto many; but thou [art] my strong
     refuge.

     (f) All the world wonders at me because of my miseries:
         both those in authority and the common people, yet
         being assured of your favour, I remain steadfast.

Psalm 71:9
71:9 Cast me not off in the time of {g} old age; forsake me not
     when my strength faileth.

     (g) You who helped me in my youth when I had more strength,
         help me now even more in my old age and weakness.

Psalm 71:11
71:11 Saying, {h} God hath forsaken him: persecute and take him;
      for [there is] none to deliver [him].

      (h) Thus the wicked both blaspheme God and triumph against
          his saints, as though he had forsaken them if he
          permits them to fall into their hands.

Psalm 71:12
71:12 O God, be not far from me: O {i} my God, make haste for my
      help.

      (i) In calling him his God, he puts back the false reports
          of the adversaries who said God had forsaken him.

Psalm 71:15
71:15 My mouth shall shew forth thy righteousness [and] thy
      salvation all the day; {k} for I know not the numbers
      [thereof].

      (k) Because your benefits toward me are innumerable, I
          cannot but continually meditate and rehearse them.

Psalm 71:16
71:16 I will {l} go in the strength of the Lord GOD: I will make
      mention of thy righteousness, [even] of thine only.

      (l) I will remain steadfast, being upheld by the power of
          God.

Psalm 71:18
71:18 {m} Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake
      me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto [this]
      generation, [and] thy power to every one [that] is to
      come.

      (m) He desires that as he has begun, he would so continue
          his benefits, that his liberality may have perfect
          praise.

Psalm 71:19
71:19 Thy {n} righteousness also, O God, [is] very high, who
      hast done great things: O God, who [is] like unto thee!

      (n) Your just performance of your promise.

Psalm 71:20
71:20 [Thou], which hast shewed me great and {p} sore troubles,
      shalt quicken me again, and shalt bring me up again from
      the depths of the earth.

      (p) As he confesses that God is the only author of his
          deliverance, so he acknowledges that these evils were
          sent to him by God's providence.

Psalm 71:22
71:22 I will also praise thee with the psaltery, [even] thy {q}
      truth, O my God: unto thee will I sing with the harp, O
      thou Holy One of Israel.

      (q) He confesses that his long delay was well recompensed,
          when God performed his promise.

Psalm 71:23
71:23 My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto thee; and
      my {r} soul, which thou hast redeemed.

      (r) For there is no true praising of God, unless it comes
          from the heart: and therefore he promises to delight
          in nothing, except that in which God is glorified.