In Psalms, chapter seventy-one, verses one through twenty-four, the psalm contains a prayer by an older person, as in verse nine, who faces trouble and needs help to rescue Him from His enemies and afflictions, as in verses one, two, and eighteen. He has walked in God’s ways since childhood, as in verses five through six and seventeen, and experienced exceptional troubles in life, as in verse twenty, yet he has maintained his faith and confidence in God. He is determined to live the rest of His life with the confidence that God will manifest His power and goodness in His life.
The theme chapter is a prayer from a person whose strength is less than what it used to be and who depends upon God for protection against evil opposition and sickness. They remember how they overcame all different sorts of experiences in life and continue to look to God for the way out of their situations now. Psalms sixteen, verse one, ” Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust.” This older person needs the care to continue in this life and depends upon God to provide. There is a song that sums up this situation for the senior person.
In thee, Oh Lord, do I put my trust,
In thee, Oh Lord, do I put my trust,
In thee, Oh Lord, do I put my trust.
I am the Lord, that healeth thee,
I am the Lord, that healeth thee,
I am the Lord, that healeth thee,
Be still, and know that I am God,
Be still, and know that I am God,
Be still, and know that I am God.
Those who trust in God will be encouraged by this chorus in that He heals and knows He is in their midst.