Psalm 71 God's Greatness in Redemption

6 Key Things We Learn About God

God is trustworthy (Vs 1)

As the Psalmist remembers God he is reminded that God is a God Who always remembers His promises and always does what He says.

God is a rock and fortress, he doesn’t change (Vs 3)

God is trustworthy because He is our rock and unshakable foundation.

God is our Hope (Vs 5)

Remembering God’s trustworthiness in the past and seeing how He does not change also means He will remain faithful and true in the future.

God is Righteous and Holy (Vs 19 & 22)

God Hears

God Hears

God is a strong habitation

God is a rock and fortress, he doesn’t change

God is also perfect and so He can not let sin stand in His presence. Sin must be dealt with.

God is our deliverer/redeemer

God took care of us all out life

God’s power (Vs 18b-19)

God’s power

Since God is all powerful He can and will punish sin. We can pay for our sin by spending an eternity under God’s just wrath and judgement in hell. This however only pays for our sin but doesn’t give us the positive righteousness which is also required.

God is true

God is our deliverer/redeemer (Vs 2,3,4,15,23)

But God is also our redeemer and so we can find refuge in Christ. He redeemed Noah, Israel, and He redeems those who believe in Christ.

Christ Fulfills this Psalm

Christ fully trusted in God

Christ fully trusted in God (Vs 1,5)

Christ was sinless. When tempted by Satan He trusted in God and did not let his fleshly needs drive him away from God.

Christ was held up by God from His youth (Vs 5-6)

Even though Harod tried to kill Christ as a child God preserved HIm.

Christ continually praised God (Vs 6b,14b, 22,23,24)

Throughout His earthly ministry He continually praised God and desired to glorify God. Doing God’s will was His food.

Christ prayed that God would not forsake Him (Vs 4,9)

Because Christ came to redeem us it was necessary for Him to live under God’s curse and so God forsook Him and did not deliver Him so that those who trust in Him will be delivered and never be forsaken.

On the cross Christ suffered the rebuke of others (Vs 10-11)

While hanging on the cross Christ suffered the torments of others. They said that He couldn’t save Himself.

Those who oppose Christ will be confounded and consumed (Vs 13,24b)

Even though in this life they might appear to do well, God will consume those who refuse to be reconciled to Him.

What this means for us

Because of Christ we can trust God (Vs 1,5)

Because Christ satisfied God’s wrath against sin we may be confident that God will keep His promise that we will not be destroyed by His wrath.

God redeems us from our enemies (Vs 4)

God has won the victory over sin through Christ and so we can be victorious over our enemies, sin, the devil and the world and our own flesh.

We find our refuge in God (Vs 3, 7)

God is a refuge to us when we call upon Him He will comfort and protect us as we deal with life’s challenges and sorrows.

Because of Christ we see God’s care in our lives (Vs 5-6)

We can look back and see how we had food and clothing and shelter through our lives. This was God’s care for us.

As we grow older we can still trust in God (Vs 9,18)

Even as we are confronted with death on an increasing level every day we can be assured and comforted that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ. (Romans 8:31-39)

For His goodness we praise Him more and more (Vs 14,22,23,24)

Because God has been faithful to His Word, because He will not change, because He is our redeemer in Christ, we will praise Him. We can wake up and go about our day with joy because God also gives us the strength we need every day. We can be confident that He will uphold us and comfort us as we deal with suffering and sorrow. He is everything we need.

“Whom do I have in heav'n but Thee? Who shall on earth my refuge be? Since I have Thee as rock and Saviour, I seek no further wealth or favour. Although my flesh and heart may fail, God is my strength, I shall prevail, For He, whose steadfast love is sure, Will be my portion evermore.”

Whom do I have in heav'n but Thee? Who shall on earth my refuge be? Since I have Thee as rock and Saviour, I seek no further wealth or favour. Although my flesh and heart may fail, God is my strength, I shall prevail, For He, whose steadfast love is sure, Will be my portion evermore.

For He, whose steadfast love is sure, Will be my portion evermore.