What role does praise play in acknowledging God's support from birth in Psalm 71:6? Psalm 71:6—The Verse “I have leaned on You since birth; You pulled me from my mother’s womb. My praise is always for You.” Praise as the Immediate Acknowledgment • The psalmist links God’s act (“You pulled me from my mother’s womb”) directly to his continual praise. • Praise springs up the moment God’s lifelong care is recognized; it is the first and primary response to divine support. Praise as a Lifelong Testimony • “Always” signals unbroken gratitude—from infancy to old age. • By praising, the believer bears witness that God’s sustaining hand has never failed, reaffirming His faithfulness to every generation. Praise as Personal Dependence • To “lean” on God “since birth” describes practical, moment-by-moment reliance. • Ongoing praise keeps that dependence active, freshly acknowledging that every breath and step remains under God’s provision. Praise as Public Declaration • In ancient Israel, psalms were sung corporately. The psalmist’s praise therefore broadcasts God’s cradle-to-grave support to the community. • This public dimension calls others to trust the same faithful God. Praise Fueling Future Confidence • Remembered praise becomes the seedbed for future trust: “Because You upheld me then, I know You will now.” • Continual worship trains the heart to expect God’s aid in every new challenge. Scriptures Echoing the Theme • Psalm 22:9-10 — “Yet You drew me from the womb… from my mother’s womb You have been my God.” • Isaiah 46:3-4 — God carries His people “from birth… even to gray hairs.” • Jeremiah 1:5 — “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you.” • Psalm 139:13-14 — God knits life together in the womb, prompting the psalmist to “praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” Putting It All Together Praise, according to Psalm 71:6, is not a mere afterthought; it is the believer’s continual, joyful proclamation that God has personally supported, protected, and guided from the very first heartbeat—and will keep doing so to the last. |
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