How does Psalm 71:20 reflect God's role in human suffering and deliverance? Text and Translation “Though You have shown me many troubles and evils, You will revive me again; from the depths of the earth You will bring me up again.” — Psalm 71:20, Berean Standard Bible Psalm 71:20 is an individual lament that shifts into confident praise. The psalmist openly acknowledges God as both the One who allows affliction (“You have shown me many troubles”) and the One who ensures restoration (“You will revive me again”). The verse compresses the tension of redemptive history into a single confession: Yahweh oversees both the valley and the ascent. Literary Setting and Canonical Flow Psalm 71 forms a seamless continuation of Book II of the Psalter, echoing themes from Psalm 22, 31, 40, and 90. Common emphases include God’s past faithfulness, present distress, and future deliverance. Verse 20 is the fulcrum: it pivots from recalling hardship (vv. 1–19) to anticipating renewed praise (vv. 21–24). Theology of Divine Sovereignty in Suffering Scripture consistently presents God as sovereign over adversity (Job 1:21; Isaiah 45:7; Lamentations 3:37-38). Psalm 71:20 neither blames blind fate nor human randomness; it recognises purposeful divine involvement. The psalmist’s faith is not shaken by acknowledging God’s hand in suffering—rather, that recognition becomes the ground for expecting deliverance. Theology of Deliverance and Resurrection a. Immediate Restoration: In OT context, “revive” often refers to recovery from sickness or national exile (2 Kings 20:5; Hosea 6:2). b. Eschatological Resurrection: “From the depths of the earth” anticipates bodily resurrection (cf. Daniel 12:2; Isaiah 26:19). Early Jewish interpreters (e.g., 4Q521 from Qumran) read such phrases messianically. c. Christological Fulfilment: Jesus invokes Psalm imagery when predicting His own resurrection (Matthew 16:21). Apostolic preaching (Acts 2:24-32) cites Psalms to assert that God “brought up” His Holy One. Psalm 71:20 thus foreshadows the empty tomb, confirming the pattern: affliction permitted, resurrection accomplished. Harmony with Broader Biblical Witness • Genesis 50:20 — God turns intended evil to good. • Romans 8:28-30 — Suffering serves conformity to Christ, culminating in glorification. • 2 Corinthians 4:8-14 — “Always carrying around the death of Jesus… so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed.” Psalm 71:20 is a concise statement of this metanarrative. Historical and Archaeological Corroboration • The Ketef Hinnom silver scrolls (7th century BC), inscribed with part of the Aaronic Blessing, confirm that Israel’s hope in Yahweh’s deliverance predates the Exile. • The Hezekiah tunnel inscription aligns with Psalmic themes of distress and divine rescue during Sennacherib’s siege (2 Kings 19). These artefacts contextualise Psalm 71’s confidence as rooted in lived national experience, not myth. Philosophical and Behavioral Insights Modern trauma studies show that sufferers who perceive meaning in adversity exhibit greater resilience (V. Frankl; APA 2019 resilience meta-analysis). Psalm 71:20 embeds meaning by locating both wound and healing in God’s hand, thereby fostering hope, lowering anxiety, and motivating perseverance. Contemporary Evidences of Deliverance Documented cases of medical “anomalies” such as instantaneous recovery from terminal illness (peer-reviewed in Southern Medical Journal 2010; Brazilian ophthalmologic study 2016) mirror God’s reviving work. Investigations by the Craig Keener database catalogue hundreds of such events, providing modern echoes of Psalm 71:20. Pastoral Applications • Lament honestly: Acknowledge God’s involvement without cynicism. • Anchor hope: Expect revival based on God’s past faithfulness in Scripture and personal history. • Anticipate resurrection: Physical death is not final; Psalm 71:20 promises bodily restoration, validated by Christ’s empty tomb (1 Corinthians 15:20 ff.). • Glorify God through testimony: Post-suffering praise (vv. 22-24) is the believer’s calling. Evangelistic Appeal The credibility of Psalm 71:20’s promise hinges on the historical resurrection of Jesus. The minimal-facts approach demonstrates: (1) Jesus died by crucifixion, (2) His tomb was empty, (3) multiple eyewitness experiences, (4) the disciples’ transformation. The best explanation is that God “brought Him up.” If God raised Christ, He can revive any sufferer who trusts Him. Conclusion Psalm 71:20 encapsulates the biblical pattern: God ordains suffering, accompanies His people through it, and ultimately reverses it by resurrection power. The verse validates present lament, fuels future hope, and directs all glory to the Deliverer who lifted Christ from the grave and will likewise “bring us up again.” |
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