How does Psalm 71:21 align with the overall theme of divine support in the Psalms? Literary Setting Within Psalm 71 Psalm 71 is a prayer of an aging believer who looks back on lifelong deliverances (vv. 5–6) and pleads for fresh intervention against present adversaries (vv. 9–13). Verse 21 stands at the psalm’s hinge: having rehearsed God’s past faithfulness (vv. 14–20) the psalmist anticipates future elevation (“increase my honor”) and renewed consolation (“comfort me once again”). This dual request gathers the psalm’s earlier motifs—refuge (vv. 1–3), rescue (vv. 4, 11–13), and praise (vv. 15–18)—into a climactic statement of confidence in ongoing divine support. Key Terms And Hebrew Insights • “Increase” (תּוֹסִיף, tōsîp) expresses continual, even exponential, augmentation, echoing the covenant promise “I will increase you greatly” (Genesis 17:2). • “Honor” (גְּדוּלָּה, gĕdullāh) can denote dignity or greatness—a reversal of shame brought by enemies (cf. Psalm 25:2). • “Comfort” (תְּנַחֲמֵנִי, tĕnaḥămēnî) uses the piel of נחם, the same verb applied to God’s consolations in Isaiah 40:1, linking personal deliverance to national restoration themes. Divine Support As A Pervasive Psalter Theme 1. Dependable refuge: Psalm 18:2; 46:1; 62:8 portray God as “rock,” “fortress,” and “stronghold,” paralleling 71:1–3. 2. Vindication and honor reversal: Psalm 3:3; 23:5; 147:6 show the lowly exalted and the shamed dignified. Verse 21’s “increase my honor” fits this pattern. 3. Comfort amid affliction: Psalm 23:4 (“Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me”) and 119:50 (“Your promise preserves my life”) anticipate 71:21’s plea for renewed consolation. 4. Lifelong faithfulness: Psalm 37:25; 92:14 affirm God’s sustaining grace into old age, the very context of Psalm 71. Historical And Covenantal Background Psalm 71 resonates with Davidic language (cf. Psalm 31), yet its anonymous superscription invites application to any covenant believer. The psalmist’s confidence rests on Yahweh’s covenant loyalty (ḥesed, v. 17), the same loyalty promised to Abraham (Genesis 15), embodied in David (2 Samuel 7), and culminating in Christ (Luke 1:72–74). Verse 21 thus stands within God’s redemptive timeline: past deliverance guarantees future support because the covenant-keeping God does not change (Malachi 3:6). Christological Trajectory The reversal motifs—honor after shame, comfort after suffering—prefigure the Messiah. Isaiah 53:12 promises that the Suffering Servant will be “allotted a portion with the great,” echoing “increase my honor.” Christ’s resurrection is the ultimate vindication (Acts 2:24–33), providing the ground for every believer’s confidence that temporary affliction will yield eternal glory (2 Corinthians 4:17). Thus Psalm 71:21 prophetically aligns with the resurrection-centered hope that defines New Testament faith. Parallel Passages And Intertextual Echoes • Psalm 18:35 – “Your right hand sustains me; Your gentleness makes me great.” • Psalm 30:1 – “You have lifted me up and have not allowed my foes to rejoice over me.” • Psalm 119:76 – “May Your unfailing love be my comfort.” • Isaiah 49:13 – “The LORD comforts His people and will have compassion on His afflicted ones.” The recurrence of “comfort” and “lifting up” across these texts reinforces the thematic unity of divine support. Pastoral And Devotional Application Believers facing aging, chronic illness, or societal marginalization find in Psalm 71:21 a warrant to expect both present consolation and future exaltation. The verse encourages prayer that moves from memory of past graces to anticipation of greater mercies, fostering resilient worship (vv. 22–24). Conclusion Psalm 71:21 crystallizes the Psalter’s message that God continually upholds, elevates, and consoles His people. The verse gathers the themes of refuge, reversal of shame, and covenantal faithfulness into one confident affirmation, harmonizing with the entire corpus of Psalms and finding its fullest realization in the resurrected Christ, whose triumph secures everlasting comfort and honor for all who trust Him. |
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