What historical context influenced the writing of Psalm 71:11? Text of Psalm 71:11 “They say, ‘God has forsaken him; pursue him and seize him, for there is no one to rescue him.’ ” Authorship and Life-Stage Indicators Psalm 71 contains explicit references to advanced age—“Do not cast me off in my old age” (v. 9) and “Even when I am old and gray” (v. 18). Combined with its numerous verbal parallels to indisputably Davidic psalms (e.g., Psalm 31; 35; 40), ancient Jewish and early Christian tradition attribute it to David during the closing years of his reign. The Septuagint superscription, although not present in the Masoretic Text, likewise places the psalm in David’s mouth. Probable Historical Setting: Absalom’s Rebellion (2 Samuel 15–18) 1. David was “old and advanced in years” (cf. 1 Kings 1:1) when Absalom engineered his coup. 2. Enemies publicly mocked David as abandoned by God (2 Samuel 16:7–8; Psalm 3:2 mirrors Psalm 71:11). 3. The psalmist’s plea for continued protection while strength wanes dovetails with David’s forced flight from Jerusalem, physical exhaustion (2 Samuel 15:30), and diminished military prowess. 4. Verse 20 recalls past deliverances “from the depths of the earth,” evoking the wilderness years under Saul but now reapplied to the fresh crisis of familial treachery. Alternative Earlier Context: Saul’s Pursuit (1 Samuel 23–26) Some scholars point to verbal overlap with psalms forged during David’s fugitive phase (e.g., Psalm 31:13; 35:4). While Saul’s campaign supplied the template of enemies alleging divine abandonment, internal age-related language makes the Absalom episode the likelier primary backdrop, with earlier memories recast for current distress. Cultural Climate of the United Monarchy Ancient Near Eastern ideology equated military success with divine favor. When a king staggered, rivals interpreted it theologically—“His god has left him.” The taunt in Psalm 71:11 follows this cultural trope: stripping a monarch of perceived divine backing legitimized revolt (cf. Mesha Stele lines 3–4 where Moab’s king claims Yahweh abandoned Israel). Genre: Royal Petitionary Lament Psalm 71 combines personal lament with royal covenant motifs (“Your righteousness, O God… You who have shown me great and severe troubles,” vv. 19–20). Its vocabulary of shame, refuge, and righteous deliverance aligns with other Davidic laments classified by form critics as a sub-genre of royal prayers during political emergencies. Archaeological Corroboration of the Psalm’s Milieu 1. Tel Dan Stele (9th century BC) references the “House of David,” verifying a Davidic dynasty within living memory of the Psalm’s events. 2. City of David excavations reveal administrative structures and fortifications operational in 10th–9th-century Jerusalem, consistent with a monarch capable of inspiring both loyalty and rebellion. 3. The Ketef Hinnom silver scrolls (late 7th century BC) inscribe the priestly blessing of Numbers 6, demonstrating codified Yahwistic faith centuries before the Exile, corroborating the theological world of the Psalms. “God Has Forsaken Him” in Broader Biblical Theology The charge appears earlier (Psalm 22:1, 8) and later at Calvary: “He trusts in God; let God deliver Him now” (Matthew 27:43). The pattern shows Satanic logic—equating visible suffering with divine desertion—answered decisively by Christ’s resurrection (Romans 1:4). Psalm 71 thus anticipates the ultimate vindication model: temporary affliction, eventual deliverance. Implications for Intelligent Design and Providence The psalmist’s confidence in “Your wondrous works” (v. 17) presumes an observable world authored by God. Biologically irreducible systems (e.g., bacterial flagellum) and cosmic fine-tuning echo the psalm’s argument from experience to trust: the Creator who forms complexity can certainly rescue His servant. Geological formations such as polystrate fossils and folded yet unfractured strata in the Grand Canyon fit a rapid, global Flood model (Genesis 6-9), reinforcing the Psalm’s worldview of a sovereign, interventionist God. Literary Echoes and Canonical Placement Psalm 71, penultimate in Book II of the Psalter, functions as a bridge to Solomon’s coronation psalm (Psalm 72). The aged David’s plea sets up the transition to the next generation, foreshadowing messianic kingship. Intertextual allusions to earlier laments create a tapestry of lifelong dependence on Yahweh. Conclusion The historical context behind Psalm 71:11 crystallizes in David’s twilight confrontation with Absalom, framed by an Ancient Near Eastern worldview where political turmoil signaled divine displeasure. Textual fidelity from the Dead Sea Scrolls through modern manuscripts, archaeological confirmation of a robust Davidic court, and theological continuity culminating in Christ’s resurrection collectively affirm the Psalm’s authenticity and relevance. Far from evidence of abandonment, the verse spotlights the recurring lie that suffering equals divine neglect—a falsehood eternally disproven when the Greater Son of David left the tomb empty. |
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