“You Have Been My Hope” - Psalm 71 (Day 2)
Persevering faith and steadfast endurance characterize Psalm 71, our passage for this week's study. Its confident words come from an aging author reflecting on his current distress through the lens of a lifelong faith, declaring God's heart is to provide refuge and rescue to those who call on His name. Today, we want to explore how the author's dependency on God caused others to take notice. But, before we begin, I want to provide space for you to pause, consider, and pray. Reflect on your life's foundation - the places you look to for security, purpose, and meaning. Then, consider the message this foundation sends to those around you about where you place your trust. Finally, pray to God and ask that He would be your lasting hope.
Returning to Psalm 71, we encounter our author looking backward to garner the strength to move forward in his later years. As he reflects on his life, both the good and the bad, he considers the source of his hope. The legacy left behind were decades of dependency and countless examples of God's protection and presence, and for that, he offers up praise.
Psalm 71:5-8 says this:
5 For you have been my hope, Sovereign Lord, my confidence since my youth.
6 From birth I have relied on you; you brought me forth from my mother’s womb. I will ever praise you.
7 I have become a sign to many; you are my strong refuge.
8 My mouth is filled with your praise, declaring your splendor all day long.
Take a moment to reflect on what you read:
What are the different ways the author used to describe his trust in God over the years?
Finding security through the things of this world is like putting all our faith in a house of cards, which is fragile and flimsy at best. Culture urges us to build our lives based on our ability, power, wisdom, and strength - rely on no one except ourselves. This advice might provide a firm foundation for a while, but it only takes the slightest shift in our circumstances for the wobble to begin. The crash can come from anywhere, at any time. It's not a matter of "if" we will face troubles, struggles, and adversity, but "when." Remember, the author of Psalm 71 wrote these words declaring God’s faithfulness not from the friendly confines of home, but while on the run from his enemies. He knew adversity all too well, not just in this moment, but throughout his life. Yet, he was able to say with confidence that the Lord provided him with refuge.
Difficulty and disappointment serve as revealers - they shine a light on what we build our lives upon for security. Every foundation other than Christ, and the wisdom He provides, is faulty. They don't provide the safety or stability to withstand what this broken world directs our way. When our world comes crashing down, God sets us up to experience more of His faithfulness. He is building trust within us. Unshakeable peace and an inner calm can define our hearts no matter our circumstances. Confidence, not in ourselves, but our God, rises up.
Take a moment and consider…What has facing adversity and times of trouble revealed about where you place your trust and hope?
Read today’s passage slowly one more time.
Psalm 71:5-8 says this:
5 For you have been my hope, Sovereign Lord, my confidence since my youth.
6 From birth I have relied on you; you brought me forth from my mother’s womb. I will ever praise you.
7 I have become a sign to many; you are my strong refuge.
8 My mouth is filled with your praise, declaring your splendor all day long.
People marveled at the author's dogged dependency on God, going as far as saying that he had become "a sign to many." His consistent faith over the years caused curiosity; a willingness to trust in God despite his circumstances led those around him to wonder. When his name got brought up, people spoke of and marveled at his devotion. I don't know about you, but I think that's the legacy we all want to leave behind.I read somewhere that in your lifetime, you'll touch 80,000 lives. To put that in perspective, that's enough people to fill London's Olympic Stadium. A number this high, at first, seems to be unimaginable or even inflated. However, take a step back and reflect on your daily interactions. As you go about your day, pay attention to the moments when your life bumps up against and interacts with someone else's. Family. Friends. Neighbors. Classmates. Coworkers. Waiters. Baristas. Store clerks. Strangers. The list goes on.
Unfortunately, we tend to be so wrapped up in our little world that we disregard these moments. We're so focused on our plan, schedule, to-do lists, and needs that the faces around us are just that...faces. But, what if we approached today a bit differently? What if we showed up for others by slowing down and being present? What impact could we make if we took notice, paid attention, and went out of our way to ask someone how they were doing (and were truly curious about their response)? Imagine what people would think if we spent our days considering others more significant than ourselves, had eyes to see those in need and brought a little bit of light and love to our dark world. And most importantly...what if, like the author of Psalm 71, we displayed our trust in God's faithfulness and love every day? We touch more people than we realize, and every encounter creates an imprint, not just on us but on the other individual. Our interactions leave an impression, so let ours be one of love.
So, as we begin to wrap up our time together, we want to provide you some space to respond to what we read and maybe to what God is trying to say to you through Psalm 71. First, take a moment to process this question…How would you describe the legacy you’re leaving behind?
Another question to consider is this…What would it look like to leverage the moments you have today to declare your trust in God’s faithfulness to you?
PRAYER
Father God,
May I build my life upon the security Your love and faithfulness provide.
When people look at how I spend my days and live my life, I want them to see the work of Your hand and the transformation of Your grace.
The legacy I will eventually leave behind gets told one moment at a time - may I respond to each one with bold faith and radical love. Amen.