Tehilim Perek 71

Welcome to NachDaily, covering the entire TANACH one perek at a time. I’m Rabbi Shaya Sussman, and today we’ll be discussing Tehilim, Chapter 71.

This perek doesn’t begin with any attribution, which is an indication that it’s a continuation of the previous one.

Dovid pleads with God to draw him close. [It is a good chapter for anyone who is feeling estranged to say.] Dovid affirms that he won’t experience any suffering because Hashem is his refuge. While simultaneously acknowledging that help is on the way, he recognizes that Hashem’s salvation is already in motion.

Dovid articulates placing his hope in God and feeling secure in Him because He has taken care of him since his childhood. Dovid receives strength by focusing on all the good Hashem has done for him during his lifetime.

Despite his ups and downs, Dovid continues to fill his mouth with the praise of God, begging Him not to abandon him in his old age.

Amazingly, Dovid asks God to speedily save him from the people who ridicule him, at the same time telling Him that even if His help isn’t forthcoming, he’ll continue to sing His praise!

Dovid constantly thanks Hashem for even the seemingly “small” things that He has done for him. Dovid acknowledges his good deeds and brings them before God.

The perek starts winding down with Dovid expressing emunah in God’s goodness, and gratitude for all that Hashem has done for him. Dovid is confident that when things get back to normal he knows that his fame will be greater than ever.

The chapter ends with Dovid stating that he will sing and play musical instruments in praise of Hashem. Ultimately Dovid is happy, once again affirming that God is righteous.

In verse 9 it says אל־תשליכני לעת זקנה ככלות כחי אל־תעזבני

Do not cast me off in old age; when my strength fails, do not forsake me!

Reb Nosson explains in hilchos Tefilin that the main reason why people at large feel distant from Hashem is because they feel they’ve wasted so much valuable time that they can never get back. They become extremely discouraged from even starting to do whatever little bit they can do in the service of God.

The truth is that this type of attitude comes from the Yetzer Harah himself, who is called the zaken d’sitra achra – an evil old man – who wants to remove a person completely from this world and the next.

He is called a foolish old king who wants to make you feel as if you’ve been sinning for such a long time that there’s no use in doing anything at all.

Nothing is further from the truth. Every day a person is considered a new creation with new capabilities. He can start over again with firm resolve and new commitment.

Every day we need to strengthen ourselves by viewing the Torah as new, as if it were given today! We have to seize the moment, and do whatever we can!

May we merit Dovid Hamelech’s way of seizing the moment to throw off the zaken d’sitra achra – the evil old man inside of us who says that it’s no use. May we never despair.

Thank you for listening and have a wonderful day