Psalm 71:9-13

In the alternating "pattern" of Psalm 71, the second section of petition/complaint is verses 9-13:

"Do not cast me off in the time of old age;
do not forsake me when my strength is spent.
For my enemies speak concerning me,
and those who watch for my life consult together.
They say, "Pursue and seize the person
whom God has forsaken,
for there is no one to deliver.'
O God, do not be far from me;
O my God, make haste to help me!
Let my accusers be put to shame and consumed;
let those who seek to hurt me
be covered with scorn and disgrace."

1. In verses 5-6, the poet has already said that he has trusted Yahweh from birth, from her/his youth. Now, in verse 9, she/he begs Yahweh not to forsake her/him in old age, when the strength of youth and earlier years is gone (see verse 18; Psalm 31:10). According the verse 11b, the psalmist's enemies claim Yahweh has "forsaken" her/him; but the psalmist pleads with Yahweh not to "forsake" her/him (verse 9b).
2. Wicked people are very insecure, and thus they must have companions to bolster their courage and support their evil intentions. The author of Psalm 71 describes her/his enemies are a group of people who get together regularly to strategize how they will destroy the poet and to encourage each other to attack the psalmist while she/he is vulnerable (verses 10-11). One can rest assured that wicked people do not and will not "fight fair." Their internal fears will not allow them to be noble enough to confront their enemies face to face; instead, they talk about them "behind their backs," and try to diminish or destroy their reputation by saying bad things about them or simply insinuating negative things about them (see Psalm 3:2). This is typical, because it is the way the enemies of Jesus and Paul treated them.
3. The composer of Psalm 71 prays fervently that Yahweh will be near her/him, and will help her/him very soon, because she/he completely depends on God (verse 12; see Psalms 22:19; 70:1, 5).
4. The author of Psalm 71 also prays that God will intervene and cause her/his enemies to suffer public "shame" and "disgrace" (verse 13). Verse 13 stands in bold contrast to the prayer in verse 1b, and anticipates the thanksgiving in verse 24 (see also Psalms 31:17; 70:2). "Shame" and "honor" are very important aspects of life in the ancient world.
May God help us look to him for help constantly when enemies attack us.

John Willis