Psalm 71 (70):14Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

It is as if he is declaring: Lord, having been accustomed to Your past kindnesses, I have complete confidence that Your new mercies shall provide me with opportunities to glorify Your goodness. He further clarifies the nature of the praises he intends to offer God, indicating that he will continuously declare His truth and salvation. “My mouth shall declare Thy righteousness, all the day Thy salvation.” Here, righteousness refers not to individual merits but to the faithfulness God exhibits toward His servants by preserving them and rescuing them from distress. Thus, it brings us incredible comfort to acknowledge that our salvation is anchored in God’s righteousness, which possesses the same solid strength. David ties this idea of righteousness to salvation, indicating that his assurance of being saved stems from his understanding of God’s perfect nature—He is righteous and cannot contradict Himself. Given that David experienced miraculous deliverance numerous times through various means, he then commits to unwavering efforts to bring glory to God. While some interpret his subsequent words about not knowing the number to suggest that God's salvation is beyond his comprehension, others see a deeper connection to God's manifold blessings. Reflecting on the countless mercies that humble us invariably stirs our hearts to praise God. Often, after receiving just a few blessings, individuals may take them for granted or accept them with indifference. However, when faced with an abundance of blessings, such complacency shifts, and our ingratitude becomes more noticeable. Therefore, we should strive to appreciate God's goodness with fervor rather than indifference, using all our senses to exalt His greatness. Following the interpretation of the Septuagint, some suggest that David’s reference to not knowing the book implies ignorance of the knowledge found within literature; noting that he began as a shepherd and later became a warrior, leaving little time for study, as stated in Psalms 77, 70, and 71: “He shall take him from the flocks of sheep, and from the milkers shall feed him, and shepherd Jacob His servant.” However, this interpretation is dispelled by David himself, who affirmed, “I know better than all those who teach me” (Psalms 118:99). The Psalms themselves reveal that he was enlightened by both divine and human instruction. Despite his origins as a shepherd and later a soldier, he diligently pursued learning and deepened his understanding of God’s works. Thus, it can be concluded that when David speaks of ignorance of books, he is alluding to human wisdom or, more pointedly, the cunning of Ahithophel, who conspired against David. When he states, “I do not know you,” he is conveying a sense of disdainful ignorance rather than simple unawareness, resembling the sentiment of “I do not recognize you,” akin to what the Lord declares, “I do not know you at all” (Matthew 7:23). Therefore, the essence of his words, “I know not the book,” signifies that he does not comprehend the wisdom of this world, nor does he commend the schemes and manipulations of men, nor does he place his trust in their counsel, and so forth.

In this psalm, the prophet prays earnestly to God, asking that the same assistance He provided in his youth, He would grant him again in his old age, serving as a Helper and a Deliverer against all foes seen and unseen. He compels all to turn their thoughts toward obedience to Christ the Lord, nurturing the hope of liberation from sin and the acquisition of freedom through His death, by which He will release those first ensnared by sin, as well as all faithful servants of God, to everlasting life (2 Cor. 10:5; Rom. 6:10).