Psalms 71 and 72 from my new book:

A NEW LOOK AT THE OLD PSALMS

Praying the Psalms: a modern interpretation

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I present here a new perspective on the psalms. I have rewritten them from a New 
Testament Christ-centered point of view. I did not try to capture the poetry of the 
psalms – I leave that to more gifted writers – but I attempted to capture their message
with a more modern interpretation.

God bless,

John

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Psalm 71

F

ather, I place my hope in you. Hear my prayer and protect me from sinners who break your commandments and treat others unfairly. I should not be anxious, for you have been my helper since I was conceived. I will be eternally grateful for all you have done for me. Others are amazed at how often you have gotten me out of trouble. I will praise you unceasingly, for you are my rock and defender.

But now I am old and weak and need your help more than ever. The devil sees my weakness and wants to sift me like wheat. My enemies think that you have abandoned me. Show them, Father, that you are near. Rebuke them, shame them, and turn their evil actions back against them. I trust in you and will praise you even more, for it is your power that makes me strong. All my life you have been my support. I will never stop proclaiming your wondrous deeds, even with my last breath. Stay with me until I have proclaimed your saving power, magnificent accomplishments, and holiness to everyone I meet, so that they may make known your glorious achievements to all future generations. 

I will sing your wondrous story, Father, until my praises reach the sky. For who is as great as my God? Yes, you have chastised me, but you eased my pain when I learned my lesson. So this song is for you, Lord, a song about my soul’s redemption. I will pray and meditate upon you day and night. As for those who wish me harm, they will be disgraced and humiliated. Amen.

Psalm 72

(A prophecy of Christ, the King of Peace.)

F

ather, you sent your son, Jesus, to judge your people wisely and justly. He is the King of Peace who watches over the poor and humbles those who treat them unfairly. He will reign forever. He continues to shower his subjects with peace and justice. He rules the whole world, and his enemies are laid low. Rulers of all nations will bring him gifts of praise to honor him. He saved the downtrodden from the oppressor. He protected the needy from those who mistreated them and took advantage of them financially. He has always had a soft spot in his heart for the poor. People will pray night and day because of his many blessings and give him praise for harvests so abundant that they reach toward the sky. All nations will praise and glorify him from generation to generation.

We bless you, Lord, for all your mighty deeds which only you could have accomplished. We will praise your glorious name eternally. Your glory will cover the whole world. Amen! Amen!²⁹

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Cover image: Christ the Saviour (Pantokrator)." Web. 25 Sept 2016.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Spas_vsederzhitel_sinay.jpg
"Creative Commons License." Web. 18 May 2016.
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

²⁹The Orthodox Study Bible. (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2008), 728.

This book and other books I have written are posted for your reading pleasure at Booksie.

Scriptural quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, 

copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois
60189. All rights reserved.

Copyright © 2016 by John P. Gross. All rights reserved. Reproduction of this material must 

be done in its entirety with the copyright notice intact. This book is not for sale, but is 

offered to the public free of charge for the glory of God.