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How do you want to be remembered? What will you be known for? If your life were a billboard, what would its message be? Psalm 71 gives us an example to follow that can lead us to the right message to leave behind.

In verse seven the psalmist said, “I have been as a portent to many…” Portent isn’t a word many of us use very often. It is a word that can have a positive or negative meaning. Some translations of the Bible use the words “sign” or “wonder” or even “warning” instead of portent. The psalmist is suggesting that his life is a billboard of sorts to those who have observed him over time. When you read the entirety of this psalm, you realize that the timeframe is the span of his life—from the time he was an infant into what is now his old age.

The psalmist is clear that what he hopes is the sign or thing that others remember is his reliance on God and not his own accomplishments or mistakes. The second half of verse seven says, “But you are my strong refuge.” Consider the whole verse: “I have been as a portent to many, but you are my strong refuge.”

While the text does not tell us specifically that David was the author of this psalm, it is a reasonable conclusion based on its contents. It appears that once again David is being pursued by those who seek his harm. As he navigates the terrain and his opponents, he continues to declare that the Lord is his refuge and trusts that because he has placed his hope in the Almighty, he will never be put to shame.

We know from scripture that David was a man after God’s heart. Yet, even as he pursued God, there were others who often pursued him, both in his youth and later in his old age as his own sons fought for control of the throne. Of course, we all know the story of David’s sin of adultery and even murder. So, his life at times was a bad example that some might want to flaunt to his embarrassment. 

Whether you are in the last quarter of your life’s calling or early into your relationship with God and the plans he has for you, David’s words in this chapter give us great advice. Here are a few of the prayers of David which God answered over and over. They are good prayers for you and me no matter what we are facing and regardless of our age or status in the community.

“In you, O Lord, do I take refuge; let me never be put to shame!”

“In your righteousness deliver me and rescue me.”

Some of us are likely praying this verse: “Do not cast me off in the time of my old age.”

“O God, be not far from me; O my God, make haste to help me!”

And when others seek to bring harm to us or seek to destroy our work and reputation:

“But I will hope continually and will praise you yet more and more. My mouth will tell of your righteous acts, of your deeds of salvation all the day, for their number is past my knowledge.”

There will be a day when our lives on this side of eternity are over. As friends and family remember us, may their memories be filled with confidence in our Father in heaven because we left them an example of our total confidence in God.

Father, thank you for this beautiful psalm of testimony of your greatness and faithfulness to us in every season. Today we turn to you asking for your help. We declare that in every way that we are insufficient, you are fully sufficient to meet every need. With the psalmist, we will tell others of your righteous help all day long. In Jesus’ name, amen.