Reading the Psalms is an enriching and encouraging experience. The attentive reader never resolves to do less for the Lord after ingesting one of these tasty morsels. Quite the contrary! The motivating force of these inspired writings always urges the reader to do more, to reach farther, to dig deeper, to extend oneself more and more for the Lord. Look at the superlatives used in Psalm 71 and ask yourself if you can (or should) adopt them as well.
Maximum Devotion. In verse 3, the psalmist’s desire of the Lord is, “Be my strong refuge, to which I may resort continually.” Not resort occasionally or intermittently but continually! In verse 14, he promises, “I will hope continually.” Not just in good and prosperous times but continually! That’s maximum devotion!
Maximum Praise. He pledges in verse 6, “My praise shall be continually of You.” Again, not sporadically but continually! “Let my mouth be filled with Your praise and with Your glory all the day” (v. 8). Not partial or half-hearted praise but filled all the day! And, as if that wasn’t enough, the writer refused to become complacent, vowing in verse 14, “I…will praise You yet more and more.” Having already committed to praise continually and be filled with praise all the day, now he commits even further. Not “I’ll see what I can do” or “I’ve about reached my limit” but yet more and more! And, he’s still not done. “My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing to You” (v. 23). Put it all together, and that’s maximum praise!
Maximum Preaching. Truly, this psalm is about how great God is, magnifying all that God had done and was doing for the psalmist (he recounts at least 16 actions of the Lord on his behalf). The writer is overwhelmed and promises much in return. Verse 15 is amazing: “My mouth shall tell of Your righteousness and Your salvation all the day, For I do not know their limits.” Not “when I get a chance” or “when it’s convenient” or looking for the bare minimum but all the day without limits! “I will make mention of Your righteousness, of Yours only” (v. 16). No other way but God’s only! The next verse continues, “To this day I declare Your wondrous works” (v. 17). Not “I need to get started” but it’s already a lifestyle! He doesn’t want to stop or fall short: “…I declare…Your power to everyone who is to come” (v. 18). Not “to as many as I can” or “after they get to know me better” but to everyone! Before it’s all over, he states it again, “My tongue also shall talk of Your righteousness all the day long” (v. 24). Not for a couple minutes here and there but all the day long! Wow! That’s maximum preaching!