There is no header for this psalm, but it has some themes common to David's songs.
Psalm 71: 1-3, Rock and fortress
In you, O LORD, I have taken refuge;
let me never be put to shame.
Rescue me and deliver me in your righteousness;
turn your ear to me and save me.
Be my rock of refuge, to which I can always go;
give the command to save me,
for you are my rock and my fortress.
"Be my rock and fortress", a common plea from David. These first three verses occur again, with very minor changes, in the first three verses of Psalm 31.
Psalm 71: 4-5, Help!
Deliver me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked,
from the grasp of evil and cruel men.
For you have been my hope, O Sovereign LORD,
my confidence since my youth.
This call for deliverance is typical of the psalms. At the end we have hints that the author is elderly, as he reminds YHWH that he has relied on Him from his youth.
Psalm 71: 6-8, from birth to now, I rely on You!
From birth I have relied on you;
you brought me forth from my mother's womb.
I will ever praise you.
I have become like a portent to many,
but you are my strong refuge.
My mouth is filled with your praise,
declaring your splendor all day long.
Evil and wicked men prey upon our psalmist, one who remembers relying on God from his earliest days. In his later days, he continues to fill his mouth with praise.
Psalm 71: 9-13, Stay near me, please!
Do not cast me away when I am old;
do not forsake me when my strength is gone.
For my enemies speak against me;
those who wait to kill me conspire together.
They say, "God has forsaken him;
pursue him and seize him,
for no one will rescue him."
Be not far from me, O God;
come quickly, O my God, to help me.
May my accusers perish in shame;
may those who want to harm me be covered with scorn and disgrace.
Even when he is old, the psalmist want God to stay close. From birth to grave, he wants to rely on God. May God protect him in his old age while putting his accusers to shame.
Kidner sees numerous connections between this psalm and Psalm 22.
Psalm 71: 14-15, Salvation without measure
But as for me, I will always have hope;
I will praise you more and more.
My mouth will tell of your righteousness,
of your salvation all day long,
though I know not its measure.
David (or the psalmist) insists on continuing hope; he will review God's righteousness and salvation, a salvation that cannot be measured
Psalm 71: 16-21, Righteousness to the skies
I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, O Sovereign LORD;
I will proclaim your righteousness, yours alone.
Since my youth, O God, you have taught me,
and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds.
Even when I am old and gray,
do not forsake me, O God,
till I declare your power to the next generation,
your might to all who are to come.
Your righteousness reaches to the skies,
O God, you who have done great things.
Who, O God, is like you?
Though you have made me see troubles,
many and bitter,
you will restore my life again;
from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up.
You will increase my honor
and comfort me once again.
The theme of dependence, from birth to grave, is repeated. The psalmist declares God's righteousness, power and ability to restore.
The excellent blog Hebrew Word Lessons, by Sarah E. Fisher, examines the structure of verse 19. She especially looks at the Hebrew word kamo/kemo , translated "Who is like you?", here. She also breaks down the Hebrew word marom, translated "to the heavens", in a postpost here. (I recommend her blog.)
Psalm 71: 22-24, Sing for joy
I will praise you with the harp for your faithfulness, O my God;
I will sing praise to you with the lyre, O Holy One of Israel.
My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you--
I, whom you have redeemed.
My tongue will tell of your righteous acts all day long,
for those who wanted to harm me have been put to shame and confusion.
The psalmist sings with harp and lyre, shouting for joy.
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