Do not cast me off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength is spent.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This prayer is more than just a plea for comfort in old age; it's a deep cry that because strength is failing, God's presence becomes even more crucial. The psalmist isn't just asking God to stay present, but to actively counteract the physical and emotional decline that comes with age.
Do not cast me off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength is spent.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This psalm is a heartfelt prayer from someone facing deep distress and surrounded by enemies, possibly an aging individual reflecting on a lifetime of God's faithfulness. The psalmist recalls God's help from youth and pleads for continued presence and protection as physical strength wanes and enemies plot. This prayer builds upon earlier expressions of trust and seeks assurance that God's love and power will not abandon them in their most vulnerable years.
Why would someone who has trusted God for years suddenly feel the need to beg not to be abandoned?
This verse isn't just a general prayer; it's the heartfelt cry of someone deeply experienced in walking with God. The psalmist isn't a novice seeking God for the first time. He's lived a life of faith, calling God his 'rock' and 'fortress' (v. 3). Yet, as he faces the vulnerabilities of old age, his deep-seated trust fuels an intense plea. He knows God’s faithfulness, but the physical and emotional realities of aging—waning strength, fading senses, and the potential for loneliness—make him fear being left behind, even by the One he knows best. It’s a testament to how even the most seasoned believers can feel fragile and desperately need assurance of God’s enduring presence.
When 'strength fails,' where do we turn? This verse points to a surprising source of support.
The phrase 'when my strength is spent' speaks to the inevitable decline that comes with age. Our physical vitality, mental sharpness, and even our emotional resilience can wane. But this isn't a signal for God to withdraw; it's precisely when the psalmist believes he needs God's presence most. The commentaries suggest that this isn't about God abandoning us, but about acknowledging our own inability to stand alone. The hope isn't that our strength will miraculously return, but that God's strength will be sufficient to sustain us in our weakness. This is where the true power of faith is revealed – not in our ability to power through, but in God’s power to uphold us when we can no longer uphold ourselves.
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Understand the original words
azab · Hebrew Verb
To abandon, desert, or leave someone behind; in a spiritual sense, it refers to the removal of God's presence or protection, which the believer constantly prays to avoid.
This prayer reflects the anxieties of King David in his advanced age, particularly during times of crisis like Absalom's rebellion, when physical strength wanes and the need for God's steadfast presence becomes paramount.
c. 1000 BC
David's Reign and Early Years
David establishes his kingship over Israel, facing numerous challenges and relying on God from his youth.
c. 970 BC— this verse
Rebellion of Absalom
David's son Absalom leads a rebellion, forcing David to flee Jerusalem and experience a profound crisis in his later years.
c. 965 BC
David's Later Reign and Weakness
In the final years of his life, David experiences physical weakness and faces the lingering consequences of past actions, seeking God's continued presence.
c. 960 BC
David's Death
David passes away, leaving behind a legacy of worship, wisdom, and psalms that continue to speak to future generations.
Ruth's vow to Naomi, 'Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God,' echoes this plea for steadfast companionship, even in dire circumstances.
1 Samuel 12:22This verse directly addresses the fear of being forsaken by God, assuring the people that because of God's greatness, He will not forsake them, paralleling the psalmist's deep-seated fear and plea.
Isaiah 46:4This prophecy directly promises God's continued support through all stages of life, stating, 'even to your old age I am he, and to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save,' offering comfort to the aging psalmist.
Matthew 28:20Jesus' final promise, 'And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age,' speaks to the same longing for God's constant presence, offering a New Testament assurance that extends to the end of one's days.
poolePsalms 71:9: "Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth."
When I am most feeble, and most need thy help, and one who is grown old in thy service.
expositorsPsalms 71:1-24: "In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion."
Psalm 71:1-24 ECHOES of former psalms make the staple of this one, and even those parts of it which are not quotations have little individuality. The themes are familiar, and the expression of them is scarcely less so. There is no well-defined strophical structure, and little continuity of thought or feeling. Psalm 71:13 and Psalm 71:24 b serve as a kind of partial refrain, and may be taken as dividing the p…
This prayer is more than just a plea for comfort in old age; it's a deep cry that because strength is failing, God's presence becomes even more crucial. The psalmist isn't just asking God to stay present, but to actively counteract the physical and emotional decline that comes with age.
This psalm is a heartfelt prayer from someone facing deep distress and surrounded by enemies, possibly an aging individual reflecting on a lifetime of God's faithfulness. The psalmist recalls God's help from youth and pleads for continued presence and protection as physical strength wanes and enemies plot. This prayer builds upon earlier expressions of trust and seeks assurance that God's love and power will not abandon them in their most vulnerable years.
This psalm is a heartfelt prayer from someone facing deep distress and surrounded by enemies, possibly an aging individual reflecting on a lifetime of God's faithfulness. The psalmist recalls God's help from youth and pleads for continued presence and protection as physical strength wanes and enemies plot. This prayer builds upon earlier expressions of trust and seeks assurance that God's love and power will not abandon them in their most vulnerable years.
"Do not cast me off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength is spent." — This prayer is more than just a plea for comfort in old age; it's a deep cry that because strength is failing, God's presence becomes even more crucial. The psalmist isn't just asking God to stay p…
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Last reviewed October 2026