“My tongue also shall talk of thy righteousness all the day long: for they are confounded, for they are brought unto shame, that seek my hurt.”
My Notes
What Does Psalms 71:24 Mean?
The psalmist makes a commitment: my tongue will talk of your righteousness all day long. The reason: his enemies have been confounded and shamed — the ones who sought his hurt. The vindication has arrived, and the response is non-stop testimony.
The phrase "all the day long" means continuous, from morning to evening. The talking about God's righteousness isn't a single testimony or an occasional mention. It's a lifestyle of verbal witness. Every conversation. Every hour. Every opportunity. The tongue is dedicated to one subject: what God has done.
The connection between enemy-shaming and tongue-talking is causal: they were confounded → therefore my tongue talks. The vindication produces the testimony. The defeat of the enemies fuels the declaration. When God shames those who sought your hurt, the natural response isn't silence. It's a tongue that can't stop talking about His righteousness.
Reflection Questions
- 1.What does your tongue talk about 'all the day long' — and does it reveal what fills your heart?
- 2.Has a vindication from God ever produced non-stop testimony — a tongue that couldn't stop talking about what He did?
- 3.Does the focus on 'thy righteousness' (not my victory) challenge how you tell your testimony?
- 4.Where have your enemies been 'confounded' — and have you responded with testimony or just relief?
Devotional
My tongue will talk of your righteousness. All day. Because the people who tried to destroy me have been shamed.
The vindication produces the testimony. The psalmist's enemies — the ones who actively sought his harm — have been confounded. Shamed. Brought to nothing. And the response isn't quiet relief. It's a tongue that won't stop talking.
"All the day long" — this isn't a sermon or a Sunday testimony. It's a lifestyle of declaration. From morning to evening. Every conversation carries a mention. Every interaction includes the subject: God's righteousness. The tongue has been claimed by the testimony. There's nothing else it wants to talk about.
The connection between vindication and testimony is important: people who have been vindicated by God can't shut up about it. The relief is too real. The justice is too visible. The reversal is too dramatic. When the person who tried to destroy you is the one who's shamed, the only honest response is to tell everyone who did it.
"Thy righteousness" — not my vindication. Your righteousness. The testimony points to God's character, not the psalmist's victory. I was vindicated because God is righteous. The shaming of enemies was God's righteousness in action. The tongue talks about Him, not about me.
The tongue has been through a lot in the Psalms: lying tongues (12:3), sharp tongues (57:4), deceitful tongues (120:2). But here, the tongue is redeemed. It has a new purpose: all-day testimony about God's righteousness. The same instrument that could have cursed is now committed to praise.
What is your tongue talking about all day? Whatever fills your conversation reveals whatever fills your heart. And the psalmist's heart is so full of God's righteousness that his tongue can't contain it.
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
My tongue also shall talk of thy righteousness all the day long,.... See Gill on Psa 71:16;
for they are confounded;…
My tongue also shall talk of thy righteousness - Thy righteous character; the truthfulness, the goodness, the fidelity…
David is here in a holy transport of joy and praise, arising from his faith and hope in God; we have both together Psa…
My tongue&c. From Psa 35:28. The word for talkdenotes musing, meditative speech.
for they&c. For they are ashamed, for…
Cross References
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