20150131 Saturday, January 31 2015
Psalm 071: What Did King David Say About Confusion?

by Wayne Blank
See also 1 Year Holy Bible Reading Plan

"In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion"

The English word "confusion" originated from a Latin word, confusus. It may be defined as "To mix up without order or clearness; to throw together indiscriminately; to derange, disorder, jumble; to perplex the mind or ideas of; to embarrass; to disconcert" (The Consolidated Webster Encyclopedic Dictionary).

"Confusion" is used to translate a variety of Hebrew words of the Holy Scriptures, including:

The Hebrew word, pronounced teh-bel, which meant unnatural or deviant. Example:

"18:22 Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination. 18:23 Neither shalt thou lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith: neither shall any woman stand before a beast to lie down thereto: it is confusion." (Leviicus 18:22-23 KJV; see also Sexual Abominations)

The Hebrew word, pronounced boh-sheth, which meant shame. Example:

"9:7 Since the days of our fathers have we been in a great trespass unto this day; and for our iniquities have we, our kings, and our priests, been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, and to a spoil, and to confusion of face, as it is this day." (Ezra 9:7 KJV; see also Why Did Judah Fall To Babylon?)

The Hebrew word, pronounced kaw-lone, which meant shame or disgrace. Example:

"10:15 If I be wicked, woe unto me; and if I be righteous, yet will I not lift up my head. I am full of confusion; therefore see thou mine affliction." (Job 10:15 KJV; see also What Did Satan Do To Job's Soul?)

The Hebrew word, pronounced kaw-fare, which meant to shame. Example:

"35:4 Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek after my soul: let them be turned back and brought to confusion that devise my hurt." (Psalm 35:4 KJV; see also Why Armor Is A Target)

The Hebrew word, pronounced kel-im-maw, which meant dishonor. Example:

"45:16 They shall be ashamed, and also confounded, all of them: they shall go to confusion together that are makers of idols." (Isaiah 45:16 KJV; see also The History Of Idolatry)

The Hebrew word, pronounced boosh, which meant to shame, literally to make pale. Example:

"71:1 In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion." (Psalm 71:1 KJV; see the text below)

The Hebrew word, pronounced too-hoo, which meant to make desolate. Example:

"24:10 The city of confusion is broken down: every house is shut up, that no man may come in. 24:11 There is a crying for wine in the streets; all joy is darkened, the mirth of the land is gone." (Isaiah 24:10-11 KJV; see also Seed-Bearing Plants: For Food Or For Folly?)

As shown in the examples above, confusion has a wide variety of Biblical meanings - all of which are about behavior. Those who follow the Way of the LORD will never be "confused," while those who follow themselves are living in a state of confusion.

"71:1 In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion. 71:2 Deliver me in thy righteousness, and cause me to escape: incline thine ear unto me, and save me. 71:3 Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou art my rock and my fortress. 71:4 Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man.

71:5 For thou art my hope, O Lord GOD: thou art my trust from my youth. 71:6 By thee have I been holden up from the womb: thou art he that took me out of my mother's bowels: my praise shall be continually of thee. 71:7 I am as a wonder unto many; but thou art my strong refuge. 71:8 Let my mouth be filled with thy praise and with thy honour all the day.

71:9 Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth. 71:10 For mine enemies speak against me; and they that lay wait for my soul take counsel together, 71:11 Saying, God hath forsaken him: persecute and take him; for there is none to deliver him. 71:12 O God, be not far from me: O my God, make haste for my help.

71:13 Let them be confounded and consumed that are adversaries to my soul; let them be covered with reproach and dishonour that seek my hurt. 71:14 But I will hope continually, and will yet praise thee more and more. 71:15 My mouth shall shew forth thy righteousness and thy salvation all the day; for I know not the numbers thereof. 71:16 I will go in the strength of the Lord GOD: I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only. 71:17 O God, thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works. 71:18 Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come.

71:19 Thy righteousness also, O God, is very high, who hast done great things: O God, who is like unto thee! 71:20 Thou, which hast shewed me great and sore troubles, shalt quicken me again, and shalt bring me up again from the depths of the earth. 71:21 Thou shalt increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side.

71:22 I will also praise thee with the psaltery, even thy truth, O my God: unto thee will I sing with the harp, O thou Holy One of Israel. 71:23 My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto thee; and my soul, which thou hast redeemed. 71:24 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." (Psalm 71:1-24 KJV)

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See The LORD Is My Shepherd and Trust In the LORD