Psalm 71:5,6 “For thou art my hope, O Lord GOD: thou art my trust from my youth. 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.”
David had trusted God to be His Savior at a young age. Notice it does not say he was baptized, or his parents enrolled him at the Tabernacle. He did not take a course in confirmation first – he simply put his trust (faith) in God.
He gives credit to God for holding him up – sustaining and strengthening him from his birth. Many believers will look back at their life – even before they were saved – and testify that they can now see that God was working in their life the whole time. Of course, He was not their Savior until they called on Him and put their trust in Him to forgive and save them from Hell.
Because of his recognition of God’s work in his life and many deliverances since his salvation, David is determined to give praise to God continually. In verses 14 and 15 of this chapter, we see: “But I will hope continually, and will yet praise thee more and more. My mouth shall shew forth thy righteousness and thy salvation all the day; for I know not the numbers thereof.”
By experience, David learned that God is able to deliver him in whatever circumstance he is in when he asks God for deliverance and victory. It was not always immediate – but He delivered. This led him to determine to continue to trust God and serve Him. He will also increase in his praise to God for his many blessings.
Finally, note that David’s praise is focused on “thy righteousness.” Not his own righteousness or goodness, but on God’s. In fact, the phrase “thy righteousness” is mentioned five times in this chapter.
You that have been saved for many years – are you increasing in your praise to Him and of Him to others? It is part of your testimony, and when others hear what God does for you now and has done for you, it can encourage others to trust Him, too.