Albert Barnes Commentary Psalms 71:16

"I will come with the mighty acts of the Lord Jehovah: I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only." — Psalms 71:16 (ASV)

I will go in the strength of the Lord God — in my future journey through life; in my trials; in my duties; in my conflicts; in my temptations. Admonished in the past by my own weakness, and remembering how often God has intervened, I will from now on lean only on his arm, and not trust in my own strength. But by thus leaning on his arm, I will go confidently to meet the duties and trials of life. If one has the strength of God to lean on, or can use that strength as if it were his own, there is no duty he cannot discharge, no trial he cannot bear.

The Hebrew for this phrase is, “I will come with the mighty deeds (more literally, ‘strengths’) of the Lord God.” This word is used to denote the “mighty acts” of Yahweh, in Deuteronomy 3:24, Psalms 106:2, and Job 26:14.

De Wette proposes to render this as, “I will go in the mighty deeds of Yahweh;” that is, I will sing of his mighty deeds. Rosenmuller explains it as, “I will go into the temple to celebrate his praise there;” that is, I will bring the remembrance of his mighty acts there as the foundation of praise. Professor Alexander explains it similarly.

It seems to me, however, that our translation has expressed the true idea: that he would go in the strength of God, that he would rely on no other, and that he would make mention of no other. Old age, trials, difficulties, and arduous duties were before him; and in all these, he would rely on no other strength but that of the Almighty.

I will make mention of Your righteousness, even of Yours only — of Your just and holy character. I will allude to nothing else; I will rely on nothing else as the foundation of my hope and as my encouragement in the duties and trials of life.