Bible Commentaries
Psalms 31

Verse 1

PSALM XXXI

The psalmist, with strong confidence in God, in a time of

distress prays earnestly for deliverance, 1-5.

He expresses his abhorrence of evil, 6;

gratefully mentions former interpositions of God, 7, 8;

continues to detail the miseries of his case, 9-18;

points out the privileges of them that fear God, 19, 20;

shows that God had heard his prayers, notwithstanding he had

given himself over for lost, 21, 22;

calls on the saints to love God, and to have confidence in him,

because he preserves the faithful, and plentifully rewards the

proud doer, 23, 24.

NOTES ON PSALM XXXI

This Psalm contains no notes of time or place, to help us to ascertain when, where, or on what account it was written. Nor have we any certain evidence relative to the author: it might have been written by David during his persecution by Saul. Some think Jeremiah to have been the author: the thirteenth verse begins exactly with the same words as Jeremiah 20:10. There are several other apparent references to passages in the book of Jeremiah, which shall be produced in the notes.

Verse Psalms 31:1. In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust — I confide in thee for every good I need: let me not be confounded by not receiving the end of my faith, the supply of my wants, and the salvation of my soul.

Verse 2

Verse Psalms 31:2. Bow down thine ear — Listen to my complaint. Put thy ear to my lips, that thou mayest hear all that my feebleness is capable of uttering. We generally put our ear near to the lips of the sick and dying, that we may hear what they say. To this the text appears to allude.

Strong rock — Rocks, rocky places, or caves in the rocks, were often strong places in the land of Judea. To such natural fortifications allusions are repeatedly made by the Hebrew poetic writers.

Verse 4

Verse Psalms 31:4. Pull me out of the net — They have hemmed me in on every side, and I cannot escape but by miracle.

Verse 5

Verse Psalms 31:5. Into thine hand I commit my spirit — These words, as they stand in the Vulgate, were in the highest credit among our ancestors; by whom they were used in all dangers, difficulties, and in the article of death. In manus tuas, Domine, commendo spiritum meum, was used by the sick when about to expire, if they were sensible; and if not, the priest said it in their behalf. In forms of prayer for sick and dying persons, these words were frequently inserted in Latin, though all the rest of the prayer was English; for it was supposed there was something sovereign in the language itself. But let not the abuse of such words hinder their usefulness. For an ejaculation nothing can be better; and when the pious or the tempted with confidence use them, nothing can exceed their effect. "Into thy hands I commend my spirit; for thou hast redeemed me, O Lord God of truth." I give my soul to thee, for it is thine: thou hast redeemed it by thy blood; it is safe nowhere but in thy hand. Thou hast promised to save them that trust in thee; thou art the God of truth, and canst not deny thyself. But these words are particularly sanctified, or set apart for this purpose, by the use made of them by our blessed Lord just before he expired on the cross. "And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Πατερ, εις χειρας σου παρατιθεμαι το πνευμα μου· 'Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit,'" Luke 23:46. The rest of the verse was not suitable to the Saviour of the world, and therefore he omits it; but it is suitable to us who have been redeemed by that sacrificial death. St. Stephen uses nearly the same words, and they were the last that he uttered. Acts 7:59.

Verse 6

Verse Psalms 31:6. I have hated them — That is, I have abominated their ways. Idolaters are the persons of whom David speaks.

I trust in the Lord. — While they trust in vanities vain things; (for an idol is nothing in the world;) and in lying vanities; (for much is promised and nothing given;) I trust in Jehovah, who is God all-sufficient, and is my Shepherd, and therefore I shall lack no good thing.

Verse 7

Verse Psalms 31:7. Thou hast known my soul in adversities — When all forsook me; when none could help me; when I could not save my own life; when my enemies were sure that I could not escape; then I found thee to be my Friend and Supporter. When friend, so called, finds it convenient not to know his friend in affliction and poverty, then thou didst acknowledge me as thine own, all worthless as I was. Human friendships may fail; but the Friend of sinners never fails. Cicero defines a real friend, Amicus certus in re incerta cernitor: "A friend in need is a friend indeed." Reader, such a Friend is the Lord.

Verse 8

Verse Psalms 31:8. Thou hast set my foot in a large room. — Many hair-breadth escapes David had for his life; at that time especially when, playing before Saul, the furious king took a spear and endeavoured to pierce him through the body, but he escaped and got to the deserts. Here God, who had saved his life, set his feet in a large room. The seventh and eighth verses speak of what God had done previously for him.

Verse 9

Verse Psalms 31:9. Mine eye is consumed — He now returns, and speaks of his present situation. Grief had brought many tears from his eyes, many agonies into his soul, and many distressful feelings into his whole frame.

My soul and my belly. — The belly is often taken for the whole body. But the term belly or bowels, in such as case as this, may be the most proper; for in distress and misery, the bowels being the most tender part, and in fact the very seat of compassion, they are often most affected. In Greek the word σπλαγχνον signifies a bowel, and σπλαγχνιζομαι signifies to be moved with compassion; to feel misery in the bowels at the sight of a person in pain and distress.

Verse 10

Verse Psalms 31:10. My life is spent with grief — My life is a life of suffering and distress, and by grief my days are shortened. Grief disturbs the functions of life, prevents the due concoction of food, injures the digestive organs, destroys appetite, impairs the nervous system, relaxes the muscles, induces morbid action in the animal economy, and hastens death. These effects are well expressed in the verse itself.

My years with sighing — אנחה anachah. This is a mere natural expression of grief; the very sounds which proceed from a distressed mind; an-ach-ah! common, with little variation, to all nations, and nearly the same in all languages. The och-och-on of the Irish is precisely the same sound, and the same sense. Thousands of beauties or this kind are to be found in the sacred language.

Verse 11

Verse Psalms 31:11. I was a reproach — When proscribed at the court of Saul, my enemies triumphed, and loaded me with execrations; my neighbours considered me as a dangerous man, now deservedly driven from society; my acquaintance, who knew me best, were afraid to hold any communication with me; and they who saw me in my exile avoided me as if affected with a contagious disorder,

Verse 12

Verse Psalms 31:12. I am forgotten as a dead man — I am considered as a person adjudged to death. I am like a broken vessel - like a thing totally useless.

Verse 13

Verse Psalms 31:13. I have heard the slander of many — To this and the two foregoing verses the reader may find several parallels; Jeremiah 18:18-15, and ten first verses of Jeremiah 20:1-10. This has caused several to suppose that Jeremiah was the author of this Psalm.

Verse 14

Verse Psalms 31:14. But I trusted in thee — Hitherto thou hast been my Helper, and thou art my God; I have taken thee for my eternal portion.

Verse 15

Verse Psalms 31:15. My times are in thy hand — The events of my life are under thy control. No danger can happen to me without thy foresight; thou seest what is prepared for or meditated against me; thou canst therefore deliver me from mine enemies.

Verse 16

Verse Psalms 31:16. Make thy face to shine upon thy servant — Only let me know that thou art reconciled to and pleased with me, and then, come what will, all must be well.

Save me for thy mercies' sake. — Literally, Save me in thy mercy.

Verse 17

Verse Psalms 31:17. Let the wicked be ashamed — Those who traduce my character and lay snares for my life; let them be confounded.

Verse 18

Verse Psalms 31:18. Let the lying lips be put to silence — As to my enemies, persecutors, and slanderers, abate their pride, assuage their malice, and confound their devices. See Jeremiah 18:18.

Verse 19

Verse Psalms 31:19. O how great is thy goodness — God's goodness is infinite; there is enough for all. enough for each, enough for evermore. It is laid up where neither devils nor men can reach it, and it is laid up for them that fear the Lord; therefore every one who trembles at his word, may expect all he needs from this Fountain that can never be dried up.

Which thou hast wrought — Thou hast already prepared it; it is the work of thy own hands; thou hast provided it and proportioned it to the necessities of men, and all who trust in thee shall have it. And for them especially it is prepared who trust in thee before men-who boldly confess thee amidst a crooked and perverse generation.

Verse 20

Verse Psalms 31:20. Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence — בסתר פניך besether paneycha, "With the covering of thy countenance." Their life shall be so hidden with Christ in God, that their enemies shall not be able to find them out. To such a hiding-place Satan himself dare not approach. There the pride of man cannot come.

Thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion — Thou shalt put them in the innermost part of thy tent. This implies that they shall have much communion and union with God; that they shall be transformed into his likeness, and have his highest approbation.

Verse 21

Verse Psalms 31:21. In a strong city. — If this Psalm was written by David, this must refer to his taking refuge with Achish, king of Gath, who gave him Ziklag, a fortified city, to secure himself and followers in. See 1 Samuel 27:6. This is more likely than that it was Keilah, where he only had intimation of the traitorous design of the inhabitants to deliver him up to Saul; so that the place was no refuge to him, howsoever fortified. Perhaps the passage may mean that, under the protection of God, he was as safe as if he had been in a fortified city.

Verse 22

Verse Psalms 31:22. I said in my haste — Not duly adverting to the promise of God, I was led to conclude that my enemies were so strong, so numerous, and had so many advantages against me, that I must necessarily fall into and by their hands; however, I continued to pray, and thou didst hear the voice of my supplication.

Verse 23

Verse Psalms 31:23. O love the Lord, all ye his saints — It is only the saints that can love God, as they only are made partakers of the Divine nature. Holy spirits can love God, who is the fountain of their holiness; and the saints should love him.

Preserveth the faithful — Those who, being filled with the love of God, bring forth the fruits of that love - universal obedience to the will of God; for to such persons his commands are not grievous, their duty is their delight; while a man is faithful to the grace he has received, that is, uses and improves the talents with which God has intrusted him, God's service is perfect freedom.

The proud doer. — The man of the proud heart, haughty and supercilious carriage, and insulting and outrageous conduct. A proud man is peculiarly odious in the sight of God; and in the sight of reason how absurd! A sinner, a fallen spirit, an heir of wretchedness and corruption-proud! Proud of what? Of an indwelling devil! Well; such persons shall be plentifully rewarded. They shall get their due, their whole due, and nothing but their due.

Verse 24

Verse Psalms 31:24. Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart — In 1 Corinthians 16:13, St. Paul says, "Watch ye, stand fast in the faith; quit you like men; be strong:" Γρηγορειτε, στηκετε εν τῃ πιστει, ανδριζεσθε, κραταιουσθε. The latter words he seems to have borrowed from the Septuagint, who translate, "Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart," by Ανδριζεσθε και κραταιουσθω ἡ καρδια ὑμων "Act like men, and your hearts shall be strengthened."

They that hope in God, and are endeavouring to walk carefully before him, may take courage at all times, and expect the fulness of the blessing of the Gospel of peace.

ANALYSIS OF THE THIRTY-FIRST PSALM

This Psalm is composed and mixed of divers affections; for David sometimes prays, sometimes gives thanks; now he complains, now he hopes; at one time fears, at another exults. This vicissitude of affection is six-fold, and it may very well divide the Psalm.

I. With great confidence he prays to God; Psalms 31:1-6.

II. He exults for mercy and help received; Psalms 31:7; Psalms 31:8.

III. He grievously complains of the misery he was in; Psalms 31:9-14.

IV. He prays again, upon the strength of God's goodness; Psalms 31:15-18.

V. He admires, exults in, and proclaims God's goodness, Psalms 31:19-22.

VI. He exhorts others to love God, and be courageous; Psalms 31:23-24.

I. In the six first verses he prays to God, and shows his reasons: -

1. That he be never ashamed in his hope: "Let me never be ashamed."

2. That he be delivered, "speedily delivered."

3. That God would be "his rock, and a house of defence, to save him."

4. That God would lead and guide him: "Lead me, and guide me."

5. That God would "pull his feet out of the net which they had laid for him."

The reasons on which he founds his prayer and expectations: -

1. His faith and confidence: "In thee, O Lord I put my trust."

2. The reason of his faith: "Thou art my ROCK and FORTRESS."

3. His deliverance would be to the honour of God: "For thy name's sake."

4. Thou art my strength; exert it in my behalf.

5. I rely upon thee: "Into thy hands I commit my spirit."

6. I expect thee to do for me as thou hast ever done: "Thou hast redeemed me."

7. I rely on thee alone, I seek no vain helps: "I have hated them that regard lying vanities; but I trust in the Lord."

His petition and his reasons are in effect the same; his confidence in God to be his Deliverer, Fortress, Rock, Redeemer, c.

II. He exults for mercy and help already received, and by the experience of that, doubts the less in this: "I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy." And his reason follows from his experience: 1. "For thou hast considered my trouble." 2. "Thou hast known my soul in adversity." 3. "Thou hast not shut me up into the hand of the enemy." 4. But "hast set my feet in a large room."

III. He prays, and grievously complains of what he suffered within and without.

1. He prays: "Have mercy upon me, O Lord."

2. Then he complains, and his complaint shows the reason of his prayer.

1. Within - at home, he was in a distressed state: "I am in trouble my eye is consumed with grief; my years with sighing; my strength faileth; my bones are consumed."

2. Without - I have no comfort either from friends or enemies.

1. "I was a reproach among all my enemies."

2. My friends stand afar off: "I was a reproach, especially among my neighbours." "A fear to my acquaintance." "They that did see me without fled from me."

3. He shows the greatness of his grief, and the scorn he endured: "I am forgotten as a dead man;" "I am as a broken vessel," vile and useless.

4. I am mocked by the people: "I have heard the slander of many."

5. And the consequence was mischievous. 1. "Fear is on every side." 2. While they conspired, or "took counsel against my life." 3. And their counsel was, "to take away my life." What more could my enemies do, or my friends permit?

IV. After his complaint he comforts himself with his chief reason, the goodness of God. I have trusted in thee, O Lord, and said, Thou art my God. Let them conspire, take counsel, and devise what they can; yet I know, except thou permit them, they are not able to do it. "My times are in thy hand," not in theirs.

He then begins to pray again, and his prayer consists of three parts: 1. Deprecation. 2. Supplication. 3. Imprecation.

1. A deprecation: "Deliver me from the hands of my enemies," c.

2. A supplication: "Make thy face to shine upon thy servant save me." "Let me not be ashamed, for I have called upon thee."

3. An imprecation: 1. "Let the wicked be ashamed, and be silent in the grave." 2. "Let the lying lips be put to silence, which speak grievous things," c.

In this imprecation four arguments are used to enforce it: -

1. The quality of their persons: "They are wicked, impious men."

2. There is no truth in them: "They have lying lips." 1. Their words are false. 2. Their actions are worse: They speak grievous things, and that against the righteous. 3. But their intention is worst of all, for they do it proudly, contemptuously, disdainfully, despitefully all proceeding from a bad heart.

V. In the fifth part he sets out the abundant goodness of the Lord to his people, and exclaims, in holy rapture, "O how great is thy goodness which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee - which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men!"

This goodness of God is always treasured up and to be had at all times. But observe: 1. It is laid up for none, nor wrought for any one, but them that fear the Lord. 2. And for those who put their trust in him, and acknowledge him, his cause, his people, and his cross, before the sons of men. And the acts of his goodness are here specified: -

1. "Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man."

2. "Thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues." Upon which consideration he breaks out into praise: 1. "Blessed be the Lord, for he hath showed me his marvellous kindness." 2. He corrects his error, and former mistake: "I said in my haste, (rashly, imprudently,) I am cut off from before thine eyes; nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplication."

VI. The last part is an exhortation to the saints: 1. That they love God. 2. That they be of good courage; for he was the same God still, and would be as good to others as he was to him.

1. That they love God, and that for two reasons: - 1. Because the "Lord preserveth the faithful." This is his mercy. 2. That he "plentifully rewardeth the proud doer." This is his justice.

2. That they be of good courage; for then "he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord." They were not to despair, but keep their hearts firmly fixed in the profession of the truth, which would be a seal of their hope.