Bible Commentaries
Psalms 31

Verses 1-24

Psalms 31

GOD, DAVID’S REFUGE

Verses 1-24:

This is a song of fear and faith that reaches its climax with trust in God as a refuge or hiding place from all harm.

Verse 1 confides "in thee, O Lord, (Jehovah) do I put, place, or fix my trust," a truly safe ground or source of security, Psalms 2:12. He further prayed, "let me never be ashamed, deliver me in thy righteousness, which can never let the righteous perish or the unrighteous prosper."

Verse 2 pleads "bow down thine ear (listen intently) to me," as a regal father stoops to let his little son speak all his fears and needs into his ear, Psalms 71:2; Psalms 86:1; Psalms 130:2; Proverbs 22:17. He adds "deliver, liberate, or set me free speedily," forthwith. For he trusted or confided in the living God as his strong rock, a rock of strength, as an house of defense to save him, to which he oft resorted when fleeing from Saul, Isaiah 33:16.

Verses 3, 4 plead on "thou art my rock and fortress, my rampart and security guardhouse," therefore David kept storming the throne saying, "for thy name’s sake, (your honor, power, and integrity’s sake) lead me and guide me," as described Joshua 7:9; Psalms 23:2-3; Psalms 79:9; Psalms 25:11; Jeremiah 14:7; Ezekiel 36:21-22.

Verse 5 testifies "into thy hand I commit my spirit," of my own will and accord, by my voluntary choice, prophetic of our Lord’s voluntary death on the cross for all men, Luke 23:46; John 10:17-18. He added "thou hast redeemed me, O Lord God of truth," by the. price of the blood of the first-born, Exodus 14:30; Isaiah 59:20; 1 Peter 1:18; 1 Peter 4:19. See also Acts 7:59; 2 Timothy 1:12; Deuteronomy 32:4; 2 Timothy 2:13; Titus 1:2; Hebrews 6:18.

Verses 6, 7 certify that David had hated those that resorted to lying vanities, but he trusted in the Lord. Those who trusted in idol gods he abhorred, Psalms 115:4-9; John 2:8. Lying vanities were opposed to the living God of truth, Psalms 16:4; Psalms 26:4-5; Deuteronomy 32:21. He added that he would have inner gladness and express it with outer rejoicing because of the Lord’s mercy to him in all his troubles. The Lord had known his soul in adversities in the sense that He had recognized them and led David through and out of them, a genuine occasion for his gratitude and rejoicing, John 10:27; Psalms 34:7.

Verse 8 rejoices that the Lord had not shut David up into the hands of the enemy. He had instead "set his feet in a large room," Psalms 4:1; Psalms 18:19; Psalms 119:5. He had set him free from bondage of his enemies, without bonds or chains of restraint.

Verses 9,10 describe David’s stress and distress of body as such affected his eye (vision), stifled with grief, and his entire visceral or belly organs that were agitated by his vexation from his enemies, Psalms 6:7. He describes his eye, soul, and belly as consumed. His life was then being "spent with grief," and his "years with sighing," with continual failing strength and consumed bones, because of his enemies, Jeremiah 20:18. This suffering period was one of chastisement, sent by the Lord, executed by his enemies, Psalms 38:4.

Verse 11 witnesses that David, in his backslidden days, was a reproach among all his enemies, but especially among his neighbors, Psalms 88:8. Even his acquaintances were reluctant to be identified with him in his hour of rejection by his own friends and neighbors, from whom he expected kindness; Those who saw him coming on the streets fled from him, sought to avoid him, Psalms 38:11; Luke 23:49; Job 19:13; Psalms 88:8.

Verse 12 adds that he was forgotten as a dead man, put out of ones mind, and like a broken vessel, a cracked pot, set aside as useless to be forgotten, Deuteronomy 31:21; Psalms 88:4-5; Ecclesiastes 9:5; Romans 9:22; Psalms 2:9; Jeremiah 18:4; Jeremiah 48:38; Hosea 8:8.

Verses 13, 14 add further that David had listened to the slander of many, with fear on every hand while they took counsel, entered collusion with one another, plotting against him, devising a way to take his life, as foretold of David and his Lord, Psalms 2:2. Then David adds, "But I trusted in thee, O Lord, I said: thou art (exist as) my God." This he did in spite of the slander and contumacy of his enemies against him, Psalms 22:1; Psalms 22:8-10. One may do this safely when the world turns away, John 6:37; Hebrews 13:5.

Verse 15 relates David’s prayer, "my times are in thine hand, deliver me from the hand of mine enemies and them that persecute me;" Every man should recognize that his "times," days, or years are always in God’s hand, 1 Chronicles 29:30; Daniel 2:21; John 2:4; John 7:6; John 7:8; John 7:30; John 5:20; 1 Kings 8:59.

Verse 16 entreats, "make thy face (thy favor) to shine upon thy servant; Save me for thy mercies’ sake," as in the Mosaic blessing, Numbers 6:25; Psalms 4:6; Psalms 67:1; Psalms 80:3; Psalms 80:7; Psalms 80:19; Daniel 9:17.

Verse 17 continues the prayer that the Lord will not let him be brought to shame, for he had called upon the Lord, Psalms 25:2. He calls on the Lord to cause shame and death to fall on the wicked who do not call upon Him, Psalms 53:4. He asked that the Lord bring them to a state of silence in the grave.

Verse 18 further asks the Lord to let the reckless, inveterate liars, those hardened in willful lying, to be put to silence in death because of their proud, contemptuous, grieving speech against the righteous, Psalms 12:2; Psalms 59:12; Isaiah 54:17; Revelation 21:8; Revelation 22:15.

Verse 19 extols the goodness that God has laid up for those who fear or reverence Him. David asserts that God has wrought great goodness to them in the past, as He had, to the sons of men, the good and humble from Abraham to that hour, Psalms 36:7-10; Isaiah 64:4; La 3:23-25; 1 Corinthians 2:9. He will yet show that goodness to His faithful, Daniel 3:26-28.

Verse 20 declares that the Lord will hide, protect, shield and preserve them in the secret of His presence, from the pride of or from proud men, from their conspiracies, Psalms 27:5; Psalms 32:7; Psalms 65:2; Psalms 91:1; Psalms 91:4. It is asserted that He will also guard them in secrecy, in a secure pavilion from the strife, slashing of tongues, Job 5:21.

Verses 21, 22 bless the Lord because He had shown David His marvelous kindness in a strong or fenced city, 1 Samuel 23:7; 1 Samuel 23:13; Jeremiah 1:18. David confessed that he had hastily said in confusion that he was cut off from the eyes of the Lord, from His help, however, the Lord heard the outcry of his supplications when he cried, 1 Samuel 23:6; Psalms 40:1-3.

Verse 23 calls on all saints, the redeemed of Israel who worshipped in Jerusalem, to love the Lord because He perpetually preserves the faithful ones, 1 Peter 1:5; and He superabundantly rewards the proud doer, the one who serves with a willing heart, 1 Corinthians 3:8; 2 Corinthians 8:12.

Verse 24 calls upon all saints, consecrated, separated people of God, to be of good courage and the Lord will strengthen their heart, even those whose hope is anchored in the Lord, Joshua 1:7-8;. Each is to wait on the Lord expectantly, serving Him till He comes, or calls him home, Psalms 33:20; Isaiah 42:4; Matthew 12:21; Genesis 8:10; Philippians 2:12-13; Titus 2:13-14.