Psalms 31:1-24
1 In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness.
2 Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to save me.
3 For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me.
4 Pull me out of the net that they have laid privily for me: for thou art my strength.
5 Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth.
6 I have hated them that regard lying vanities: but I trust in the LORD.
7 I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy: for thou hast considered my trouble; thou hast known my soul in adversities;
8 And hast not shut me up into the hand of the enemy: thou hast set my feet in a large room.
9 Have mercy upon me, O LORD, for I am in trouble: mine eye is consumed with grief, yea, my soul and my belly.
10 For my life is spent with grief, and my years with sighing: my strength faileth because of mine iniquity, and my bones are consumed.
11 I was a reproach among all mine enemies, but especially among my neighbours, and a fear to mine acquaintance: they that did see me without fled from me.
12 I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind: I am like a brokena vessel.
13 For I have heard the slander of many: fear was on every side: while they took counsel together against me, they devised to take away my life.
14 But I trusted in thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my God.
15 My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me.
16 Make thy face to shine upon thy servant: save me for thy mercies' sake.
17 Let me not be ashamed, O LORD; for I have called upon thee: let the wicked be ashamed, and let them be silentb in the grave.
18 Let the lying lips be put to silence; which speak grievousc things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous.
19 Oh 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!
20 Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.
21 Blessed be the LORD: for he hath shewed me his marvellous kindness in a strongd city.
22 For I said in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes: nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplications when I cried unto thee.
23 O love the LORD, all ye his saints: for the LORD preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer.
24 Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.
Psalms 31:5. Into thine hand I commit my spirit, the words which our Saviour used on the cross, and the words which St. Stephen used the moment before his death, when addressing the Lord Jesus; and most assuredly all the saints would wish to die with the same sentiments, and uttering the same words.
Psalms 31:6. Lying vanities. The prophets often use the words of Moses, Deuteronomy 32., in designating idols by the epithet “vanities,” because the gentiles knew not what they worshipped, walking in the imagination of their hearts.
Psalms 31:10. My strength faileth because of mine iniquity. The LXX, because of my poor, low, or abject condition. Hebrew piety frequently describes afflictions by the word iniquity. Psalms 103:3.
Psalms 31:23. His saints. The Hebrew reads, his merciful ones, which joins the fruit with the sanctity of an active life.
REFLECTIONS.
David here, in exile and in trouble, pours out his soul before God, and comforts his heart by a trust and confidence which should never make ashamed. While others trust in forts and strong places, he made the Lord his rock. How happy then is a christian who has the ear of heaven, and the presence of God with him.
David sought deliverance by daily prayer, and by prudent counsel, to be delivered from the net which his enemies had spread for his feet. These should always be our resources in the time of trouble, prudence in conduct, and devotion in the closet. So Moses prayed, while Joshua fought, and Amalek was put to the route.
David relied on the superintending care of providence: my times are in thy hand. Therefore the enemy could not surprise him, and take away his life, without the special permission of God. The hairs of our head are all numbered.
He dwelt not too long on his grief, but counts the mercies and lovingkindnesses of the Lord. Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee! So this man, depressed when he looked at his troubles, was made so happy after prayer that he praises the Lord, and exhorts others to be of good courage.