The writer of this Ps. gratefully records God's past deliverances (Psalms 31:1), appeals to God for help against the enemies who assail him in the present (Psalms 31:9), and ends with fervent thankfulness and serene assurance (Psalms 31:19). The language suggests a later age than David's, and has ma... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THY NAME'S SAKE] see Psalms 23:2; Psalms 23:3.... [ Continue Reading ]
STRENGTH] RV 'stronghold.' 5. The first clause of this v. formed one of the Sayings of our Lord on the Cross (Luke 23:46). The Psalmist's attitude in life was Christ's attitude in death. GOD OF TRUTH] i.e. of faithfulness, of changeless consistency of character. God is always true to Himself. 6. HA... [ Continue Reading ]
CONSIDERED (RV 'seen').. KNOWN] with sympathy, followed by succour.... [ Continue Reading ]
LARGE ROOM] RV 'large place,' the opposite of 'straits.'... [ Continue Reading ]
BELLY] RV 'body.'... [ Continue Reading ]
INIQUITY] As it stands this clause traces the Psalmist's sufferings to his sin. But the LXX and some other versions read 'affliction,' which agrees better with the context.... [ Continue Reading ]
Cp. Jeremiah 20:7; Jeremiah 20:8.... [ Continue Reading ]
A BROKEN VESSEL] a thing altogether neglected.... [ Continue Reading ]
This whole verse is closely parallel to Jeremiah 20:10. FEAR _was_ ON EVERY SIDE] cp. Jeremiah 6:25; Jeremiah 20:3 mg 10; Jeremiah 46:5; Jeremiah 49:29; Lamentations 2:22.... [ Continue Reading ]
MY TIMES] all the occasions of my life.... [ Continue Reading ]
MAKE THY FACE TO SHINE] Smile upon me in Thy favour: see Numbers 6:25.... [ Continue Reading ]
This repetition of the prayer of Psalms 31:1 may suggest that after all the Ps. is a unity: cp. Psalms 25:2; Jeremiah 17:18. THE GRAVE] RV 'Sheol.'... [ Continue Reading ]
WROUGHT.. BEFORE THE SONS OF MEN] i.e. openly.... [ Continue Reading ]
The same thought as in Psalms 27:5. Even a desert tent may be a protection if its owner is powerful. SECRET] RV 'covert.' PRIDE] RV 'plottings.'... [ Continue Reading ]
A STRONG CITY] RM 'a fenced city.' A change of figure from the tent of Psalms 31:20. If literally understood the words might refer to Jeremiah's experiences during the siege of Jerusalem.... [ Continue Reading ]
HASTE] RM 'alarm.' Fear is rebuked by God's answer to prayer.... [ Continue Reading ]