Psalm 31:1-24
To the chief Musician,
A Psalm of David.
“In thee, O LORD, do I
put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness. Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me
speedily: be thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to save me. For thou art my rock and my fortress;
therefore for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me. Pull me out of the net that they have laid
privily for me: for thou art my strength.
Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of
truth.” (Psalm 31:1-5)
David had committed himself to trust God in every
situation. He asks that God deliver him
before he begins to question his faithfulness.
He was depending on the Lord rather than his own efforts to save him and
asked that God Lead and guide him so that he could be a testimony to God. Others had plotted to ensnare him and he
needed God to prevent his being trapped.
He was depending completely on God as his redeemer.
“I have hated them
that regard lying vanities: but I trust in the LORD. I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy: for
thou hast considered my trouble; thou hast known my soul in adversities; And
hast not shut me up into the hand of the enemy: thou hast set my feet in a
large room.” (Psalm 31:6-8)
David had rejected the world’s ideas about how to gain the
victory, and was trusting God instead.
He believed God would deliver him and he would be able to rejoice in
what God had done, because God had demonstrated his love. God knew the things he had done under duress
and still loved him, not forsaking him to his enemies. Instead of being cornered, he had freedom to
move around.
“Have mercy upon me, O
LORD, for I am in trouble: mine eye is consumed with grief, yea, my soul and my
belly. For my life is spent with grief,
and my years with sighing: my strength faileth because of mine iniquity, and my
bones are consumed.” (Psalm 31:9-10)
David was consumed with feelings of guilt, as he faced his
problems, aware he did not deserve God’s blessings, and that grief was
resulting in depression that affected him physically. There is nothing harder to live with than a
guilty conscience. It can destroy one’s confidence and faith and
leave a person emotionally paralyzed. Understand that if we have honestly repented
of our sin, God has promised to put it behind us and never remember it
again. It is not God who keeps bringing it up.
“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. I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind: I am
like a broken vessel. 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.” (Psalm 31:11-13)
Not only was he struggling emotionally with his sense of
guilt, David found his neighbors and acquaintances avoiding him, fearing they
would be embroiled in his conflicts and killed by Saul for supporting him. They had reason for concern after Saul had
the priests murdered in I Samuel 22:11-23 for having fed David. Even people he had helped betrayed him for
fear of Saul.
“But I trusted in
thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my God. My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the
hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me. Make thy face to shine upon thy servant: save
me for thy mercies' sake. Let me not be
ashamed, O LORD; for I have called upon thee: let the wicked be ashamed, and
let them be silent in the grave. Let the
lying lips be put to silence; which speak grievous things proudly and contemptuously
against the righteous.” (Psalm 31:14-18)
David has trusted God, and the outcome is strictly up to
Him. He asks that God would bless and show
favor by delivering him, and shutting up the enemies who lied about him and
others who serve God. He asks that their
pride be turned to embarrassment and that they be destroyed as they though to
do to David.
“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! 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. Blessed be
the LORD: for he hath showed me his marvellous kindness in a strong city. 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.” (Psalm 31:19-22)
God has made wonderful promises to those who trust him. He promised to hide and protect them from the
pride of people and their conflicts and accusations. Unfortunately many times promises do not live
up to expectations, but God had exceeded the promises. David had been protected, so he wasas safe as
if he had been in a strong fortified city.
When he had almost given up hope and was thoroughly depressed, God heard
and answered his prayer.
“O love the LORD, all
ye his saints: for the LORD preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth
the proud doer. Be of good courage, and
he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.” (Psalm 31:23-24)
Christians should love the Lord with all their hearts,
because he always takes care of those who believe in him, and punishes those
who think they can ignore him. If we
trust him and don’t yield to our fears, he will strengthen the faith of
everyone who trusts him.
No comments:
Post a Comment