Hope in the Lord's Protection
Thinking about Psalm 31.
Have you ever experienced a time in your life when you felt alone or vulnerable?
When David wrote Psalm 31, he was going through a time in his life when he felt completely alone and rejected by his friends and neighbors. He felt vulnerable to those who were trying to end his life.
During a time like this, David wrote Psalm 31 - a psalm that encourages God’s people to hope in the Lord’s protection.
The Lord as the Strong Fortress (Psalm 31:1-3).
To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. In You, O LORD, I put my trust; Let me never be ashamed; Deliver me in Your righteousness. Bow down Your ear to me, Deliver me speedily; Be my rock of refuge, A fortress of defense to save me. For You are my rock and my fortress; Therefore, for Your name's sake, Lead me and guide me.
David trusted the Lord and pled for deliverance in the Lord’s righteousness. How comforting it is to depend on the God who is always righteous!
In calling on God to hear and save him from his trouble, David refers to the Lord as his “rock of refuge” and “fortress of defense.” David sees the Lord as the place of safety.
His request for God to lead and guide him was for the sake of the Lord’s name. The Lord is pictured as the place of refuge and safety who can be counted upon because He is righteous – He is just (Genesis 18:25). People sometimes fail us because they don’t always do what they should – but not so with our Lord. He cannot lie (Titus 1:2), and will always do what is right.
The Lord as the Compassionate Redeemer (Psalm 31:4-8).
Pull me out of the net which they have secretly laid for me, For You are my strength. Into Your hand I commit my spirit; You have redeemed me, O LORD God of truth. I have hated those who regard useless idols; But I trust in the LORD. I will be glad and rejoice in Your mercy, For You have considered my trouble; You have known my soul in adversities, And have not shut me up into the hand of the enemy; You have set my feet in a wide place.
David describes himself as having been ambushed and fallen into a trap – and he cannot pull himself out of this situation. He pleads with the Lord to “pull” him out of the trap and admits that his strength is not his own, but the Lord is his strength.
He committed his life into God’s hands – after all, his life belonged to the God who had “redeemed” him. This was the same statement Jesus made right before He died on the cross (Luke 23:46). It was Jesus’ death on the cross which was the “purchase price” for us (1 Corinthians 6:19-20; Acts 20:28).
David trusted the Lord to help him, knowing the Lord saw his condition and was compassionate. David understood God knew what he was suffering and how distressed he was. God did not abandon him to the enemy’s trap but lifted him out and set his feet in “a wide open place” – a place of safety.
The Lord as the Merciful Master (Psalm 31:9-18).
David Cannot Depend on Himself (v. 9-10).
Have mercy on me, O LORD, for I am in trouble; My eye wastes away with grief, Yes, my soul and my body! For my life is spent with grief, And my years with sighing; My strength fails because of my iniquity, And my bones waste away.
David pictures himself as someone who is completely overcome by grief. He is wasting away because of grief – it’s as if his life is slowly draining away.
Because of his sin, David cannot depend on himself as the source of strength to lift himself out of his troubles.
David Cannot Depend on Others (v. 11-13).
I am a reproach among all my enemies, But especially among my neighbors, And am repulsive to my acquaintances; Those who see me outside flee from me. I am forgotten like a dead man, out of mind; I am like a broken vessel. For I hear the slander of many; Fear is on every side; While they take counsel together against me, They scheme to take away my life.
David is an outcast, not only among his enemies but also among his neighbors and people who know him. When people see him coming, they go the other way – no one cares to remember him.
He feels broken, and not only is no one coming to help him pick up the pieces, but they continue to “slander” him, “take counsel” against him, and “scheme” to end his life.
David Depends on God’s Mercy (v. 14-18).
But as for me, I trust in You, O LORD; I say, “You are my God.” My times are in Your hand; Deliver me from the hand of my enemies, And from those who persecute me. Make Your face shine upon Your servant; Save me for Your mercies’ sake. Do not let me be ashamed, O LORD, for I have called upon You; Let the wicked be ashamed; Let them be silent in the grave. Let the lying lips be put to silence, Which speak insolent things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous.
David knows there is only one he can trust – and it’s the Lord who he serves.
His life is in God’s hands, and he pleads for the Lord’s favor and mercy upon him as His servant.
David asks for the wicked – and not himself – to be ashamed. The one who would be ashamed would be the ones proven to not be God’s servant. The one God answered would be shown to be His faithful servant.
God always does right, and David is depending on God to remain true to who He is.
The Response (Psalm 31:19-24).
Praise God for His Goodness! (v. 19-20).
Oh, how great is Your goodness, Which You have laid up for those who fear You, Which You have prepared for those who trust in You In the presence of the sons of men! You shall hide them in the secret place of Your presence From the plots of man; You shall keep them secretly in a pavilion From the strife of tongues.
There is a shift in David's tone beginning with verse 19 – it sounds like this part of the chapter was written after the Lord had answered David’s plea.
David praises the greatness of God’s goodness, which He stores up for those who fear and trust Him through life’s difficulties.
God protects His people “in the secret place of” His presence – in His dwelling place. God’s goodness is so great, He opens His own dwelling place to protect and shelter those who trust in Him.
Praise God for His Kindness! (v. 21-22).
Blessed be the LORD, For He has shown me His marvelous kindness in a strong city! For I said in my haste, "I am cut off from before Your eyes"; Nevertheless You heard the voice of my supplications When I cried out to You.
David praised the Lord for showing him “marvelous kindness” when he was going through a difficult and dangerous time in his life (“when he was in a besieged city”).
Even though David had his doubts – he “jumped to conclusions” and panicked that he had been cut off from God – the Lord still heard him and showed him kindness.
Sometimes when we go through difficult times, fear can cause our faith to be shaken, doubts can creep in, and we may wonder in a panic, “Is God still with me?” But the Lord is still there for us like He was for Peter (Matthew 14:25-33).
What “marvelous kindness!”
Love the Lord! (v. 23-24).
Oh, love the LORD, all you His saints! For the LORD preserves the faithful, And fully repays the proud person. Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart, All you who hope in the LORD.
David calls on all who serve God to love Him.
God is just – He protects the faithful and brings justice to the arrogant and wicked.
We hope in the Lord – and the fact that He is with us and strengthens us should give us courage to face the difficult, troubling times in life (Joshua 1:1-9).
