31:1David called on the LORD to deliver him. He wanted God to stop those who were unjustly causing trouble. Therefore, David made his request based upon what he knew of God’s name, or character. Because God is righteous and loving, he desires to deliver his people.
Life Application Study BiblePsalmsChapter 31
Psalm 31
New Living Translation · Life Application Study Bible · Original pages: 873, 874, 875
A few verse numbers on this page were hard to read in the scan and are marked with a dotted underline — compare with the original page image if in doubt.
31Psalm 31
1OLorp, I have come to you for protection;don’t let me be disgraced.Save me, for you do what is right.
2Turn your ear to listen to me;rescue me quickly.Be my rock of protection,a fortress where I will be safe.
3You are my rock and my fortress.For the honor of your name, lead me out of this danger.
4Pull me from the trap my enemies set for me,for I find protection in you alone.
5T entrust my spirit into your hand.Rescue me, Lor, for you are a faithful God.
6J hate those who worship worthless idols.I trust in the LORD.
7Iwill be glad and rejoice in your unfailing love,for you have seen my troubles,and you care about the anguish of my soul.
8You have not handed me over to my enemiesbut have set me in a safe place.
9Have mercy on me, LORD, for I am in distress.Tears blur my eyes.My body and soul are withering away.
10Tam dying from grief;my years are shortened by sadness.Sin has drained my strength;I am wasting away from within.
11Tam scorned by all my enemiesand despised by my neighbors—even my friends are afraid to come near me.When they see me on the street,they run the other way.
12Tam ignored as if I were dead,as if I were a broken pot.
13T have heard the many rumors about me,and I am surrounded by terror.My enemies conspire against me,plotting to take my life.
14But 1 am trusting you, O LORD,saying, “ You are my God!”
15My future is in your hands.Rescue me from those who hunt me down relentlessly.
16Let your favor shine on your servant.In your unfailing love, rescue me.
17Don't let me be disgraced, O Lor,for I call out to you for help.Let the wicked be disgraced;let them lie silent in the grave.*
18Silence their lying lips—those proud and arrogant lips that accuse the godly.
19How great is the goodnessyou have stored up for those who fear you.You lavish it on those who come to you for protection,blessing them before the watching world.
20You hide them in the shelter of your presence,safe from those who conspire against them.You shelter them in your presence,far from accusing tongues.
21Praise the LORD,for he has shown me the wonders of his unfailing love.He kept me safe when my city was under attack.
22In panic I cried out,“Tam cut off from the Lor!”But you heard my cry for mercyand answered my call for help.
23Love the Lor, all you godly ones!For the LORD protects those who are loyal to him,but he harshly punishes the arrogant.
24So be strong and courageous,all you who put your hope in the LORD!Theme: Forgiveness brings true joy. Only when we ask God to forgive our sins willhe give us real happiness and relief from guilt.
Textual footnotes
- 31:17 Hebrew in Sheol.
Life Application Notes 4 notes
31:1-6We say we have faith in God, but do we really trust him? David’s words, “I entrust my spirit into your hand,” convey his complete trust in God. Jesus used this phrase as he was dying on the cross—showing his absolute dependence on God the Father (Luke 23:46). Stephen repeated these words as he was being stoned to death (Acts 7:59), confident that in death he was simply passing from God’s earthly care to God’s eternal care. We should commit our possessions, our families, and our vocations to God. But first and foremost, we should commit ourselves completely ta him.
31:6Why did David suddenly bring up the subject of idot worship? He wanted to contrast his total devotion to God with the diluted worship offered by many Israelites. Pagan religious rituals were never completely banished from Israel and Judah, despite the efforts of David and a few other kings. Obviously a person who clung to idols could not commit his spirit into God's hands. When we put today’s idols (wealth, material possessions, success) first in our lives, we cannot expect God’s Spirit to guide us. God is our highest authority and requires our first allegiance.
31:9-13In describing his feelings, David wrote of the helplessness and hopelessness everyone feels when hated or rejected.
Charts, profiles & sidebars from the printed pages
Study feature · page 874
But adversity is easier to accept when We recognize our true relationship with the sovereign God (31:14-18). Although our enemies may seem to have the upper hand, they are ultimately the helpless and hopeless ones. Those who know God will be victorious in the end (31:23). We can have courage today because God will preserve us. 31:14, 15 In saying, “My future is in your hands,” David was expressing his belief that all of life's circumstances are under God’s control. Knowing that God loves and cares for us enables us to keep steady in our faith regardless of our circumstances. it keeps us from sinning foolishly by taking matters into our own hands or resenting God’s timetable.
Study feature · page 875
Interlude
Study feature · page 875
Over the centuries, many believers, overcome by an awareness of their own sins, have found in the words of the penitential (repentance) psalms a ray of hope. The psalm writers shared with God the depth of their sorrow and repentance, as well as the height of joy at being forgiven. They rejoiced in the knowledge that God would respond to confession and repentance with complete forgiveness. We who live on the other side of the cross of Christ can rejoice even more because we understand more. God has shown us that he is willing to forgive because his judgment on sin was satisfied by Christ's death on the cross. As you read these psalms, note the pattem followed by the psalm writers in responding to God: (1) They recognized their sinfulness and tendency to do wrong; (2) they realized that sin was rebellion against God himself; (3) they admitted their sins to God; (4) they trusted in God’s willingness to forgive; and (5) they accepted his forgiveness. Use these psalms as a reminder of how easy it is to drift away from God and fall into sin, and what is needed to reestablish that fellowship. Selected psalms that emphasize these themes are 6; 14; 31; 32; 38; 44; 51; 102; 130; 143.
CONFESSION, REPENTANCE, AND FORGIVENESS IN THE PSALMS