The Righteous, though forlorn, safe and blest in the hand of the Living God

One has written that this psalm is a mosaic of misery and mercy. And such is life, a tapestry of light and shadow. But David composes this psalm to sing about another sufferer, even the Lord Jesus, as the New Testament proves of v. 5 & v. 11. The whole psalm is redolent with references to the life and experience of Christ. It is often the case in the psalms that misery gives way to mercy, and complaint to praise. Prayer for deliverance, although drawn out by the experience of pain and hurt, is made here (v. 3), “For His Name’s sake.” This is an example and pattern to us. Our Lord, in John 17, prayed for the manifestation of the Father’s Name, which He had been sent to accomplish.

The Lord’s people pray in the Name of Jesus, and for His sake. A Name that wields power with God, and before which knees shall bow. We are encouraged by the Psalmist’s example, and Christ’s, to be of good courage and we shall be strengthened in the midst of trial. 


Psalm 31

   1  In thee, O Lord, I put my trust,
         shamed let me never be;
      According to thy righteousness
         do thou deliver me.

   2  Bow down thine ear to me, with speed
         send me deliverance:
      To save me, my strong rock be thou,
         and my house of defense.

   3  Because thou art my rock, and thee
         I for my fortress take;
      Therefore do thou me lead and guide,
         ev'n for thine own name's sake.

   4  And since thou art my strength, therefore
         pull me out of the net,
      Which they in subtlety for me
         so privily have set.

   5  Into thine hands I do commit
         my sp'rit: for thou art he,
      O thou, Jehovah, God of truth,
         that hast redeemed me.

   6  Those that do lying vanities
         regard, I have abhorred:
      But as for me, my confidence
         is fixed on the Lord.

   7  I'll in thy mercy gladly joy:
         for thou my miseries
      Considered hast; thou hast my soul
         known in adversities:

   8  And thou hast not enclosed me
         within the en'my's hand;
      And by thee have my feet been made
         in a large room to stand.

   9  O Lord, upon me mercy have,
         for trouble is on me:
      Mine eye, my belly, and my soul,
         with grief consumed be.

  10  Because my life with grief is spent,
         my years with sighs and groans:
      My strength doth fail; and for my sin
         consumed are my bones.

  11  I was a scorn to all my foes,
         and to my friends a fear;
      And specially reproached of those
         that were my neighbors near:

      When they me saw they from me fled.
  12     Ev'n so I am forgot,
      As men are out of mind when dead:
         I'm like a broken pot.

  13  For slanders I of many heard;
         fear compassed me, while they
      Against me did consult, and plot
         to take my life away.

  14  But as for me, O Lord, my trust
         upon thee I did lay;
      And I to thee, Thou art my God,
         did confidently say.

  15  My times are wholly in thine hand:
         do thou deliver me
      From their hands that mine enemies
         and persecutors be.

  16  Thy countenance to shine do thou
         upon thy servant make:
      Unto me give salvation,
         for thy great mercies' sake.

  17  Let me not be ashamed, O Lord,
         for on thee called I have:
      Let wicked men be shamed, let them
         be silent in the grave.

  18  To silence put the lying lips,
         that grievous things do say,
      And hard reports, in pride and scorn,
         on righteous men do lay.

  19  How great's the goodness thou for them
         that fear thee keep'st in store,
      And wrought'st for them that trust in thee
         the sons of men before!

  20  In secret of thy presence thou
         shalt hide them from man's pride:
      From strife of tongues thou closely shalt,
         as in a tent, them hide.

  21  All praise and thanks be to the Lord;
         for he hath magnified
      His wondrous love to me within
         a city fortified.

  22  For from thine eyes cut off I am,
         I in my haste had said;
      My voice yet heard'st thou, when to thee
         with cries my moan I made.

  23  O love the Lord, all ye his saints;
         because the Lord doth guard
      The faithful, and he plenteously
         proud doers doth reward.

  24  Be of good courage, and He strength
         unto your heart shall send,
      All ye whose hope and confidence
         doth on the Lord depend.


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