Psalms 31

Ps 31:1-24.

The prayer of a believer in time of deep distress. In the first part,

cries for help are mingled with expressions of confidence. Then the

detail of griefs engrosses his attention, till, in the assurance of

strong but submissive faith, he rises to the language of unmingled

joyful trust and exhorts others to like love and confidence towards

God.

1. Expresses the general tone of feeling of the Psalm.

2-4. He seeks help in God's righteous government

(Ps 5:8),

and begs for an attentive hearing, and speedy and effectual aid. With

no other help and no claim of merit, he relies solely on God's regard

to His own perfections for a safe guidance and release from the snares

of his enemies. On the terms "rock," &c., (compare

Ps 17:2;

18:2, 50; 20:6; 23:3; 25:21).

5, 6. commit my spirit--my life, or myself. Our Saviour used the words

on the Cross

[Lu 23:46],

not as prophetical, but, as many pious men have done, as expressive of

His unshaken confidence in God. The Psalmist rests on God's

faithfulness to His promises to His people, and hence avows himself one

of them, detesting all who revere objects of idolatry (compare

De 32:21;

1Co 8:4).

7. hast known my soul, &c.--had regard to me in trouble.

8. shut me up . . . enemy--abandon to

(1Sa 23:11).

large room--place of safety (compare

Ps 18:19).

9, 10. mine eye, &c.--denotes extreme weakness (compare

Ps 6:7).

grief--mingled sorrow and indignation

(Ps 6:7).

soul and . . . belly--the whole person.

10. Though the effects ascribed to grief are not mere figures of

speech--

spent . . . consumed--must be taken in the modified sense of wasted and decayed.

iniquity--or, suffering by it

(see on

Ps 40:12).

11. among--or, literally, "from," or, "by" my enemies. The latter

clauses describe the progress of his disgrace to the lowest degree,

till,

12. he is forgotten as one dead, and contemned as a useless broken

vessel.

13. For--introduces further reasons for his prayer, the unjust,

deliberate, and murderous purposes of his foes.

14-18. In his profession of trust he includes the terms of the

prayer expressing it.

15. times--course of life.

deliver . . . hand--opposed to "shut me up," &c., of

Ps 31:8.

16. Make . . . shine--(Compare

Nu 6:25;

Ps 4:6).

Deprecating from himself, he imprecates on the wicked God's

displeasure, and prays that their virulent persecution of him may be

stopped.

19-21. God displays openly His purposed goodness to His people.

20. the secret of thy presence--or, covering of Thy countenance;

the protection He thus affords; compare

Ps 27:5

for a similar figure; "dwelling" used there for "presence" here. The

idea of security further presented by the figure of a tent and a

fortified city

[Ps 31:21].

22. For I said--literally, "And I said," in an adversative sense. I,

thus favored, was despondent.

in my haste--in my terror.

cut off . . . eyes--from all the protection of Thy presence.

23, 24. the Lord . . . proud doer--literally, "the Lord is keeping

faith," that is, with His people, and is repaying, &c. Then let none

despair, but take courage; their hopes shall not be in vain.