Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary < PSALM 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. Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to save me. 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).
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. 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).
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; 7. hast known my soul, &c.—had regard to me in trouble.
And hast not shut me up into the hand of the enemy: thou hast set my feet in a large room. 8. shut me up … enemy—abandon to (1Sa 23:11).
large room—place of safety (compare Ps 18:19). Have mercy upon me, O LORD, for I am in trouble: mine eye is consumed with grief, yea, my soul and my belly. 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. For my life is spent with grief, and my years with sighing: my strength faileth because of mine iniquity, and my bones are consumed. 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 [581]Ps 40:12). 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. 11. among—or, literally, "from," or, "by" my enemies. The latter clauses describe the progress of his disgrace to the lowest degree, till,
I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind: I am like a broken vessel. 12. he is forgotten as one dead, and contemned as a useless 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. 13. For—introduces further reasons for his prayer, the unjust, deliberate, and murderous purposes of his foes.
But I trusted in thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my God. 14-18. In his profession of trust he includes the terms of the prayer expressing it.
My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me. 15. times—course of life.
deliver … hand—opposed to "shut me up," &c., of Ps 31:8. Make thy face to shine upon thy servant: save me for thy mercies' sake. 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.
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.
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! 19-21. God displays openly His purposed goodness to His people.
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. 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].
Blessed be the LORD: for he hath shewed 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. 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. O love the LORD, all ye his saints: for the LORD preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer. 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.
Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD. |
