NASB

A Psalm of Complaint and of Praise
For the music director. A Psalm of David

A Cry for Deliverance (31:1-18)

31:1 In You, Lord, I [where we take refuge in difficult times is a personal choice] have taken refuge [your safety in times of trouble is only as good as your refuge)];

Let me never be put to shame;

In Your righteousness rescue me.



31:2  Incline Your ear to me [the only thing worse than being in a tight spot is being in a tight spot with no one listening to your cries for help], rescue me quickly [time is always of the essence in difficulties];

Be a rock of strength for me,

A stronghold to save me.

31:3 For You are my rock and my fortress;

For the sake of Your name [David reminded God that His reputation was at stake] You will lead me and guide me.

31:4  You will pull me out of the net [analogy of a hunter in search of prey] which they have secretly laid for me,

For You are my strength.

31:5  [cf. Jesus’ last words in Luke 23:46; see also Acts 7:59 re Stephen] Into Your hand I entrust my spirit [David’s expression of trusting God in the midst of danger];

You have redeemed me, Lord, God of truth.



31:6  I hate [cf. Ps. 139:21-22] those who devote themselves to worthless idols [incapable to hearing or helping],

But [in contrast to those who trust in what is untrustworthy] I trust in the Lord [who is capable of hearing and helping].



31:7  I will rejoice and be glad in Your faithfulness [God is completely reliable; it is helpful to regularly “Count Your Many Blessings”],

Because You have seen [nothing ever happens behind God’s back] my misery;

You have known [God is never taken by surprise or caught off guard; cf. Ps. 139:1-8] the troubles [as well as the triumphs] of my soul,



31:8  And [knowing everything about me and my troubles] You have not handed me over to the enemy [because God is faithful];

You have [instead] set my feet [a symbol of stability (Ps. 121:3) and also of vulnerability (Ps. 38:16] in a large place [expresses the longing of those who find themselves in a tight spot].



A Lament (31:9-18)

31:9  Be gracious to me, Lord, for I am in distress […in trouble];

[note the physical effects of being hated and hunted…] My eye is wasted away from grief, my soul and my body too.



31:10  For my life is spent with sorrow

And my years with sighing;

My strength has failed [sin depletes strength] because of my guilt [the product of sin],

And my body has wasted away.



31:11 Because of all my adversaries [“The best of men may have the bitterest foes and be subjected to the most cruel taunts.” (Spurgeon); note the social effects of being hated and hunted…], I have become a disgrace,

Especially to my neighbors [sometimes those closest to us harm us the most],

And an object of dread to my acquaintances;

Those who see me in the street flee from me [a few will in our direction when we are maligned and hurting but many will distance themselves from us].



31:12  I am forgotten like a dead person, out of mind [the dead are soon forgotten; in 100 years no one will likely know that we ever lived];

I am like a broken vessel [useless].



31:13  [the threat against David was real] For I have heard the slander of many [the slander of one is bad enough],

Terror is on every side [complete vulnerability];

While they took counsel together [an increased risk of danger from many] against me [the object or target of the scorn of others],

They schemed to take away my life [a serious threat; cf. Acts 9:23-25].



31:14  But [this conjunction signals a change in attitude] as for me [David affirmed his trust in God], I trust in You, Lord,

I say, “You are my God [David affirmed his relationship with God; this is a comforting confession, especially in times of trouble].”



31:15  My times [cf. Ps. 139:16] are in Your hand [“I am immortal until God’s work for me to do is done. The Lord reigns” (Henry Martyn)];

Rescue [deliver] me from the hand of my enemies and from those who persecute me.



31:16  Make Your face shine [an expression of favor with God; cf. Num. 6:24-26] upon Your servant;

Save me in Your faithfulness.



31:17  Let me not be put to shame [as is the desire of those who persecute and trouble us], Lord, for I call upon You;

Let the wicked [those who are out of touch with God] be put to shame, let them be silent in Sheol.



31:18  Let the lying lips be speechless,

Which speak arrogantly against the righteous
With pride and contempt [“What wickedness is it that unworthy characters should always be the loudest in railing at good men!” (Spurgeon)].



Thanksgiving (31:19-24)

31:19  How great [God’s goodness is abundant] is Your goodness,

Which You have stored up [in abundance] for those who fear You [blessings are found in proximity to God],

Which You have performed for those who take refuge in You [an act of trust and acknowledgement of God’s goodness],

Before the sons of mankind!

31:20  You hide them in the secret place [securely hidden from those who intend to harm] of Your presence from the conspiracies of mankind;

You keep them secretly [known only to God] in a shelter from the strife of tongues.



31:21  Blessed be the Lord,

For He has shown His marvelous faithfulness to me in a besieged city [the context in which God’s faithfulness was expressed].



31:22  As for me, I said in my alarm,

“I am cut off from Your eyes” [fear and alarm can cause us to lose perspective];

Nevertheless You heard [beautiful words indeed: “You heard”] the sound of my pleadings
When I called to You for help [the most important thing when calling for help is knowing that someone has heard you].



31:23  Love the Lord, all His godly ones [“Love is the universal debt of all the saved family…” (Spurgeon)]!

The Lord watches over the faithful [one of the many blessings of being faithful]

But fully repays the one who acts arrogantly [“Snares are made and pits are rigged by the proud for themselves commonly…” (Spurgeon)].



31:24  Be strong and let your heart take courage [cf. Josh. 1:6-9],

All you who wait for the Lord.