Psa 31:15-18 | KingComments | STEP | This section repeats themes from previous sections, e.g., “ashamed” ( ), “save me” ( ), “Your hand” ( ). When everyone turns away from David and opposes him, he turns to God and says, “But as for me, I trust in You, O LORD” ( ). David here is a hero of faith, having overcome the enemy by faith ( ). He repeats his confession of : “But I trust in the LORD.” He does so not only in prosperity, but also and especially in adversity. Just like Job. David’s trust was put to the test, and it turns out to be real, real gold. The sentence begins with “but”, so that the contrast with the forgoing becomes clear. He says emphatically “I” and just as emphatically “in You”. He then underlines his full trust in God by making the personal confession: “I say, “You are my God.”” Here we hear where he gets the strength from not to be discouraged by all the above-mentioned defamation, slander and opposition. We may also, when life becomes difficult for us, express this as a confession of our faith. In doing so, we may know, just as David says next, that our lives are not in the hand of men, but of God ( ). Our times are in God’s hand, not in those of our enemies, no matter how great their power and their hatred. For example, the Jews wanted to kill the Lord and said, not at the feast, while the Lord says He would be killed at the feast and so it happened. He determines the times in our lives, times of prosperity and times of adversity, the time of trial and the time of redemption, yes, all times (cf. ). He also determines the length of our lives and not the enemy when he plans to kill us. Therefore, the believer who lives in a time of adversity is urged to place his life in the hand of the faithful Creator ( ). Because his times are in God’s hand, David prays that God will save him from that other hand, the hand of his enemies and persecutors. He asks God to make His face shine upon him ( ; cf. ), for now it seems that God’s face is not visible, while the face of his enemies and persecutors becomes more and more visible. David addresses himself to God as His “servant”. That is what he is as God’s anointed king. Because he is in need as God’s servant, he asks God to save him in His lovingkindness. He is aware of his failure as a servant. At the same time, he is aware of God’s lovingkindness that is available to failing servants. Therefore, he appeals to it. He asks God not to let him be put to shame, for he calls upon Him ( ). Then God must hear, right? The wicked, yes, they must be put to shame by God. They must be silenced by death, so that they can no longer speak their pernicious words. His enemies are out to put him to death. Here David asks that God takes away their lives. Their mouths must be shut forever, for they have lying lips ( ). They do nothing but libel, deceive, slander, and speak lies. It is speaking “arrogantly against the righteous”. The wicked look down on him “with pride and contempt”. The “righteous” here is singular, that is, it refers to the individual believer. Surely we will think primarily of the Righteous One, the Lord Jesus. How much haughty language was spoken against Him.

‏ Psalms 31:15-18

Trust and Prayer

This section repeats themes from previous sections, e.g., “ashamed” (Psa 31:1b ; 17), “save me” (Psa 31:2 ; 15), “Your hand” (Psa 31:5 ; 15).

When everyone turns away from David and opposes him, he turns to God and says, “But as for me, I trust in You, O LORD” (Psa 31:14). David here is a hero of faith, having overcome the enemy by faith (Heb 11:34). He repeats his confession of Psa 31:6: “But I trust in the LORD.” He does so not only in prosperity, but also and especially in adversity. Just like Job. David’s trust was put to the test, and it turns out to be real, real gold.

The sentence begins with “but”, so that the contrast with the forgoing becomes clear. He says emphatically “I” and just as emphatically “in You”. He then underlines his full trust in God by making the personal confession: “I say, “You are my God.”” Here we hear where he gets the strength from not to be discouraged by all the above-mentioned defamation, slander and opposition. We may also, when life becomes difficult for us, express this as a confession of our faith.

In doing so, we may know, just as David says next, that our lives are not in the hand of men, but of God (Psa 31:15). Our times are in God’s hand, not in those of our enemies, no matter how great their power and their hatred. For example, the Jews wanted to kill the Lord and said, not at the feast, while the Lord says He would be killed at the feast and so it happened.

He determines the times in our lives, times of prosperity and times of adversity, the time of trial and the time of redemption, yes, all times (cf. Ecc 3:1-8). He also determines the length of our lives and not the enemy when he plans to kill us. Therefore, the believer who lives in a time of adversity is urged to place his life in the hand of the faithful Creator (1Pet 4:19).

Because his times are in God’s hand, David prays that God will save him from that other hand, the hand of his enemies and persecutors. He asks God to make His face shine upon him (Psa 31:16; cf. Num 6:24-25), for now it seems that God’s face is not visible, while the face of his enemies and persecutors becomes more and more visible.

David addresses himself to God as His “servant”. That is what he is as God’s anointed king. Because he is in need as God’s servant, he asks God to save him in His lovingkindness. He is aware of his failure as a servant. At the same time, he is aware of God’s lovingkindness that is available to failing servants. Therefore, he appeals to it.

He asks God not to let him be put to shame, for he calls upon Him (Psa 31:17). Then God must hear, right? The wicked, yes, they must be put to shame by God. They must be silenced by death, so that they can no longer speak their pernicious words. His enemies are out to put him to death. Here David asks that God takes away their lives.

Their mouths must be shut forever, for they have lying lips (Psa 31:18). They do nothing but libel, deceive, slander, and speak lies. It is speaking “arrogantly against the righteous”. The wicked look down on him “with pride and contempt”. The “righteous” here is singular, that is, it refers to the individual believer. Surely we will think primarily of the Righteous One, the Lord Jesus. How much haughty language was spoken against Him.