Psalms 31:1-18
Summary for Ps 31:1-24: Ps 31 a The psalmist encourages the godly to find refuge in the Lord and wait for his salvation. Despite having had a death-like experience, he testifies to the Lord’s faithfulness. This psalm foreshadows the suffering of Jesus (Luke 23:46 b).Summary for Ps 31:1-5: 31:1-5 c The Lord offers refuge to anyone who comes to him for protection. The psalmist trusts in and submits to the Lord. See also 71:1-3 d.
31:2 e The psalmist issues an urgent call for the Lord to pay attention to his desperate situation (71:2 f; 88:2 g; 102:2 h).
31:5 i I entrust my spirit into your hand: Whether he lives or dies, the psalmist will trust his Lord. Jesus uttered these words on the cross just before he died (Luke 23:46 j).
Summary for Ps 31:6-8: 31:6-8 k Trust in the Lord requires confidence that he has our best interests at heart.
31:8 l A safe place literally means a broad place, in contrast to a “narrow” or constricted place of distress (see 18:19 m).
Summary for Ps 31:9-13: 31:9-13 n In this prayer for mercy, the psalmist wedges a description of the intensity of suffering and the pain of rejection between two affirmations of trust (31:6 o, 14 p).
31:10 q wasting away from within: This is a powerful description of how despair takes a toll on our physical well-being.
Summary for Ps 31:14-18: 31:14-18 r Hope does not confide in frail and changeable human beings but only in the Lord. The sufferer entrusts himself to God while waiting for the Lord’s justice.
31:15 s My future is in your hands: To relinquish control of timing is one way to express submission.
31:17 t The psalmist, who did not deserve to be disgraced, invokes the principle of retribution (see study note on 1:6; see also thematic note for Prayers for Vengeance at end of chapter).
Copyright information for
TNotes