PSALM XXXI _The psalmist, with strong confidence in God, in a time of_ _distress prays earnestly for deliverance_, 1-5. _He expresses his abhorrence of evil_, 6; _gratefully mentions former interpositions of God_, 7, 8; _continues to detail the miseries of his case_, 9-18; _points out the priv... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 31:2. _BOW DOWN THINE EAR_] Listen to my complaint. Put thy ear to my lips, that thou mayest hear all that my _feebleness_ is capable of uttering. We generally put our ear near to the lips of the sick and dying, that we may hear what they say. To this the text appears to allude. _STRON... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 31:4. _PULL ME OUT OF THE NET_] They have hemmed me in on every side, and I cannot escape but by miracle.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 31:5. _INTO THINE HAND I COMMIT MY SPIRIT_] These words, as they stand in the _Vulgate_, were in the highest credit among our ancestors; by whom they were used in all dangers, difficulties, and in the article of death. _In manus tuas, Domine, commendo_ _spiritum meum_, was used by the... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 31:6. _I HAVE HATED THEM_] That is, I have abominated their ways. _Idolaters_ are the persons of whom David speaks. _I TRUST IN THE LORD._] While _they_ trust in _vanities vain things_; (for _an idol is nothing in the world_;) and in _lying_ vanities; (for much is _promised_ and nothin... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 31:7. _THOU HAST KNOWN MY SOUL IN ADVERSITIES_] When all forsook me; when none could help me; when I could not save my own life; when my enemies were sure that I could not escape; then I found _thee_ to be my Friend and Supporter. When _friend_, so called, finds it convenient not to kno... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 31:8. _THOU HAST SET MY FOOT IN A LARGE ROOM._] Many hair-breadth escapes David had for his life; at that time especially when, playing before Saul, the furious king took a spear and endeavoured to pierce him through the body, but he escaped and got to the deserts. Here God, who had sav... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 31:9. _MINE EYE IS CONSUMED_] He now returns, and speaks of his present situation. Grief had brought many tears from his eyes, many agonies into his soul, and many distressful feelings into his whole frame. _MY SOUL AND MY BELLY._] The _belly_ is often taken for the whole body. But the... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 31:10. _MY LIFE IS SPENT WITH GRIEF_] My life is a life of suffering and distress, and by grief my days are shortened. _Grief_ disturbs the functions of life, prevents the due concoction of food, injures the digestive organs, destroys appetite, impairs the nervous system, relaxes the mu... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 31:11. _I WAS A REPROACH_] When proscribed at the court of Saul, my _enemies_ triumphed, and loaded me with execrations; my _neighbours_ considered me as a dangerous man, now deservedly driven from society; my _acquaintance_, who knew me best, were afraid to hold any communication with... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 31:12. _I AM FORGOTTEN AS A DEAD MAN_] I am considered as a person adjudged to death. _I am like a broken vessel _- like a thing totally useless.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 31:13. _I HAVE HEARD THE SLANDER OF MANY_] To this and the two foregoing verses the reader may find several parallels; Jeremiah 18:18, and ten first verses of Jeremiah 20:1. This has caused several to suppose that Jeremiah was the author of this Psalm.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 31:14. _BUT I TRUSTED IN THEE_] Hitherto thou hast been my Helper, and thou art my God; I have taken thee for my eternal portion.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 31:15. _MY TIMES_ ARE _IN THY HAND_] The events of my life are under thy control. No danger can happen to me without thy foresight; thou seest what is prepared for or meditated against me; thou canst therefore deliver me from mine enemies.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 31:16. _MAKE THY FACE TO SHINE UPON THY SERVANT_] Only let me know that thou art reconciled to and pleased with me, and then, come what will, all must be well. _SAVE ME FOR THY MERCIES' SAKE._] Literally, _Save me in thy mercy_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 31:17. _LET THE WICKED BE ASHAMED_] Those who traduce my character and lay snares for my life; let them be confounded.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 31:18. _LET THE LYING LIPS BE PUT TO SILENCE_] As to my enemies, persecutors, and slanderers, abate their pride, assuage their malice, and confound their devices. See Jeremiah 18:18.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 31:19. _O HOW GREAT_ IS _THY GOODNESS_] God's goodness is infinite; there is enough for _all_. enough for _each_, enough for _evermore_. It is laid up where neither devils nor men can reach it, and it is laid up for _them that fear the Lord_; therefore every one who trembles at his word... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 31:20. _THOU SHALT HIDE THEM IN THE SECRET OF THY PRESENCE_] בסתר פניך _besether paneycha_, "With the covering of thy countenance." Their life shall be so hidden with Christ in God, that their enemies shall not be able to find them out. To such a hiding-place Satan himself dare not appr... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 31:21. _IN A STRONG CITY._] If this Psalm was written by David, this must refer to his taking refuge with _Achish, king of Gath_, who gave him _Ziklag_, a fortified city, to secure himself and followers in. See 1 Samuel 27:6. This is more likely than that it was _Keilah_, where he only... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 31:22. _I SAID IN MY HASTE_] Not duly adverting to the promise of God, I was led to conclude that my enemies were so strong, so numerous, and had so many advantages against me, that I must necessarily fall into and by their hands; however, I continued to pray, and thou didst hear the vo... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 31:23. _O LOVE THE LORD, ALL YE HIS SAINTS_] It is only the _saints_ that can love God, as they only are made partakers of the Divine nature. _Holy spirits_ can love God, who is the fountain of their holiness; and the _saints_ should love him. _PRESERVETH THE FAITHFUL_] Those who, bein... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 31:24. _BE OF GOOD COURAGE, AND HE SHALL STRENGTHEN YOUR_ _HEART_] In 1 Corinthians 16:13, St. Paul says, "Watch ye, stand fast in the faith; quit you like men; be strong:" Γρηγορειτε, στηκετε εν τῃ πιστει, ανδριζεσθε, κραταιουσθε. The latter words he seems to have borrowed from the _S... [ Continue Reading ]