Psalms 31:2

_BOW DOWN THINE EAR TO ME; DELIVER ME SPEEDILY: BE THOU MY STRONG ROCK, FOR AN HOUSE OF DEFENCE TO SAVE ME._ The first strophe. The Psalmist's prayer, with confidence of being heard because of the Lord's character toward His trusting people. BOW DOWN ... - as a majestic Father stooping down His ear for His little child to speak into it all his fears and needs. This verse contains the prayer, Psalms 31:3 its basis. STRONG ROCK ... HOUSE OF DEFENSE ... - literally, 'a rock of strength ... an house of munitions,' or 'mountain-tops' (_ MªTSUWDOWT_ (H4686)), such as David often resorted to when fleeing from Saul (cf. Isaiah 33:16)....

2._incline thine ear unto me. _These words express with how much ardor David’s soul was stimulated to pray. He affects no splendid or ornate language, as rhetoricians are wont to do; but only describes in suitable figures the vehemence of his desire. In praying that he may be delivered _speedily _there is shown the greatness of his danger, as if he had said, All will soon be over with my life, unless God make haste to help me. By the words, _house of defense, fortress, _and _rock, _he intimates, that, being unable to resist his enemies, his hope rests only on the protection of God....

1-8 Faith and prayer must go together, for the prayer of faith is the prevailing prayer. David gave up his soul in a special manner to God. And with the words, ver. 5, our Lord Jesus yielded up his last breath on the cross, and made his soul a free-will offering for sin, laying down his life as a ransom. But David is here as a man in distress and trouble. And his great care is about his soul, his spirit, his better part. Many think that while perplexed about their worldly affairs, and their cares multiply, they may be excused if they neglect their souls; but we are the more concerned to look to our souls, that, though the outward man perish, the inward man may suffer no damage. The redemption of the soul is so precious, that it must have ceased for ever, if Christ had not undertaken it. Having relied on God's mercy, he will be glad and rejoice in it. God looks upon our souls, when we ar...

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. _STRONG ROCK_] Rocks, rocky places, or caves in the rocks, were often _strong places_ in the land of Judea. To such natural fortifications allusions are repeatedly made by the Hebrew poetic writers....

BOW DOWN THINE EAR TO ME - As He does who inclines His ear toward one whom He is willing to hear, or whom He is desirous of hearing. See the notes at Psalms 17:6. DELIVER ME SPEEDILY - Without delay. Or, hasten to deliver me. It is right to pray to be delivered from all evil; equally right to pray to be delivered immediately. BE THOU MY STRONG ROCK - Margin: “to me for a rock of strength.” See Psalms 18:1, note; Psalms 18:46, note. FOR AN HOUSE OF DEFENSE TO SAVE ME - A fortified house; a house made safe and strong. It is equivalent to praying that he might have a sec

EXPOSITION THIS psalm is, in the main, a cry for deliverance out of pressing danger and trouble; but it is interspersed with passages of a more cheerful tone, expressive of faith and confidence (Psalms 31:5, Psalms 31:14,_ _Psalms 31:15); and it winds up with a eulogy of God's goodness (Psalms 31:19), and an exhortation to the saints of God to "be strong," and trust in him. The title declares it to be David's; and it both breathes his spirit, and has many of his turns of expression. It has been thought to belong to the period of his early persecution by Saul; but, on the whole, it seems rather su

BOW DOWN THINE EAR TO ME,.... Which is said after the manner of men, who, when they give attention, and listen to anything, stoop, and incline the ear; and this for God to do, as he sometimes does, is wonderful condescending grace! DELIVER ME SPEEDILY; which shows that he was in great danger, and his case required haste: the Lord does help right early, and is sometimes a present help in time of need, and delivers at once, as soon as the mercy is asked for; BE THOU MY STRONG ROCK: for shelter and security from enemies, as well as to build his everlasting salvation on, and to stand firmly upon, and out of danger; FOR AN HOUSE OF DEFENCE TO SAVE ME; both for an house to dwell in, Lord being the dwelling place of his people in all generations, and a strong habitation to which they may continually resort; and for protection and safety, their place of defence in him being the munition of ro...

Psalms 31:1. _In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust;_ Can we say as much as that? However else this Psalm of David may end, it strikes a grand key-note, that which should be the first indication of our spiritual life, confidence in God. Here is an ancient weather-beaten saint who, in the very midst of the storm, can say, «In thee, O Jehovah, do I put my trust.» There will the anchor of his soul find a sure hold. Psalms 31:1. _Let me never be ashamed:_ «How canst thou let me be put to shame after having trusted in thee, O my God? I shall be ashamed, if thou dost forsake me, if thy promises be not kept to me, O my Lord! Therefore, ‘let me never be ashamed.'» Psalms 31:1. Deliver

Psalms 31 The Enemies of Israel and the Victory _ 1. The prayer for deliverance (Psalms 31:1)_ 2. The victory (Psalms 31:19) Psalms 31:1. Many saints have turned to this Psalm for encouragement in time of trouble and sorrow. And there is much in it which helps the trusting soul. Notice the different names of Jehovah--my rock--my house of defense--my strong rock--my fortress--my strength--God of truth. But like the previous Psalms this one also unfolds prophetically the sufferings of the remnant of Israel during the last days of this age. Yet likewise we may think of Him who endured the contradiction of sinne

XXXI. Prayer in distress strangely intermingled with such confidence in God that the deliverance seems to be already accomplished. PSALMS 31:1_ A_. Recurs with textual variants in Psalms 71:1. Psalms 31:5. The poet commends his spirit to God, that God may preserve it from death. In Luke 22:46 the application is different. TRUTH: _i.e._ faithfulness. Psalms 31:15. The crises of life are in the hands of Yahweh, and Israel has, therefore, no room for such comfort as, _e.g.,_ astrology....