Psalms Chapter 31 — A Prayer of Trust in Distress
Psalm 31 is a prayer of trust and lament where the author seeks refuge in God during times of intense distress and opposition from enemies.
1In you, LORD, I take refuge.
2Bow down your ear to me.
3For you are my rock and my fortress,
4Pluck me out of the net that they have laid secretly for me,
5Into your hand I commend my spirit.
6I hate those who regard lying vanities,
7I will be glad and rejoice in your loving kindness,
8You have not shut me up into the hand of the enemy.
9Have mercy on me, LORD, for I am in distress.
10For my life is spent with sorrow,
11Because of all my adversaries I have become utterly contemptible to my neighbors,
12I am forgotten from their hearts like a dead man.
13For I have heard the slander of many, terror on every side,
14But I trust in you, LORD.
15My times are in your hand.
16Make your face to shine on your servant.
17Let me not be disappointed, LORD, for I have called on you.
18Let the lying lips be mute,
19Oh how great is your goodness,
20In the shelter of your presence you will hide them from the plotting of man.
21Praise be to the LORD,
22As for me, I said in my haste, “I am cut off from before your eyes.”
23Oh love the LORD, all you his saints!
24Be strong, and let your heart take courage,
WEB Translation
Notable Verses
Psalms 31:5
“Into your hand I commend my spirit.”
These words express ultimate trust in God and were famously quoted by Jesus on the cross.
Psalms 31:15
“My times are in your hand.”
This verse highlights the belief that God is in control of the timing and circumstances of one's life.
Psalms 31:24
“Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who hope in the LORD.”
This concluding exhortation encourages believers to find strength through their hope in the Lord.
Chapter Summary
Psalm 31 depicts a soul in deep trouble, calling out to the Lord for protection and deliverance. The psalmist describes God as a rock and a fortress, expressing total dependence by commending his spirit into God's hands. Amidst descriptions of sorrow, physical weakness, and being forgotten by neighbors like a dead man, the writer remains firm in his faith, declaring that his times are in God's hand. The chapter shifts between desperate pleas for mercy and bold declarations of God’s goodness and preservation of the faithful. It details the struggle of being surrounded by slander and terror on every side while maintaining a commitment to trust in the Lord rather than lying vanities. It concludes with a call for all the Lord's followers to love Him and remain courageous, trusting in His strength and protection from the plotting of men.
Frequently Asked Questions
The main message is one of unwavering trust in God during times of extreme hardship, social isolation, and physical suffering. The psalmist acknowledges his vulnerability but finds security in God's character as a faithful deliverer and refuge.
These words from Psalm 31:5 are notable because Jesus Christ quoted them during his crucifixion, as recorded in the New Testament. They represent a final act of trust and submission to God's care.
The author uses several metaphors for God, including a rock, a fortress, and a stronghold. These images represent stability, safety, and a place of protection against enemies and hidden traps.
Study Note
The structure of this psalm shifts between lament and praise, a common literary characteristic of individual psalms of trust in Hebrew poetry.
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