Psalm 31, Rescue, Rock, Refuge, Fortress

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

Psalm 31: 1-4, Rock and fortress

In you, O LORD, I have taken refuge; 

let me never be put to shame; 

deliver me in your righteousness.

Turn your ear to me, 

come quickly to my rescue; 

be my rock of refuge, 

a strong fortress to save me.

Since you are my rock and my fortress, 

for the sake of your name lead and guide me.

Free me from the trap that is set for me, 

for you are my refuge.

David equates God with the rocks and strongholds he experienced in the mountains of Judea, hiding from Saul. He repeats his plea for help with slight modifications at each step.

These first three verses occur again, with very minor changes, in the first three verses of Psalm 71.

Psalm 31: 5-8, Statement of trust

Into your hands I commit my spirit; 

redeem me, O LORD, the God of truth.

I hate those who cling to worthless idols; 

I trust in the LORD.

I will be glad and rejoice in your love, 

for you saw my affliction and knew the anguish of my soul.

You have not handed me over to the enemy 

but have set my feet in a spacious place.

The first sentence of verse 5 was quoted by Jesus on the cross. Verse 6 ("I hate those who cling to worthless idols...") is similar to Jonah 2: 8, in Jonah's own song of despair and trust.

The plea for help folllowed by a statement of trust will now rise in a longer, more detailed plea for help and statement of trust.

Psalm 31: 9-13, Years of groaning

Be merciful to me, O LORD, for I am in distress; 

my eyes grow weak with sorrow, 

my soul and my body with grief.

My life is consumed by anguish 

and my years by groaning; 

my strength fails because of my affliction,

and my bones grow weak.

Because of all my enemies, 

I am the utter contempt of my neighbors; 

I am a dread to my friends -- 

those who see me on the street flee from me.

I am forgotten by them as though I were dead; 

I have become like broken pottery.

For I hear the slander of many; 

there is terror on every side; 

they conspire against me and plot to take my life.

David describes in detail his pain and weakness.  The torment is physical; the psalmist's body, bones, eyes are weak and hurting.  Yet the torment is also political and social; conspirators slander David and attack him.

Psalm 31: 14-16, Again, trust

But I trust in you, O LORD; 

I say, "You are my God."

My times are in your hands; 

deliver me from my enemies and from those who pursue me.

Let your face shine on your servant; 

save me in your unfailing love.

David earlier plea is countered by his statement of trust and a further request to see God's unfailing love.

Psalm 31: 17-18, Shame

Let me not be put to shame, O LORD, 

for I have cried out to you; 

but let the wicked be put to shame

and lie silent in the grave.

Let their lying lips be silenced, 

for with pride and contempt they speak arrogantly against the righteous.

David fears shame and dishonor.  Those attributes should fall on the wicked, who should be silenced in the grave. 

David combines statements of trust with pleas for help, cycling through request, then statement, then request.

Psalm 31: 19-21, Goodness stored up

How great is your goodness, 

which you have stored up for those who fear you, 

which you bestow in the sight of men on those who take refuge in you.

In the shelter of your presence you hide them from the intrigues of men; 

in your dwelling you keep them safe from accusing tongues.

Praise be to the LORD, for he showed his wonderful love to me when I was in a besieged city.

David's request are based on God's righteousness -- on God's goodness as opposed to his own. He asks to be part of God's long term plans.

Psalm 31: 22, Alarm and mercy

In my alarm I said, "I am cut off from your sight!" 

Yet you heard my cry for mercy when I called to you for help.

Verse 22 acts as a summary of the entire psalm.

Psalm 31: 23-24, Be strong and take heart

Love the LORD, all his saints! 

The LORD preserves the faithful, 

but the proud he pays back in full.

Be strong and take heart, 

all you who hope in the LORD.

In resolution, David turns to his audience with summary and conclusion: "Be strong and take heart!"

This is a long song of despair and faith, of crying out to God combined with cyclical statements of decision and trust.