‏ Psalms 31

* Confidence in God. (1-8) Prayer in trouble. (9-18) Praise for

God's goodness. (19-24)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 are in trouble, to see whether

they are humbled for sin, and made better by the affliction.

Every believer will meet with such dangers and deliverances,

until he is delivered from death, his last enemy. 9-18 David's troubles made him a man of sorrows. Herein he was

a type of Christ, who was acquainted with grief. David

acknowledged that his afflictions were merited by his own sins,

but Christ suffered for ours. David's friends durst not give him

any assistance. Let us not think it strange if thus deserted,

but make sure of a Friend in heaven who will not fail. God will

be sure to order and dispose all for the best, to all those who

commit their spirits also into his hand. The time of life is in

God's hands, to lengthen or shorten, make bitter or sweet,

according to the counsel of his will. The way of man is not in

himself, nor in our friend's hands, nor in our enemies' hands,

but in God's. In this faith and confidence he prays that the

Lord would save him for his mercies's sake, and not for any

merit of his own. He prophesies the silencing of those that

reproach and speak evil of the people of God. There is a day

coming, when the Lord will execute judgment upon them. In the

mean time, we should engage ourselves by well-doing, if

possible, to silence the ignorance of foolish men. 19-24 Instead of yielding to impatience or despondency under

our troubles, we should turn our thoughts to the goodness of the

Lord towards those who fear and trust in Him. All comes to

sinners through the wondrous gift of the only-begotten Son of

God, to be the atonement for their sins. Let not any yield to

unbelief, or think, under discouraging circumstances, that they

are cut off from before the eyes of the Lord, and left to the

pride of men. Lord, pardon our complaints and fears; increase

our faith, patience, love, and gratitude; teach us to rejoice in

tribulation and in hope. The deliverance of Christ, with the

destruction of his enemies, ought to strengthen and comfort the

hearts of believers under all their afflictions here below, that

having suffered courageously with their Master, they may

triumphantly enter into his joy and glory