The Lord, the Rock. Psalm 31:1-24

http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 1 Commentary by Clyde M. Miller Questions by John C. Sewell The Lord, the Rock Psalm 31:1-24

http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 2 Text: Psalm 31:1-24, The Lord, the Rock Commentary by Clyde M. Miller 1. In you, O LORD, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; deliver me in your righteousness. 2. Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me. 3. Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me. 4. Free me from the trap that is set for me, for you are my refuge. 5. Into your hands I commit my spirit; redeem me, O LORD, the God of truth. 6. I hate those who cling to worthless idols; I trust in the LORD. 7. I will be glad and rejoice in your love, for you saw my affliction and knew the anguish of my soul. 8. You have not handed me over to the enemy but have set my feet in a spacious place. 9. Be merciful to me, O LORD, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and my body with grief. 10. My life is consumed by anguish and my years by groaning; my strength fails because of my affliction, and my bones grow weak. 11. 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. 12. I am forgotten by them as though I were dead; I have become like broken pottery. 13. For I hear the slander of many; there is terror on every side; they conspire against me and plot to take my life.

http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 3 14. But I trust in you, O LORD; I say, "You are my God." 15. My times are in your hands; deliver me from my enemies and from those who pursue me. 16. Let your face shine on your servant; save me in your unfailing love. 17. 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. 18. Let their lying lips be silenced, for with pride and contempt they speak arrogantly against the righteous. 19. 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. 20. In the shelter of your presence you hide them from the intrigues of men; in your dwelling you keep them safe from accusing tongues. 21. Praise be to the LORD, for he showed his wonderful love to me when I was in a besieged city. 22. 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. 23. Love the LORD, all his saints! The LORD preserves the faithful, but the proud he pays back in full. 24. Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD. (NIV) Introduction: I. In form, Psalm 31 is primarily a psalm of lament and petition. A. The declarations of trust in God, intermixed with pleas for deliverance, are common to this class of psalms. B. His dependence on God s steadfast love (RSV) or unfailing love (NIV) is characteristic of authors who write out of a sense of dismay in the midst of trouble, but who express confidence in God s ability and willingness to deliver.

http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 4 C. The psalmist wants to be kept free from the shame of defeat by his enemies. 1. This feature also is common to this form of psalm. II. It is not necessary to deny the unity of the psalm because of these apparent changes in mood. Commentary: Cry for Deliverance Psalm 31:1, 2, 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. (NIV) Psalm 3:1, In you, O LORD, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; deliver me in your righteousness. (NIV) I. The first line of this climactic triplet is a declaration of trust, and the second and third lines explain that his plea for deliverance is based on God s righteousness, not his own. A. Righteousness is a characteristic of God that manifests itself in right actions toward His faithful followers. II. The author emphasizes that his trust is in God rather than in himself. A. God is his refuge (1,2,4,19). 1. Psalm 31:1, 2, 4, 19, In you, O LORD, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; deliver me in

http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 5 your righteousness. Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me.. Free me from the trap that is set for me, for you are my refuge. 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. (NIV) B. Refuge is used 44 times in 43 verses in the psalms in one of three senses: 1. a characteristic of God, 2. a declaration that God is one s refuge, or... 3. an exhortation to others to make God their refuge. C. A refuge is a safe place of protection from harm. Psalm 3:2, Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me. (NIV) I. Verse 2 continues his petition for deliverance. A. Come quickly expresses the intensity of his problem. II. Rock is a metaphor of a solid foundation of security. A. Rock is used 28 times in 25 verses in the psalms, in the same three senses as refuge. III. Fortress is an enclosure of safety.

http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 6 Confidence in God s Love Psalm 31:3-8, 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. 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. (NIV) Psalm 31:3, Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me. (NIV) I. Since God is his rock and fortress, He will lead and guide him in his struggle for acceptance and safety. A. God is expected to be active rather than dormant in His relationship to His faithful petitioner. Psalm 31:4, Free me from the trap that is set for me, for you are my refuge. (NIV) I. Trap defines the trouble from which he needs deliverance, and describes the nature of God as his refuge. A. A trap is a position or situation from which it is difficult or impossible to escape (Webster). Psalm 31:5, Into your hands I commit my spirit; redeem me, O LORD, the God of truth. (NIV) I. The first line reveals the submissive attitude of complete trust in God s ability to do for him what he cannot do for himself.

http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 7 A. This statement was quoted by Christ in His death (Luke 23:46), not as a prophecy but as a way of identifying in His humanity with all righteous sufferers (1 Peter 3:13-15). 1. Luke 23:46, Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." When he had said this, he breathed his last. (NIV) 2. 1 Peter 3:13-15, Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do not fear what they fear[a]; do not be frightened." But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, (NIV) B. The plea in the second line is based on the trust expressed in the first line. C. Redeem or redeemer is employed 12 times in the psalms, either as a description of God or a plea for God to deliver one from danger. 1. The one exception is Psalm 49:7, which declares that no man can redeem the life of another. D. God is here an appositive of LORD. 1. The two words are thus used here as synonyms. Psalm 31:6, I hate those who cling to worthless idols; I trust in the LORD. (NIV)

http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 8 I. Verse 6 is structured in antithetic parallelism even though the contrasting conjunction but is absent from the second line. A. Hate and trust are not precise antonyms, but verse 7 provides the source of his love, which is God s love for him. B. The first line provides the only reference to idols in the psalm. C. Worthless embraces the concept of the impotence of idols that can do nothing for their practitioners (Ps. 115:4-8; Isa. 41:5-7, 26-27; 44:7; 46:1-2, et al). 1. Psalm 115:4-8, But their idols are silver and gold, made by the hands of men. They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but they cannot see; they have ears, but cannot hear, noses, but they cannot smell; they have hands, but cannot feel, feet, but they cannot walk; nor can they utter a sound with their throats. Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them. (NIV) 2. Isaiah 41:5-7, 26, 27, The islands have seen it and fear; the ends of the earth tremble. They approach and come forward; each helps the other and says to his brother, "Be strong!" The craftsman encourages the goldsmith, and he who smooths with the hammer spurs on him who strikes the anvil. He says of the welding, "It is good." He nails down the idol so it will not topple. Who told of this from the beginning, so we could know, or beforehand, so we could say, 'He was Right'? No one told of this, no one foretold it, no one heard any words from you. I was the first to tell Zion, 'Look, here they are!' I gave to Jerusalem a messenger of good tidings. (NIV)

http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 9 3. Isaiah 44:7, Who then is like me? Let him proclaim it. Let him declare and lay out before me what has happened since I established my ancient people, and what is yet to come yes, let him foretell what will come. (NIV) 4. Isaiah 46:1, 2, Bel bows down, Nebo stoops low; their idols are borne by beasts of burden. The images that are carried about are burdensome, a burden for the weary. They stoop and bow down together; unable to rescue the burden, they themselves go off into captivity. (NIV) 5. These idols have no real existence, but the LORD is real and able to deliver, so the psalmist puts his trust in Him. Psalm 31:7, I will be glad and rejoice in your love, for you saw my affliction and knew the anguish of my soul. (NIV) I. The first line in this climactic triplet declares that God s love is the basis of his gladness and rejoicing, and the second and third lines state the active outcome of that love. A. The second and third lines are synonymous. B. Saw and knew are synonyms, as are affliction and anguish. C. The word chesedh is employed in 7, 16, and 21 to describe God s faithful love that acts favorably for his faithful covenant people.

http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 10 D. The word Aahab is employed in verse 23 to describe the multifaceted love that the saints should have for the loving covenant God. Psalm 31:8, You have not handed me over to the enemy but have set my feet in a spacious place. (NIV) I. Verse 8 is couched in an antithetic couplet describing contrasting thoughts. A. Spacious place in this context describes the freedom granted by not being restricted by captive enemies. Psalm 31:9-13, 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. (NIV) Psalm 31:9, Be merciful to me, O LORD, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and my body with grief. (NIV) I. It is not clear whether verse 9 is couched in three or four lines. A. Be merciful is literally be gracious. 1. My eyes grow weak implies that his distress has caused him to weep, which causes his eyes to be blurred with his tears.

http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 11 B. My soul and my body refers to his inner and outer being. C. A heavy heart or troubled mind affects negatively the function of the body. D. Sorrow and grief are synonyms. E. The last two lines explicate the particular effects that his distress has brought on him. Psalm 31:10, My life is consumed by anguish and my years by groaning; my strength fails because of my affliction, and my bones grow weak. (NIV) I. The first two lines of this verse involve incomplete parallelism. A. The verbal clause is consumed is not written in the second line but is to be understood. II. Verse 10 is an extension of the description of his trouble that he begins to describe in verse 9. A. Distress (9) anguish (10) and affliction (10) are synonyms, and sorrow (9) and groaning (10) are complements. B. The word bones employs the figure synecdoche by which the part stands for the whole. 1. Here bones means body as in verse 9. C. Life and strength in this context refer to his physical being.

http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 12 1. His distress is so debilitating that it prevents his body from functioning properly. Psalm 31:11, 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. (NIV) I. Verse 11 reveals the social ostracism that the psalmist experiences. A. Neighbors and friends are synonyms. B. Contempt and dread are complements. II. In ancient pagan society one s outward and inward distress was taken as an indication of his disfavor with the gods. A. The Israelites were in part victims of their environment in this respect. B. Sickness and suffering were to them marks of spiritual disease. C. Thus, people would shun such a person lest they become guilty by association. Psalm 31:12, I am forgotten by them as though I were dead; I have become like broken pottery. (NIV) I. Forgotten in this couplet carries the connotation of forsakenness. A. He is considered useless like a piece of broken pottery. Psalm 31:13, For I hear the slander of many; there is terror on every side; they conspire against me and plot to take my life. (NIV)

http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 13 I. Verse 13 shows that forgotten in verse 12 is not to be taken literally. II. The fact that his enemies slander and conspire against him indicates that they are still aware of his presence but they believe that he is worthy of death. A. Therefore, they plot how to kill him. B. These intentions cause terror all around the psalmist. Prayer for Deliverance Psalm 31:14-19, 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. 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. 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. (NIV) Psalm 31:14, But I trust in you, O LORD; I say, "You are my God." (NIV) I. He introduces his petition with a declaration of his trust in God. A. This is a common feature in psalms of lament and petition. B. His faith and trust in God provides the confidence that his petition will be acceptable and, therefore, answered favorably.

http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 14 Psalm 31:15, My times are in your hands; deliver me from my enemies and from those who pursue me. (NIV) I. My times are in your hands means he has turned his life over to God. A. This is another way of expressing his trust in God. B. Because of his trust, he believes that God will deliver him from his enemies. Psalm 31:16, Let your face shine on your servant; save me in your unfailing love. (NIV) I. Let your face shine and save are here complements. A. God s smiling face reveals his approval of the psalmist s plea. II. Unfailing love (NIV) is God s steadfast love (RSV) that is reliable for his faithful covenant people. A. Dependable love will be manifested toward the psalmist in answer to his prayer. Psalm 31:17, 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. (NIV) I. Verse 17 reiterates the prayer offered in verse 1. A. Seven times a psalmist utters this prayer (25:2,20; 31:1,17; 71:1; 119:31, 80).

http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 15 1. Psalm 25:2, 20, in you I trust, O my God. Do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me. Guard my life and rescue me; let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you. (NIV) 2. Psalm 31:1, 17, In you, O LORD, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; deliver me in your righteousness. (NIV) 3. Psalm 71:1, In you, O LORD, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame. (NIV) 4. Psalm 119:31, 80, I hold fast to your statutes, O LORD; do not let me be put to shame. May my heart be blameless toward your decrees, that I may not be put to shame. (NIV) B. Embedded in these petitions is the recognition that when a servant of God is put to shame the name of God is ridiculed as well. C. The psalmist cries out to God in faith and in distress, so he should be rewarded with deliverance. D. The wicked are the ones who should be put to shame for their trust in their own nefarious schemes against the righteous. E. A dozen times the psalmists pray God to put the wicked to shame (31:17; 35:4,26; 40:14,15; 70:2,3; 71:13; 83:16; 86:17; 119:78; 125:5). 1. Psalm 31:17, 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. (NIV)

http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 16 2. Psalm 35:4, 26, May those who seek my life be disgraced and put to shame; may those who plot my ruin be turned back in dismay. May all who gloat over my distress be put to shame and confusion; may all who exalt themselves over me be clothed with shame and disgrace. (NIV) 3. Psalm 40:14, 15, May all who seek to take my life be put to shame and confusion; may all who desire my ruin be turned back in disgrace. May those who say to me, "Aha! Aha!" be appalled at their own shame. (NIV) 4. Psalm 70:2, 3, May those who seek my life be put to shame and confusion; may all who desire my ruin be turned back in disgrace. May those who say to me, "Aha! Aha!" turn back because of their shame. (NIV) 5. Psalm 71:13, May my accusers perish in shame; may those who want to harm me be covered with scorn and disgrace. (NIV) 6. Psalm 83:16, Cover their faces with shame so that men will seek your name, O LORD. (NIV) 7. Psalm 86:17, Give me a sign of your goodness, that my enemies may see it and be put to shame, for you, O LORD, have helped me and comforted me. (NIV) 8. Psalm 119:78, May the arrogant be put to shame for wronging me without cause; but I will meditate on your precepts. (NIV)

http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 17 9. Psalm 125:5, But those who turn to crooked ways the LORD will banish with the evildoers. Peace be upon Israel. (NIV) F. The purpose for these imprecations is that God s name be glorified in the defeat of His enemies. G. It is assumed that the enemies of the righteous are also enemies of God. 1. Grave translates sheol, the state and place of the dead. 2. The petition is that these wicked enemies may receive premature death, the very thing that they were wishing on the righteous. Psalm 31:18, Let their lying lips be silenced, for with pride and contempt they speak arrogantly against the righteous. (NIV) I. Verse 18 extends the curse against the wicked. II. The basis for this wish is their prideful contemptuous arrogant attitude toward the righteous, and, therefore, against God. Psalm 31:19, 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. (NIV) I. Verse 19 reiterates the confidence that the psalmist has expressed in God s goodness, righteousness (1) and love (7). A, Those who fear God and take refuge in Him are assured of His blessings.

http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 18 Psalm 31:20-24, 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. 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. 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. (NIV) Psalm 31:20, In the shelter of your presence you hide them from the intrigues of men; in your dwelling you keep them safe from accusing tongues. (NIV) I. Verse 20 defines what the presence of God means. A. His presence provides power to be a shelter from the intrigues of men and safety from accusing tongues. Psalm 31:21, Praise be to the LORD, for he showed his wonderful love to me when I was in a besieged city. (NIV) I. Praise be is literally blessed be. A. The reason is that God manifested his love chesedh toward him when he was fighting to protect a besieged city. B. He was obviously a king or at least a warrior who was responsible for the safety of his army. Psalm 31:22, 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. (NIV)

http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 19 I. In retrospect, he felt forsaken by God, but now his trust is renewed by reason of the fact that God answered his call for help in spite of his momentary doubt. Psalm 31:23, Love the LORD, all his saints! The LORD preserves the faithful, but the proud he pays back in full. (NIV) I. An exhortation to the saints is common in psalms of lament and petition, as well as in thanksgiving psalms. A. He desires that the godly have sufficient trust to prevent their experiencing the doubts that he faced. B. Yet, he offers hope even to those who overcome their doubts through trust in God. Psalm 31:24, Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD. (NIV) I. Those whose hope is genuine can be strong and take heart in the promises of God to those who trust in Him. Application: I. Hope is desire plus expectation. A. Expectation, however, can wane in the midst of delayed help. B. Momentary lapses do not define the total personality of the faithful. C. Tribulation can strengthen one s faith commitment and make him stronger for future difficulties.

http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 20 D. Therefore, the believer can count it a joy when he faces tribulation, for he knows the peaceable fruit that can be experienced through his endurance (James 1:2-8). 1. James 1:2-8, Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a doubleminded man, unstable in all he does. (NIV)

http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 21 Questions Psalm 31:1-24 (Questions based on NIV text.) 1. Psalm 31 is primarily a psalm of and. In psalms of this type of in intermixed with pleas for are common. 2. on s (RSV) or (NIV) is characteristic of who write out of a of in the of, but who in s and to deliver. 3. The wanted to be kept free from the of by his. 4. In you, O Lord, I have taken ; let me never be put to ; me in your. 5. Turn your to me, to my ; be my of, a to me. 6. Define: (1) righteousness: (2) refuge:

http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 22 (3) rock: (4) fortress: 6. Because is his and He will and the author of this psalm in his for and. 7. Define: (1) trap: (2) redeem: (3) redeemer: 8. How are Psalm 31:5, Luke 23:46 and 1 Peter 3:13-15 related? 9. Why are idols said to be worthless?

http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 23 10. The psalmist hated those who served worthless idols. Should we hate the sin and the sinner or only the sin? 11. I will be and in your, for your saw my and knew the of my. You have not over to the but have my in a. 12. in this context describes the granted by not being by. 13. How did the psalmist describe his condition in verses 9-13? Be complete and specific. 14. To what did he attribute his plight?

http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 24 15. For what did the psalmist pray in verses 9-13? 16. In one s and was taken as an of his with the. To the and were marks of. 17. What do these verses say about the psalmist s self-concept? 18. For what did the psalmist pray in verses 14-18? 19. How important was avoiding shame to ancient Israelites? How important is avoiding shame to us? Account for any difference.

http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 25 20. The psalmist sought to avoid shame but he prayed that the wicked might be put to shame and lie silent in the grave. Is this in keeping with Jesus teaching in Matthew 7:12? 21. What is the underlying principle that led psalmists to pray so often that the wicked be put to shame? 22.... let the be put to and in the (prematurely). Let their be, for with and they against the. 23. Verse 19 reiterates the that the has expressed in s, and. Those who and

http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 26 in Him are of his. 24. What blessings are in store for those who fear God? (See verse 20). 25. For what does the psalmist praise the Lord? 26. What injunctions does the psalmist extend to the saints, to all those who hope in the Lord? 27. What does the presence of God in verse 20 mean? 28. What is hope? List ten specific things for which you hope, five in this world and five in the world to come.

http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 27 29. What lessons does psalm 31 teach us for daily use? 30. What does James 1:2-8 say to you?