Psalm 31

Prayer Requests and Praise Reports: Ministry for the ministry team; successful training; Mary and Larry: Larry’s family, niece, Sonya passed away

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Because of its complexity, some commentators have suggested that it should actually be two separate psalms: 31:1–8 and 31:9–24. However, there are enough links between the two parts to unite them. For example, they share the themes of God being a refuge (31:1, 2, 4, 19), the psalmist’s fear of shame (31:1, 17) and his trust in God (31:6, 14).

Because of its complexity, some commentators have suggested that it should actually be two separate psalms: 31:1–8 and 31:9–24. However, there are enough links between the two parts to unite them. For example, they share the themes of God being a refuge (31:1, 2, 4, 19), the psalmist’s fear of shame (31:1, 17) and his trust in God (31:6, 14).

vv. 1–8—First prayer for help

vv. 1–8—First prayer for help

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vv. 1–6—Pleas to God for aid

v. 1,3,4,19 God is referred to as a ‘refuge’ on four occasions in this psalm

The Book of Psalms Psalm 31: Protect Me from Those Wishing Me Harm

“The psalmist prayed for life, for deliverance from death, and that is the psalm’s fundamental and legitimate sense. But in the context of resurrection faith, the psalm may also be used as a prayer in death, expressing trust and commitment to life lying beyond the grave.” What does not change about the meaning of the line is that no matter what, God is the one to whom one entrusts oneself. The poetic flexibility allows for multiple meanings that expand this prayer from what was originally intended.

God is referred to as a ‘refuge’ on four occasions in this psalm

Adeyemo, T. (2006). Africa Bible commentary (p. 643). Nairobi, Kenya; Grand Rapids, MI: WordAlive Publishers; Zondervan.

v. 5, “The psalmist prayed for life, for deliverance from death, and that is the psalm’s fundamental and legitimate sense. But in the context of resurrection faith, the psalm may also be used as a prayer in death, expressing trust and commitment to life lying beyond the grave.” What does not change about the meaning of the line is that no matter what, God is the one to whom one entrusts oneself. The poetic flexibility allows for multiple meanings that expand this prayer from what was originally intended.

“The psalmist prayed for life, for deliverance from death, and that is the psalm’s fundamental and legitimate sense. But in the context of resurrection faith, the psalm may also be used as a prayer in death, expressing trust and commitment to life lying beyond the grave.” What does not change about the meaning of the line is that no matter what, God is the one to whom one entrusts oneself. The poetic flexibility allows for multiple meanings that expand this prayer from what was originally intended.

Jacobson, R. A., & Tanner, B. (2014). Book One of the Psalter: . In E. J. Young, R. K. Harrison, & R. L. Hubbard Jr. (Eds.), The Book of Psalms (p. 304). Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

vv. 7–8—Trust and thanksgiving

vv. 9–24—Second prayer for help

vv. 9–13—Pleas to God for aid and deliverance

v.9–13 It is no surprise that some have wondered if vv. 9–24 were at some point separate from vv. 1–8. The prayer returns to pleas to God, but the vocabulary and the condition expressed are different.

The pleas are more urgent, more descriptive, and the one praying seems to be in dire distress, a distress present for a long period of time (v. 10).

9–13 It is no surprise that some have wondered if vv. 9–24 were at some point separate from vv. 1–8. The prayer returns to pleas to God, but the vocabulary and the condition expressed are different. The pleas are more urgent, more descriptive, and the one praying seems to be in dire distress, a distress present for a long period of time (v. 10). The trust expressed earlier is soon eclipsed by great sorrow. The pain is both mental and physical, and it has no nexus: it is caused both by iniquity (v. 10) and by foes (v. 11). This is a common idea that both the actions of the one praying and the actions of others have contributed to the present pain. Verses 12 and 13 speak of alienation and terror. The one praying has certainly reached a place of terror, as some forget him and others begin to gossip and conspire.

The trust expressed earlier is soon eclipsed by great sorrow. The pain is both mental and physical, and it has no nexus: it is caused both by iniquity (v. 10) and by foes (v. 11). This is a common idea that both the actions of the one praying and the actions of others have contributed to the present pain. Verses 12 and 13 speak of alienation and terror. The one praying has certainly reached a place of terror, as some forget him and others begin to gossip and conspire.

vv. 14–18—Trust and petitions for salvation

vv. 14–18—Trust and petitions for salvation

v. 14–18 But I, in you, I trust, O Lord comes without warning or introduction and reminds those listening of the first eight verses of the prayer. Verses 14–16 speak in the same confident voice as the earlier piece and even return to the themes of trust and rescue. The additional element here is that there are petitions for God to act against the enemies. The shame should be on them and not the one offering the prayer (v. 17). They and their lies should be silenced.

14–18 But I, in you, I trust, O Lord comes without warning or introduction and reminds those listening of the first eight verses of the prayer. Verses 14–16 speak in the same confident voice as the earlier piece and even return to the themes of trust and rescue. The additional element here is that there are petitions for God to act against the enemies. The shame should be on them and not the one offering the prayer (v. 17). They and their lies should be silenced.

Jacobson, R. A., & Tanner, B. (2014). Book One of the Psalter: . In E. J. Young, R. K. Harrison, & R. L. Hubbard Jr. (Eds.), The Book of Psalms (p. 305). Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

vv. 19–24—Thanksgiving

v. 21;24 The ‘besieged city’ is metaphorical (see 13), of being hemmed in on every side, not knowing which way to turn. 24. Hope in the Bible is confidence about what will happen coupled with ignorance about its timing.

The ‘besieged city’ is metaphorical (see 13), of being hemmed in on every side, not knowing which way to turn. 24. Hope in the Bible is confidence about what will happen coupled with ignorance about its timing.

Motyer, J. A. (1994). The Psalms. In D. A. Carson, R. T. France, J. A. Motyer, & G. J. Wenham (Eds.), New Bible commentary: 21st century edition (4th ed., p. 505). Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press.

The Book of Psalms Psalm 31: Protect Me from Those Wishing Me Harm

vv. 1–8—First prayer for help

vv. 1–6—Pleas to God for aid

vv. 7–8—Trust and thanksgiving

vv. 9–24—Second prayer for help

vv. 9–13—Pleas to God for aid and deliverance

vv. 14–18—Trust and petitions for salvation

vv. 19–24—Thanksgiving

Conclusion:

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seems to conclude at v. 8, only to offer another set of cries for aid that are more desperate than the first, followed again by declarations of trust that again come without explanation.

Jacobson, R. A., & Tanner, B. (2014). . Eerdmans Publishing Company.

It is no wonder that Gerstenberger concludes that “shows neither logical not literary order.” But instead of assuming that those that kept and edited this psalm did not see its lack of logical order, could it be that the psalm only looks confused to a post-Enlightenment Western audience? Is there something we can learn from this psalm?

As much as we want to believe otherwise, our lives do not unfold in logical order. Things happen that we do not expect, and faith and doubt are part of that cycle. We can believe one moment and know that our lives, both physical and spiritual, belong in God’s faithful hands and the next second feel alone and full of doubt and hurt. This psalm tells about this reality in our lives.

Just as a line of this psalm was reimagined for a different context and even a different understanding in the New Testament, the one reading this psalm will be the one to make sense of its twists and turns. Poetry is meant to engage our memories and our imagination and in that transform our relationship with God, so the meaning of this psalm is to examine the thin line between faith and doubt that we all share as we strive to better understand and embrace our relationship with God.