“The psalm is like an April day, in which sunshine and rain chase each other across the plain.” —A. MacLaren
In Psalm 31, David seems to play every note, both in the major and minor keys. In verses 1 and 2, we have David’s plea for help. “Deliver me in Your righteousness. Bow down Your ear to me, deliver me speedily; be my rock of refuge.” Wait! He reminds himself (and us) of the Lord’s power to save (vv 3-5), because “You are my rock and my fortress; therefore, for Your name’s sake, lead me and guide me. Pull me out of the net which they have secretly laid for me, for You are my strength” (vv 3-4). Following this, there’s a lengthy section where he describes the problems he faces (vv 6-13). It’s a catalog of the emotions of the soul. He speaks of his “trouble…adversities…grief…sighing…iniquity…reproach” (vv 7-11), and so on. He concludes his autopsy as follows: “I am forgotten like a dead man, out of mind; I am like a broken vessel…fear is on every side” (vv 12-13). He then describes what he hopes will be the outcome of God’s aid (vv 14-18). “I say, ‘You are my God.’ My times are in Your hand; deliver me from the hand of my enemies” (vv 14-15). But can we be in His hand and the enemies’ hand, too? Impossible! What resources does He have for us (vv 19-20)? “Your goodness” (v 19) is the believer’s supply, and “Your presence” (v 20) is the believer’s security. Verses 21 and 22 provide a moment of confession, where David acknowledges that he had “said in…haste, ‘I am cut off from before Your eyes’” (v 22). It wasn’t true. “You heard the voice of my supplications when I cried out to You.” He always hears, no matter how isolated we feel. Finally, heaven’s sunshine breaks through. “Oh, love the Lord, all you His saints! For the Lord preserves the faithful…Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the Lord” (vv 23-24).