“In
you, O Lord, do I take refuge; let me never be put to shame; in your
righteousness deliver me. Incline your ear to me; rescue me
speedily! Be a rock of refuge for me, a strong fortress to save me!”
-Psalm 31:1-2 (ESV). [Read Psalm 31}
The
24 verses of this Psalm are a prayer, a lament, from the pen of
David, the great Psalm-writer of Israel. Many incidents in his life
could be the occasions that inspired this prayer for help from the
Lord. He is worn out with trouble and beset all about by enemies.
In fact, he may be at the point of death, for in verse 5 he prays:
“Into
your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful
God.”
During
the month of January, my daily devotionals (posted on Facebook and
sent out to many friends by e-mail) have been on the theme of Lessons
from the Psalms. I have proceeded, one-a-day-through January, until
today we look at Psalm 31. I have tried not to be repetitive to dwell
too much on one particular theme.
I
thank God for His guidance and inspiration in this endeavor, and I
can truthfully say that as I have studied a Psalm a day, the Spirit
of the Living God has been my teacher.
Today
I want to give credit for the organization and outline for Psalm 31
to a great minister of the gospel and Bible teacher whose
commentaries on both the Old and New Testament are part of my
resources for study. Dr. Warren W. Wiersbe in his Wiersbe
Bible Commentary. OT
(Colorado Springs: David C. Cook Publishing, 2007, p. 910-912)
gives
this excellent outline for Psalm 38:
-
When Others Do Evil, Trust God for His Strength (vv. 1-8)
-
When Others Cause Pain, Ask God for His Mercy (vv. 9-18)
-
When Others See the Victory, Give God the Glory (vv. 19-24)
If
you study the verses carefully, using Dr. Wiersbe’s outline, you
will possibly remember the great truths of this Psalm more readily.
The emphasis throughout the Psalm is on taking refuge in the Lord, no
matter how difficult the circumstances. He asks God to act speedily
in delivering him and to be his Rock and his fortress. When others
inflict pain, remember to ask God for His mercy, and the fortitude to
bear up under the distress. The Christian way, and following the
admonition of Jesus, the one praying would also ask forgiveness for
those who inflict the pain. In the last verses of the Psalm, David
remembers how abundant God’s protection has been for him and he
constantly gives God the glory for victory.
Circumstances
in my early life were such that I grew up in a hurry. The time
following my mother’s death when I was only fourteen were hard
years, not only because I missed her loving counsel, but because I
had to “grow up” and assume leadership of a home and caring for
other members of my family. The work was hard, both in the house
and on the farm. And all the while I had such a determination to go
to school and excel in studies. Many were the times I poured out my
heart in daily jottings in diaries and journals. Early I formed the
habit of reading from the Bible to gain strength, and praying to God
for help in time of weakness. My oblations read like David’s
laments, a constant crying out to God for His help and strength. I
know now that “all things work together for good” (Romans 8:28)
and that all of those years of struggle to do what was required of me
helped me to grow and develop. Like David in Psalm 31:14-15a, I
prayed: But
I trust in you, O Lord; I say, ‘you are my God.’ My times are in
your hand.”
-Ethelene
Dyer Jones 01.31.2016
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