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Psalm 31 Commentary
by Brad Boyles
How do we move from anguish and sorrow to trust and assurance?
People have smeared your name. They have campaigned among others and built their case with lies and deceit. Others reject you. They turn and look away when they see you coming. On top of this, your own sin is running rampant in your life. You know you are guilty, so the depression and anxiety overwhelm. You feel like you need to escape but you can’t. Fear and sorrow wait at your doorstep, ready to pounce at any moment. Your body, soul, and mind are wasting away as you have no energy left to do anything productive.
We live in a difficult world. It seems nearly everyone we know is struggling with anxiety and depression to some degree. How do we cope with such strong emotional pitfalls? How can we deal with the heavy burden that stress brings into our hearts and minds? David struggled in the same way which makes Psalm 31 very relatable.
In fact, all who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. [13] Evil people and impostors will become worse, deceiving and being deceived. [14] But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed. You know those who taught you, [15] and you know that from infancy you have known the sacred Scriptures, which are able to give you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
2 Timothy 3:12-15 CSB
David, at the time of this writing, was not a baby believer. He had been through many struggles in his life and called upon the Lord in times of need. The point is, his issues did not cease after he matured in his faith. He continued to live a godly lifestyle and persecution came back again and again. This is not meant to be depressing, but rather, encouraging. If the man after God’s own heart experienced such strong emotions, we can know that our experiences are not uncommon. In fact, we can look at David’s writings and see exactly how he dealt with such issues. Furthermore, God was faithful to David.
David’s life seems to be summed up by waves of emotions followed by the reassurance of his faith in God’s power and providence. This doesn’t just happen a few times. It occurs all throughout his life, even into his old age. Again, this should encourage us that we are not alone and that there is hope to found. Just as David worked through these issues in prayer, we too can experience the healing power of Christ in our hearts when depression comes knocking. We won’t be perfect, but we can rest in the One who is.
Stephen J. Cole from Bible.org weighs in on Psalm 31…
“Psalm 31 makes it clear that David knew God in a personal, practical, and deep way before he got into this crisis. Note the many attributes of God that David recites throughout the psalm: God is a refuge and shelter (vv. 1, 19, 20). He is righteous (v. 1) and will judge righteously (v. 23). He is a rock of strength (vv. 2, 3). He hears and answers prayer (vv. 2, 22).
He is a stronghold and fortress (vv. 2, 3), David’s source of strength (v. 4). He is the God of truth (v. 5) and of lovingkindness (vv. 7, 16, 21). He is all-knowing (v. 7) and gracious (v. 9), in that He forgives and doesn’t cast off the rejected (implied in vv. 9-13). He has unlimited storehouses of goodness for those who fear Him (v. 19), even if they are going through the worst of trials.”
Stephen J. Cole
When we trust and believe to the point of establishing a strong foundation built on Jesus, we will be able to persevere through the storms that come. We will be under the watchful eye of our Father in heaven who never ceases to faithfully provide.