Into your hands…
What is the title of Psalm
31? To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.
Read Psalm 31:1-8
1 In you, O Lord, do I take refuge; let me never be
put to shame; in your righteousness deliver me!
2 Incline your ear to me; rescue me speedily! Be a rock of refuge for me, a strong fortress to save me!
2 Incline your ear to me; rescue me speedily! Be a rock of refuge for me, a strong fortress to save me!
3 For you are my rock and my
fortress; and for your name's sake you lead me and guide me;
4 you take me out of the net they have hidden for me for you are my refuge.
5 Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God.
4 you take me out of the net they have hidden for me for you are my refuge.
5 Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God.
6
I
hate those who pay regard to worthless idols, but I trust in the Lord.
7 I will rejoice and be glad in your steadfast love, because you have seen my affliction; you have known the distress of my soul,
8 and you have not delivered me into the hand of the enemy; you have set my feet in a broad place.
7 I will rejoice and be glad in your steadfast love, because you have seen my affliction; you have known the distress of my soul,
8 and you have not delivered me into the hand of the enemy; you have set my feet in a broad place.
Who is the Lord for David?
One who answers, rescues, like Psalm 23 – "names sake, lead & guide
me".
One who saves me from hidden net (10:9)
Commit Spirit into your hand: Like Christ on the Cross (Luke 23:46 )
Read Psalm 31:9-13
9 Be gracious to me, O Lord,
for I am in distress; my eye is wasted from grief; my soul and my body also.
10 For my life is spent with sorrow, and my years with sighing; my strength fails because of my iniquity, and my bones waste away.
10 For my life is spent with sorrow, and my years with sighing; my strength fails because of my iniquity, and my bones waste away.
11 Because of all my adversaries I have become a
reproach, especially to my neighbors, and an object of dread to my
acquaintances; those who see me in the street flee from me.
12 I have been forgotten like one who is dead; I have become like a broken vessel.
13 For I hear the whispering of many— terror on every side!— as they scheme together against me, as they plot to take my life.
12 I have been forgotten like one who is dead; I have become like a broken vessel.
13 For I hear the whispering of many— terror on every side!— as they scheme together against me, as they plot to take my life.
What is the problem?
Eye/body is wasted from grief – SAD
He is a reproach to neighbors - not a favorite.
Whispering, terror, plots to kill…
Read 31:14-18
14 But I trust in you, O Lord; I say, “You are my God.”
15 My times are in your hand; rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from my persecutors!
16 Make your face shine on your servant; save me in your steadfast love(chesed)!
17 O Lord, let me not be put to shame, for I call upon you; let the wicked be put to shame; let them go silently to Sheol.
18 Let the lying lips be mute, which speak insolently against the righteous in pride and contempt.
15 My times are in your hand; rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from my persecutors!
16 Make your face shine on your servant; save me in your steadfast love(chesed)!
17 O Lord, let me not be put to shame, for I call upon you; let the wicked be put to shame; let them go silently to Sheol.
18 Let the lying lips be mute, which speak insolently against the righteous in pride and contempt.
Despite David’s problems, what does he do?
Trust God to affect personally
Pray for frustration of wicked plans.
Read 31:19-22
19 Oh, how abundant is your goodness, which you have stored up for
those who fear you and worked for those who
take refuge in you, in the sight of the
children of mankind!
20 In the cover of your presence you hide them from the plots of men; you store them in your shelter from the strife of tongues.
20 In the cover of your presence you hide them from the plots of men; you store them in your shelter from the strife of tongues.
21 Blessed be the Lord, for he has wondrously shown
his steadfast love to me when I was in a
besieged city.
22 I had said in my alarm,“I am cut off from your sight.” But you heard the voice of my pleas for mercy when I cried to you for help.
22 I had said in my alarm,“I am cut off from your sight.” But you heard the voice of my pleas for mercy when I cried to you for help.
How is God praised?
You are abundantly good! You hide and shelter.
Psalmist had
doubts... "BUT" (v.22) you heard.
Read 31:23-24
23 Love the Lord, all you his saints! The Lord preserves the faithful but
abundantly repays the one who acts in pride.
24 Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord!
24 Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord!
How does the psalmist end?
LOVE YHWH. Be strong & courageous!
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR ME?
What is the purpose of this Psalm/prayer?
Trust, Lament, encouragement to others
How does Christ fulfill this psalm?
When things looked dead, dim and hopeless, Christ still rose
from the dead. Like today – he will return so keep strong! Take courage!
How can we pray this? Keep us
faithful – undistracted.
Thy
will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
What
does this mean? The good and gracious will of God is done indeed without
our prayer; but we pray in this petition that it may be done among us also.
How
is this done? When God breaks and hinders every evil counsel and will which
would not let us hallow the name of God nor let His kingdom come, such as the
will of the devil, the world, and our flesh; but strengthens and keeps us
steadfast in His Word and in faith unto our end. This is His gracious and good
will.
