Psalm 31
To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.
Pt. 3

In this last stanza, or strophe, of the Psalm David explored some of the deepest of the emotions that he had experienced through the whole ordeal: shame and doubt. As we said in previous comments here, the scholars surmise that this was David’s reflection on the time when he was pursued by Saul and lived as an outlaw in the wilderness of Judah.

17 Let me not be ashamed, O LORD; for I have called upon thee: let the wicked be ashamed, and let them be silent in the grave.

It would be truly humiliating to have struggled to be faithful to the Lord when one’s emotions and the counsel of many confederates were urging him to go fully rogue and live as a complete outlaw only to ultimately be captured and murdered because he had gone softly. Rather, he had carefully weighed every decision and even when presented with the opportunity to slay his pursuer he had shown mercy. Twice he could easily have killed Saul and put the whole thing to an end but he chose to honor his own loyalty to God Who has installed the man and could Himself cut him off at any moment. The man of honor always knows that certain honorable decisions can make him look like a fool.

But it would have been profoundly embarrassing to have gone to such lengths and shown such patience and faith only to have this very enemy capture him and dispense with him.

Even though Saul was behaving wickedly and contrary to what even he knew the Will of God to be, this whole matter was still in God’s hands and David chose to leave it there, but this verse shows that he had nagging doubts. He chose rather to turn those doubts into a prayer and petition that it would be Saul and his cohorts who would be embarrassed and, of course, God did exactly that.

18 Let the lying lips be put to silence; which speak grievous things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous.

Anyone who has lived through a time of betrayal knows how difficult it is to endure accusations that are patently false. Sometimes it is simply impossible to correct them all or to battle them every one and the saint
must depend upon God to ultimately set things right and continue on living in a faithful and godly way.

19 Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men! 20 Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues. 21 Blessed be the LORD: for he hath shewed me his marvellous kindness in a strong city.

The wonderful provision of God for His people is always a thing to be cherished and remembered. There is a ‘secret place’ where He visits with the faithful, an inner room where His Presence makes Himself known, much as the Holy of Holies in the tabernacle and the temple. Blessed is the one who is invited into the Presence of God at any moment but especially when all around him is seemingly in ruins and his own doubts threaten to undo his reliance upon the Lord.

And, doubt had indeed just about overwhelmed him. He had come to the place to consider that God had rejected him. This is not an uncommon place for those who place themselves seriously in God’s service to the degree that they suffer from the attacks of the evil whether human or spiritual.

22 For I said in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes: nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplications when I cried unto thee.

Faith is an important component of prayer even as we are taught in many places.

Matt 21:22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

But sometimes God has mercy on a struggling soul, especially when the struggle if of His making, and chooses to answer his prayers even as the saint under attack wrestles with doubt and fear. How marvelous is the Mercy of God!

And, David used this very issue to comfort and encourage every reader of this passage, including us, if and when we come to a place when we are under assault and just about to throw in the towel.

23 O love the LORD, all ye his saints: for the LORD preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer. 24 Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.

The Lord is faithful to the faithful even when they are not perfect in the struggle.

— May 17, 2020