Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
Psalms Ch.31 / 150 Ch.s
PS:31
* Confidence in God. (1-8) Prayer in trouble. (9-18) Praise for
God's goodness. (19-24)
#1-8 Faith and prayer must go together, for the prayer of faith
is the prevailing prayer. David gave up his soul in a special
manner to God. And with the words, ver. 5, our Lord Jesus
yielded up his last breath on the cross, and made his soul a
free-will offering for sin, laying down his life as a ransom.
But David is here as a man in distress and trouble. And his
great care is about his soul, his spirit, his better part. Many
think that while perplexed about their worldly affairs, and
their cares multiply, they may be excused if they neglect their
souls; but we are the more concerned to look to our souls, that,
though the outward man perish, the inward man may suffer no
damage. The redemption of the soul is so precious, that it must
have ceased for ever, if Christ had not undertaken it. Having
relied on God's mercy, he will be glad and rejoice in it. God
looks upon our souls, when we are in trouble, to see whether
they are humbled for sin, and made better by the affliction.
Every believer will meet with such dangers and deliverances,
until he is delivered from death, his last enemy.
#9-18 David's troubles made him a man of sorrows. Herein he was
a type of Christ, who was acquainted with grief. David
acknowledged that his afflictions were merited by his own sins,
but Christ suffered for ours. David's friends durst not give him
any assistance. Let us not think it strange if thus deserted,
but make sure of a Friend in heaven who will not fail. God will
be sure to order and dispose all for the best, to all those who
commit their spirits also into his hand. The time of life is in
God's hands, to lengthen or shorten, make bitter or sweet,
according to the counsel of his will. The way of man is not in
himself, nor in our friend's hands, nor in our enemies' hands,
but in God's. In this faith and confidence he prays that the
Lord would save him for his mercies's sake, and not for any
merit of his own. He prophesies the silencing of those that
reproach and speak evil of the people of God. There is a day
coming, when the Lord will execute judgment upon them. In the
mean time, we should engage ourselves by well-doing, if
possible, to silence the ignorance of foolish men.
#19-24 Instead of yielding to impatience or despondency under
our troubles, we should turn our thoughts to the goodness of the
Lord towards those who fear and trust in Him. All comes to
sinners through the wondrous gift of the only-begotten Son of
God, to be the atonement for their sins. Let not any yield to
unbelief, or think, under discouraging circumstances, that they
are cut off from before the eyes of the Lord, and left to the
pride of men. Lord, pardon our complaints and fears; increase
our faith, patience, love, and gratitude; teach us to rejoice in
tribulation and in hope. The deliverance of Christ, with the
destruction of his enemies, ought to strengthen and comfort the
hearts of believers under all their afflictions here below, that
having suffered courageously with their Master, they may
triumphantly enter into his joy and glory.