For the music director; a psalm of David. 

 

David wrote this psalm when evil men were attempting to kill him. David carried the messianic seed, so he was always a target of Satan.

 

31:1 In you, O Lord, I have taken shelter! Never let me be humiliated! Vindicate me by rescuing me! 

 

David was being pursued by evil men, but he trusted in Jehovah to save him. He took shelter in Jehovah. He asked God to not allow these evil men to humiliate him. He asked God to judge him and to rescue him.

 

31:2 Listen to me! Quickly deliver me! Be my protector and refuge, a stronghold where I can be safe! 

 

David made four requests of Jehovah. First, he asked Jehovah to listen to him. Second, he wished to be delivered from his enemies. Third, He asked Jehovah to be his protector and refuge. Fourth, he asked Jehovah to be his stronghold.

 

31:3 For you are my high ridge and my stronghold; for the sake of your own reputation you lead me and guide me. 

 

In a military battle, the army who possesses the high ground or the stronghold always has the advantage. Jehovah was David’s high ground and his stronghold. Since Jehovah promised the unconditional Davidic Covenant to David, then Jehovah’s reputation was at stake. The entire angelic world and all men of history are watching to see if Jehovah will keep His word. Jehovah will keep His promises, even though man does not. Therefore, David knew that Jehovah would lead him and guide him into safety.

 

31:4 You will free me from the net they hid for me, for you are my place of refuge. 

 

David asked Jehovah to free him from the net of his enemies.

 

31:5 Into your hand I entrust my life; you will rescue me, O Lord, the faithful God. 

 

David trusted that Jehovah would save him from his enemies.

 

31:6 I hate those who serve worthless idols, but I trust in the Lord. 

 

David hates those who serve demonic idols.

 

31:7 I will be happy and rejoice in your faithfulness, because you notice my pain and you are aware of how distressed I am. 

 

Even though David was in pain and being pursued by his enemies, he was happy. He knew that Jehovah was faithful to deliver him.

 

31:8 You do not deliver me over to the power of the enemy; you enable me to stand in a wide open place. 

 

Jehovah would deliver David from his enemies.

 

31:9 Have mercy on me, for I am in distress! My eyes grow dim from suffering. I have lost my strength. 

 

David asked Jehovah to have mercy on him. He was in deep trouble. He was suffering and about to die. He had lost all of his strength.

 

31:10 For my life nears its end in pain; my years draw to a close as I groan. My strength fails me because of my sin, and my bones become brittle. 

 

David was nearing death.

 

31:11 Because of all my enemies, people disdain me; my neighbors are appalled by my suffering— those who know me are horrified by my condition; those who see me in the street run away from me. 

 

David had some powerful enemies who caused his own people to despise him. Even David’s neighbors were appalled at his suffering. Those who knew David were horrified, because his condition was terrifying. David was like a leper. Those who saw him in the street ran away from him.

 

31:12 I am forgotten, like a dead man no one thinks about; I am regarded as worthless, like a broken jar. 

 

David was forgotten by the people, just as a dead man was forgotten.

 

31:13 For I hear what so many are saying, the terrifying news that comes from every direction. When they plot together against me, they figure out how they can take my life. 

 

David heard rumors that his enemies were attempting to take his life.

 

31:14 But I trust in you, O Lord! I declare, “You are my God!” 

 

David trusted in Jehovah to save him from his enemies.

 

31:15 You determine my destiny! Rescue me from the power of my enemies and those who chase me. 

 

Jehovah is sovereign over all of history and all of men. He determines David’s destiny. He decided where, when, and how David will live and die. He decided which tasks that David would accomplish. David asked Jehovah to rescue him from his enemies who were pursuing him.

 

31:16 Smile on your servant! Deliver me because of your faithfulness! 

 

David asked Jehovah to smile on him. He asked Jehovah to save him, because Jehovah was faithful to His Davidic Covenant promise.

 

31:17 O Lord, do not let me be humiliated, for I call out to you! May evil men be humiliated! May they go wailing to the grave! 

 

David asked that he not be humiliated by evil men. Evil men of the satanic world system want to humiliate believers. They will attempt to do so first by force. If their government will not allow persecution by force, then they will attempt to humiliate the believer academically.

 

31:18 May lying lips be silenced— lips that speak defiantly against the innocent with arrogance and contempt! 

 

Since these evil men cannot debate a man with sound Bible doctrine by scholarship, then they must resort to ridicule.

 

31:19 How great is your favor, which you store up for your loyal followers! In plain sight of everyone you bestow it on those who take shelter in you. 

 

Jehovah stores up and shows favor to His own children.

 

31:20 You hide them with you, where they are safe from the attacks of men; you conceal them in a shelter, where they are safe from slanderous attacks. 

 

Jehovah hides His own children and keeps them safe from the physical and verbal attacks of unbelievers. 

 

31:21 The Lord deserves praise for he demonstrated his amazing faithfulness to me when I was besieged by enemies.

 

Jehovah deserves praises, because He demonstrates faithfulness to His children who are attacked verbally and physically be enemies of the satanic world system.

 

31:22 I jumped to conclusions and said, “I am cut off from your presence!” But you heard my plea for mercy when I cried out to you for help. 

 

David thought that he was cut off from Jehovah’s presence, but he was wrong. Jehovah did hear his cry for help.

 

31:23 Love the Lord, all you faithful followers of his! The Lord protects those who have integrity, but he pays back in full the one who acts arrogantly. 

 

Jehovah commanded the congregation to love Jehovah. Jehovah protects those who have integrity. Those who have integrity are those who have studied and applied the entire counsel of the Word of God.

 

31:24 Be strong and confident, all you who wait on the Lord! 

 

David commanded the congregation to be strong and confident in Jehovah. One cannot be strong and confident in God unless he studies and applies the entire counsel of the Word of God.