The Lord Our Hope.

THE LORD OUR HOPE.

Psalm 31:1-5, Psalm 31:19-24.

I. The LORD My Rock.

Psalm 31:1-5.

PSALM 31:1. This Psalm begins with the LORD, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is a Psalm of trust, a Psalm of faith. We need not wallow in our distress when we have the LORD upon our side.

We must never be ashamed to call the LORD, ‘Our Father.’ When we make our prayers to the Father in the name of His beloved and only-begotten Son, (and in keeping with His will and purpose in our lives, petitioning for needs, not greed) then we will find the Father disposed to answer us favourably.

And our appeal is not based in our own righteousness (as if we could ever be worthy in and of ourselves to make our approach to God) but in ‘the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ’ (cf. Romans 3:22). It is, “in YOUR righteousness deliver me.” Or, for Christians, “His” (i.e. Jesus’) righteousness.

PSALM 31:2. The LORD has already bowed His ear to our low estate through the incarnation. Whatever our trouble now, we may pray confidently, knowing that when He delivers it will be at the exact right time.

We seek our refuge in the LORD Himself. When we feel weak and helpless, we depend upon His strength and protection. He is the strong foundation for our faith. When we abide in Him we are in a secure and eternal safe room. Our salvation is sure and will not fail.

PSALM 31:3. The Psalmist might ask the LORD to be “a strong rock and a house of defence” (as in Psalm 31:2), because that is the relationship which he already has with the LORD. Hitherto, and in such a way, has the LORD been wont to help us: “Thou art my Rock and my fortress.”

The appeal is not to our faith, as if it was enough to trust in our own ability to trust; but objectively, “for thy name’s sake.” This is not just adding ‘in Jesus’ name’ to random prayers, but specifically applying to the name and the glory of God. We pray to the Father through Jesus the Son, but so praying we submit to His will, and seek the glory of His name.

“Lead me” as a soldier, “guide me” as a pilgrim. “Lead me” by your Providence, “guide me” by your Word.

PSALM 31:4. The Psalmist was in a trap. Boxed in. Depressed.

We have all been there. I have been stuck down a pot-hole. Somebody else knows what it is like to feel all alone, abandoned. Others are slandered.

With this verse we see the desperation of the Psalmist. But his faith in the LORD stands firm: “for thou art my strength.” His strength does not come from his faith, but from the object of His faith, even the LORD to whom he has been making his appeal.

PSALM 31:5. David is confident that the LORD will deliver him out of this difficulty. So he commits his life into the hand of the LORD.

Jesus took the same words upon His lips in the moment of death (cf. Luke 23:46).

Similarly Stephen, the first Christian martyr, ‘called upon God, saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit’ (cf. Acts 7:59).

So whether in life, or in death, we commit our spirits unto the LORD, in the sure knowledge of Christ’s redemption.

II. How Great Thy Goodness!

Psalm 31:19-24.

PSALM 31:19. “The LORD” has plentiful “goodness” “laid up” for those who “fear” Him. It is an inheritance which we can draw upon even in this life! When we “trust” Him, He brings deliverance in full view of a mocking world.

PSALM 31:20. The LORD “hides” believers in “the secret” of His “presence” from the schemes of men (cf. Psalm 91:1). Our ‘life is hid with Christ in God’ (cf. Colossians 3:3)! He “keeps” us from “the strife of tongues” (e.g. ‘slander’ Psalm 31:13; ‘lying lips’ Psalm 31:18).

PSALM 31:21. The LORD receives nothing from us when we “bless” Him because we can never repay Him for all the blessings that He has bestowed upon us (cf. Ephesians 1:3). Nevertheless, it is still appropriate that we should “bless” Him for “His marvellous kindness,” and out of gratitude ‘for all His (gracious) benefits’ (cf. Psalm 103:2). David encourages others to join with Him in offering this form of thanksgiving for some specific personal deliverance.

The reference to “a strong city” may also point us to the church of our Lord Jesus Christ [cf. Isaiah 26:1, where the ‘strong city’ has ‘salvation’ (Yeshua) for ‘walls and bulwarks’].

PSALM 31:22. The Psalmist admits his hasty words, spoken in a momentary lapse in faith: “I am cut off from before thine eyes.” Many a Christian has felt like this, only to be reminded that faith itself is a gift, not a reward. However, as soon as he banished the thought and returned to the business of faithful prayer, “the voice of (his) supplications” was heard.