But I trusted in thee, O Lord . Having fully represented the miserable condition to which he is reduced ( Psalms 31:9-13 ), David now returns to expressions of trust in God, and to earnest prayer to him (comp. Psalms 31:6 ). I said, Thou art my God; rather, I have said. In all my sufferings, dangers, and difficulties, I have always clung to thee, and said, "Thou, and thou alone, art, and ever shalt be, my God." read more
My times are in thy hand . "My times," i.e. "all the varied events, happy or sad, which make up the parti-coloured web of life" (Kay). Not one of them but is shaped by thee and ordered by thee. Deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me (camp. Psalms 31:1 , Psalms 31:2 , Psalms 31:4 ). The great need under existing circumstances was deliverance. Absalom was looked for daily to "pass over Jordan, and all the men of Israel with him" ( 2 Samuel 17:24 ).... read more
God's sovereign will. "My times are in thy hand." "The stream cannot rise higher than its source." If this be true in the spiritual as in the material world, then the feelings, desires, trust, which rise so mightily to God in this psalm, and throughout the Book of Psalms, must have their fountain in God. The Psalter is the mouthpiece of the Bible, uttering the testimony of experience, not fictitious, but real, living, personal experience—if such ever was; the genuine outcome of human... read more
But I trust in thee, O Lord - In these times of trial - when Psalms 31:9 his eye was consumed with grief; when Psalms 31:10 his years were spent with sighing, his strength failed, and his bones were consumed; when Psalms 31:11 he was a reproach among his neighbors, and dreaded by his acquaintances; when Psalms 31:12 he was forgotten as a dead man; and when Psalms 31:13 he was surrounded with causes of alarm. Then he trusted in God. His confidence did not fail. He believed that God was his... read more
My times are in thy hand - That is, I said this in my trouble; when my friends forsook me, and when my enemies came around me and threatened my life. The meaning is, that all that pertained to him was under the control and at the disposal of God. He would “live” as long as God should please. It was His to give life; His to preserve it; His to take it away. All in relation to life - its origin - its continuance - its changes - its seasons - childhood, youth, middle age, old age - all was in the... read more
Psalms 31:14-17. I said, Thou art my God Mine by paternal relation, and care, and affection, and by thy promise, or covenant, made with me. My times are in thy hand The time of my life, how long I shall live; or, all the affairs and events of my life are wholly in thy power, to dispose and order as thou seest fit; and not at all in the power of mine enemies, who can do nothing against me, unless it be given them from above. They can no more dispose of my life at their pleasure than I can... read more
Psalms 31:0 Trust amid apparent hopelessnessIn his distress David is dependent entirely on the merciful goodness of God (1-2). He knows God’s character well enough to be assured that God will save him (3-5). God will bring victory to those who trust in him, and judgment on those who reject him for other gods (6-8).Nevertheless, the psalmist’s faith is at times shaken by the intensity of his sufferings. Physically and spiritually he feels helpless almost to the point of despair (9-10). Enemies... read more
God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 . read more
times. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), App-6 , for what is done in them = all my affairs. read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 31:9-18
A story of suffering and sorrow. The psalmist now, in the spirit of heartfelt trust in the helping grace of God, proceeds first to describe at length his trouble ( Psalms 31:9 , Psalms 31:13 ); and second , to pray for deliverance ( Psalms 31:14-18 ). I. CAUSES OF TROUBLE . ( Psalms 31:9 , Psalms 31:13 .) 1 . Consciousness of sin. ( Psalms 31:9 , Psalms 31:10 .) This was the constant lifelong grief. None but good men feel their sinfulness so acutely. ... read more