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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 31:1-8

Faith and prayer must go together. He that believes, let his pray?I believe, therefore I have spoken: and he that prays, let him believe, for the prayer of faith is the prevailing prayer. We have both here. I. David, in distress, is very earnest with God in prayer for succour and relief. This eases a burdened spirit, fetches in promised mercies, and wonderfully supports and comforts the soul in the expectation of them. He prays, 1. That God would deliver him (Ps. 31:1), that his life might be... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 31:8

And hast not shut me up into the hand of the enemy ,.... When in Keilah, in the wilderness of Ziph, and Maon, and encompassed about by Saul and his army, 1 Samuel 23:7 ; nor does the Lord suffer his people to be shut up under the power of sin and Satan, so that they cannot come forth in the exercise of grace, and the discharge of duty: but he brings their souls out of prison, that they may praise his name; thou hast set my feet in a large room ; at full liberty from his enemies; Saul... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 31:8

Thou hast set my foot in a large room - Many hair-breadth escapes David had for his life; at that time especially when, playing before Saul, the furious king took a spear and endeavored to pierce him through the body, but he escaped and got to the deserts. Here God, who had saved his life, set his feet in a large room. The seventh and eighth verses speak of what God had done previously for him. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 31:1-8

A prayer for grace in trouble. Authorship uncertain. Some give it to David, in Ziklag; others to Jeremiah. Three divisions. I. THE PSALMIST 'S PRAYER . The trouble that oppressed him had been of long duration, as appears from the tenth verse. 1 . He prays for deliverance from his trouble. (Verse 1.) Does not qualify the prayer, but seeks absolute deliverance. It was to him an unqualified evil, and, as evil, he had no thought it could be working any good for him. So the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 31:1-24

but part 1. might be further subdivided into three, and part 2. into two portions. The psalm thus fails into six divisions: Part 1. ( Psalms 31:1-4 ), prayer; Part 2. ( Psalms 31:5-8 ), self-encouragement; Part 3. ( Psalms 31:9-13 ), causes of his trouble; Part 4. ( Psalms 31:14-18 ), profession of faith and prayer; Part 5. ( Psalms 31:19-22 ), praise of God's goodness; Part 6. ( Psalms 31:23 , Psalms 31:24 ), exhortation to the people to praise God. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 31:1-24

The saint rehearsing his experience of the great Protector's care There is no good reason to doubt that this is one of David's psalms. Its forms of expression bear the marks of his pen, £ and the "undesigned coincidences " £ between it and the history of his life are both interesting and striking. The old interpreters supposed the psalm to belong to the time when David fled from Saul into the wilderness of Maon; others attribute it to the time of his deliverance from being shut up in... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 31:5-15

Duty and destiny. Let us place these two texts together, and we shall find that they become the more intelligible and the richer in instruction and comfort. I. OUR TIMES ARE FIXED BY GOD . We have no choice in the matter, no more than as to when we should be born. God is Sovereign. It is his prerogative to settle all things that concern us. Whatever comes of prosperity or adversity, or joy or sorrow is of his ordering. It is for him to rule, it is for us to trust and to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 31:8

And hast not shut me up into the hand of the enemy; i.e. "hast not delivered me up, without chance of escape, into the hands of my enemies". Thou hast set my feet in a large room . Given me, i.e; plenty of space and freedom for action; not confined me, nor cramped me, nor hindered me in any way (comp. Psalms 4:1 ; Psalms 18:36 ). Having cheered himself with the enumeration of these grounds of encouragement ( Psalms 31:5-8 ), the psalmist again returns to prayer. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 31:8

Opportunity. The young are eager for opportunities. Conscious of power, they fondly think that, if only a fair chance were to come, they would be sure to make a name for themselves. But they are often disappointed. Perhaps they say it is not their fault; but unprejudiced onlookers see that, through lack of insight, decision, or perseverance, they have failed. They have let the tide. which, taken at the flood, would have led on to fortune, pass by. Life is full of possibilities. It is our... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 31:8

And hast not shut me up into the hand of the enemy - Hast not delivered me into his hand, or into his power. See the margin 1 Samuel 17:46; 1Sa 24:18; 1 Samuel 26:8.Thou hast set my feet in a large room - In a large place. Thou hast made me free, or set me at liberty. See Psalms 4:1, note; Psalms 18:19, note; Psalms 18:36, note. read more

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