Psalms 31:19

PRAISE OF GOD'S GOODNESS TO HIS PEOPLE

"Oh how great is thy goodness,

Which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee,

Which thou hast wrought for them that take refuge in thee.

In the covert of thy presence wilt thou hide them from the plottings of man:

Thou wilt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.

Blessed be Jehovah; for he hath showed me his marvelous lovingkindness in a strong city.

As for me, I said in my haste,

I am cut off from before thine eyes:

Nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplications,

When I cried unto thee."

"Great is thy goodness ... laid up" (Psalms 31:19). This is a theme often reiterated in the words of the apostles and of Christ himself. Jesus said, "Great is your reward in heaven" (Matthew 5:12); and Paul, quoting from Isaiah 64:4, or perhaps inspired by such lines, elaborated them as follows:

"Things which eye saw not, and ear heard not,

And which entered not into the heart of man.

Whatsoever things God prepared for them that love him"

(1 Corinthians 2:9).

The full meaning of such passages exceeds the boundaries of human imagination. The goodness of God stored up for the redeemed is far superior to anything conceivable in finite minds.

"From the strife of tongues" (Psalms 31:20). This is a reference to the vicious slanderers who took sides with king Saul and by their slanderous words against David brought great sorrow and apprehension upon him.

"He has showed me his marvelous lovingkindness in a strong city" (Psalms 31:21). Radical critics by their late-dating of this psalm and denying David as its author are unable to interpret it. Addis stated that "This reference to `a strong city' makes no sense."[17] Of course, it wouldn't make any sense to anyone trying to understand it as having been written by anyone other than David. On the other hand, any believer may understand it with no trouble whatever. DeHoff explained the meaning perfectly:

"This is probably a reference to David's taking refuge with Achish, king of Gath, who gave him Ziklag, a fortified city where David dwelt with his men during the period of his flight from Saul (1 Samuel 27:6). The passage also may teach in a figurative sense that David was as safe in the hands of God as he would have been in a fortified city."[18]

These verses are also another link in the chain of evidence that points to the time of David's efforts to escape the jealous hatred of king Saul as the most acceptable understanding of the occasion when the psalm was written.