Psalm 31
This Psalm is a prayerful petition of lament and trust. Over and over David is laying out his life in this prayer remembering God’s faithfulness to him but also remembering times of great desperation. The zenith moment in this Psalm of 24 verses is in verse 5 where David declares, “Into your hands I commit my spirit.”
Those words should not be unfamiliar to us at all. They were the final words of Jesus as he was dying on the cross. Luke 23:46: Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last.
Christ added the word Father, but that word is definitely in line with the heart of this Psalm because that is the spirit of trust that David communicates all throughout Psalm 31. This Psalm, along with Psalm 22 and Psalm 69 are insights into special moments on the cross of Jesus. It offers a commentary, of sorts, on the passion of Jesus.
For you and me, it brings us closer to the cross of Christ and reveals the heart of God whom Jesus trusted and who also holds our times in his hands.
Due to the length of Psalm 31, we will not have indepth detail verse by verse but will study sections of verses at a time.
Psalm 31:1-5 In you, O Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; deliver me in your righteousness. Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me. Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me. Free me from the trap that is set for me, for you are my refuge. Into your hands I commit my spirit; redeem me, O Lord, the God of truth.
This Psalm begins with the object “YOU” placing the emphasis on the Lord, the focus of David’s trust. The Hebrew verb translated as “be put to shame” is the lengthened form, which reinforces this request. In essence, “May I never be disappointed in my trust in you.” “Your righteousness” is a reference to God’s character, out of which his covenant faithfulness proceeds.
In verse 2, the phrase “come quickly” actually in Hebrew is rendered “quickly come” to emphasize the speed of God’s deliverance.
In verse 3, the two verbs “lead” and “guide” appear together in Psalm 23 also connected with the phrase, “for the sake of your name.” In Exodus 15:13 these words are together in Hebrew describing Yahweh’s guidance of Israel in the wilderness.
In verse 4, the imagery is that of animals escaping a hunter’s net.
In verse 5, the Hebrew word used for spirit (RUAH) is the representation of his life. It is equal to you or me saying, “My life is in God’s hands.” This is significant, by the way, that Jesus chose to utter these exact words as His last words before He died.
The sheer honesty before God and passion that David exudes in the Psalms is the forebearer to the sufferings of our Lord Christ. Just as David concluded that his life was in God’s hands, Jesus gave up His Spirit to God in his final breath.
PRAY
Father help me to never be fearful of resting all that I am and all that I hope to be in your hands alone.