Psalm 31 Continued…
Psalm 31:11-15 Because of all my enemies, I am the utter contempt of my neighbors; I am a dread to my friends — those who see me on the street flee from me. I am forgotten by them as though I were dead; I have become like broken pottery. For I hear the slander of many;
there is terror on every side; they conspire against me and plot to take my life. But I trust in you, O Lord; I say, “You are my God.” My times are in your hands; deliver me from my enemies and from those who pursue me.
In verse 11, the phrase, “I am the utter contempt of my neighbors” is more literally rendered in Hebrew: “I have become an utter contempt even to my neighbors.” The words of Job echoed a very similar lament (Job 19:13-19; 30:9-18).
In verse 12 when David says he has become like “broken pottery”, he is describing a feeling of uselessness. Broken pottery is useless. Hosea 8:8: Israel is swallowed up; already they are among the nations as a useless vessel. (ESV)
In verse 13 “terror on every side…they conspire…and plot.” The slanderous whisper is one intended to generate fear among the people. Make no mistake, these are rumors intended to bring about evil. There is a conspiracy and a plot forming against David’s throne. He is very much aware of it.
In verse 14 David declares, “You are my God.” This is a deeply personal confession and realization. David is stating that even though it would be easy to give in to the scandalous fears and rumors and feel desperate and hopeless, his choice is to put his trust in the Lord, in his God.
In verse 15 David reiterates the thought he shared in verse 5. He states, “My times are in your hands.” David knew that he was literally in God’s keeping…in the Lord’s hands. I think far too often, we do not recognize this ourselves. This statement David makes is not a resignation to his circumstances but a reality that helped his face his circumstances with confidence. It is interesting in this Psalm that David contrasts his enemies and God’s hands. He refers to his enemies in verses 31:8a and 15b. And he refers to God’s hands as well. David states that his spirit (his life) and his times (his circumstances and how they will end up) are in the hands of the Lord. The Lord’s hands are seen as a safe place of protection and refuge and God’s hands keep the enemies from being able to grab hold of him. God’s hands are not a symbol of brute power but of compassionate control over the lives of the faithful who, because of God’s abundant goodness, fear God and take refuge in him.
PRAY
Father keep my life always in your hands!