TRUSTING GOD

(Psalm 31)

Mike Johnson

Psalm 31 is different from most psalms in that it consists of multiple peaks and valleys.  The psalm changes in mood as it goes from assurance (1-8) to anguish (9-18), and then back to assurance (19-24).  It has in verse 5, the last words Christ uttered on the cross, “Into your hand I commit my spirit (Lk. 23:46).

The consensus is that David is the author of this psalm due to his name appearing in the superscription (title).  Although the superscriptions are ancient, they are not inspired.  However, there is no reason to reject David as the author.  Also, some internal evidence exists to back up this conclusion.  Some think Jeremiah may be the writer due to some similarities between the book of Jeremiah and Psalms 31, e.g., Jeremiah 20:10a and Psalm 31:13.  Yet, most likely, Jeremiah is merely quoting from the psalm.

When did David write this psalm?  Two primary views exist.  Some think he wrote it when he was fleeing from Saul (1Sam. 19-31), while others feel he did so when escaping from Absalom (2 Sam. 15-19).  It does seem apparent, however, that he wrote it during a time when he was experiencing a lot of pain and anguish.

Consider this synopsis of the book by one writer.

Its general purpose is to inspire confidence in God in other hearts––from the experience of the Psalmist––from that manifested favor by which he had been brought through his troubles . . . . The psalm refers to the dangers which surrounded its author at the time referred to; his fears and apprehensions in those dangers; his calm confidence in God amid his dangers; the deliverance from trouble which was vouchsafed to him; his joy and gratitude for deliverance; and the lessons which others might learn in their trials from the divine dealings toward him in his (Barnes).

Four times in this psalm, David speaks of trusting God.  He has full confidence in Him and looks at Him as his fortress.  We will divide this study into five sections:  A Plea for help (1-8), David in Trouble (9-13), Further Cries for Help (14-18), Praising God’s Goodness (19-22), and Encouragement for Others (23-24).

A Plea for Help (1-8)

 David begins (1a) by affirming, “In You, O Lord, I put my trust.”  We see that the Psalmist put his trust in the Lord, not an idol or some other type of deity.  The word in the Hebrew translated “trust” means refuge, and many commonly used translations render it as such.  Often, the Hebrew term is associated with the type of protection the wings of a bird provides for its chicks.  Note Psalm 36:7, where David said to God, “How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God!  Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings.” God, with his “wings,” offers protection for those who trust in Him, and David had full confidence in His protection.  The Scriptures also tell us we can rely on God, who is our “shield” (2 Sam. 22:3, 31; Ps. 18:2).  Also, joy is associated with trusting in God.  Note Psalm 5:11, which says, “But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; Let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them; Let those also who love Your name be joyful in You.”

People may prove themselves untrustworthy; many do not keep their word and prove themselves unreliable.  In contrast, God never lies.  Numbers 23:19 points out, “God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent.  Has He said, and will He not do?  Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good.”  (See also Is. 14:24.)  God’s plans are in our best interest (Rom. 8:28), and He is worthy of our trust.

We can trust God because He has always proven Himself as trustworthy. He has proven Himself in our own lives, the lives of others, and in the lives of the people and events, we can read about in the Bible.  In 1 Kings 8:56, Solomon reminded the people that the Lord “. . . has given rest to His people Israel, according to all that He promised.  There has not failed one word of all His good promise, which He promised through His servant Moses.”  If people have proven themselves trustworthy, we are more likely to trust them in the future.  God is worthy of our trust!

Today, whether we trust someone or not is often based on how well we know that person.  Sadly, many may not trust God because they do not know Him very well.  The more we know about God, the more we should trust Him.  The Scriptures are the source for learning about God.

From the later part of verse 1 to verse 7, David makes seven requests of God, and trusting Him is the basis for what follows in this section.  Consider them now.

1. “Let me never be ashamed” (1b)- Many times in the book of Psalms, David expresses his desire not to experience shame, desiring instead that his enemies experience it.  In this verse, he does not seem to speak of being made ashamed in the sense of being ashamed, for example, of confessing belief in God (Rom. 1:16).  Instead, it appears to be speaking of being confounded and perplexed in someone or something (Job 6:20; Is. 30:5; Jer. 2:26, 14:3-4).  For instance, if God did not answer his prayers in delivering him from his enemies, then he would be ashamed (confounded) at a time when his enemies were in a state of triumph.  His enemies would glorify in their idols, bringing reproach against God.  The context, verse 17, gives credence to this view.  (See also Ps. 71:1-2.)  David, however, has full confidence in God and knew he would not end up being ashamed.
2. “Deliver me in Your righteousness” (1c)- God’s righteousness is the basis for the appeal of the Psalmist, i.e., deliverance would be in keeping with God’s righteousness.  Most likely, David is speaking of physical deliverance from his enemies.  Note the use in Psalm 71:1-2 when he asks, “In You, O Lord, I put my trust; Let me never be put to shame. Deliver me in Your righteousness, and cause me to escape; Incline Your ear to me, and save me.”
3. “Bow down Your ear to me” (2a) – David says this after expressing his trust in   He, in a sense, is asking God to put His ear down very close and listen to his plea, perhaps as a dying person would ask a friend to place his ear close to his mouth.  One writer put it like this, “Listen to me, O Lord! Stoop down out of thy glory to catch the faint accents of my sorrowing, almost expiring spirit”  (Spurgeon’s Verse Expositions of the Bible).  David  is saying, “God, please hear my prayers!”
4. “Deliver me speedily” (2b) – David most likely knew that God worked on His timetable, but he felt like he needed help from Him very soon, which might indicate the dire circumstances he was facing. In other psalms, the writer asks God to make hast and not delay in responding (32:22, 40:17, 70:1, 71:12).
5. “Be my rock of refuge” (2c) – He continued the concept saying, “a fortress of defense to save me. For you are my rock and my fortress (2d-3a). The word “rock” is used figuratively in various places in the Scriptures to describe God.  The writers refer to Him as the “rock of my salvation,” “a rock or refuge,” or simply a “rock.”  The term is primarily used, as might be expected, in the book of Psalms, which is a book of poetry and uses figurative language.  In another Psalm, for instance, David wrote, “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold” (18:2). However, the use goes beyond Psalms.  Moses, for example, referred to God as a “rock” several times in Deuteronomy 32 in what is known as “The Song of Moses.”  In verses 3-4, he exclaims, “For I proclaim the name of the Lord: Ascribe greatness to our God. He is the Rock, His work is perfect; For all His ways are justice, A God of truth and without injustice; Righteous and upright is He . . . .”   Also, Hannah spoke of God, saying, “No one is holy like the Lord, For there is none besides You, Nor is there any rock like our God” (1 Sam. 2:2). Elsewhere, in 2 Samuel 22:2-3, again, David composed a song on the day when he was delivered from all his enemies and from Saul, in which he said God was his “rock” and “fortress.”  In some of his final words, he referred to God as “the Rock of Israel” (2 Sam. 21:3).

What does this figure of speech (metaphor) mean?  The idea is that God is like a rock––He is like a fortress.  A rock is durable and stable; strong forts were built of stones, providing protection. Thus, God was his protector, his strength, and his refuge.  Today, people can have that same relationship with God.

6. “Lead me and guide me” (3c) Because David trusts and depends on God for his refuge, he asks God to lead and guide him. He asks God to do this “for Your name’s sake” (3b).  By doing this, the name of God would receive glory.  Since the words “lead” and “guide” are very similar, David probably expresses his request in this way for emphasis.  Today, we ask God to lead and guide us by His Word, the Scriptures, and through His divine providence.
7. “Pull me out of the net” (4a) – He then goes on to say, “which they have secretly laid for me for you are my strength.” David’s reference to the net is another figure of speech.  His enemies have set a secret trap as someone might do in catching a wild animal.  This reference may refer to a situation when Saul was after him.  David was confident that God, his strength, would deliver him.

The Psalmist continues to show his trust in God in verse 5, saying, “Into Your hand I commit my spirit; You have redeemed me, O Lord God of truth.” The first part of verse 5 is very well known.  Adding the word “Father,” these were the last words of Jesus (Lk. 23:46), perhaps recalling this passage in Psalm 31 while dying on the cross.  Also, Stephen, being stoned to death, uttered at the end, “Lord Jesus receive my spirit” (Acts 7:59b).

David trusted God with his spirit.   As far as his death was concerned, he had always trusted God.  Why did he trust God with his spirit?  The answer is in the last part of the verse.  God had been his redeemer (deliverer) in the past, and He is the “God of truth.”  He is confident now, knowing that God keeps His promises.

In verses 6-8, we learn David’s attitude regarding the past, present, and future.  Regarding the past, he says, “I have hated those who regard vain idols” (6a).  The word “vain” is often translated as “worthless.”  Various passages speak of God hating those who sin (Ps. 5:5-6, 11:15).  David speaks of hating the wicked (Ps.139:19-22, 26:3-5).  Yet, in Leviticus 19:18, the Jews were told to love their neighbor, and verses 32-33 points out they were even to love  “strangers” who lived in their land and were not to mistreat them.  In the New Testament, we learn that we must love our enemies (Mt. 5:44).  How is this reconciled?  God does many things, which we are not allowed to do.  God, for example, will ultimately punish the wicked in Hell.  David, however, would be different.  The answer to this may simply be the difference between the old and new covenants.

Observe now David’s statement regarding the present.  He says, “but I trust in the Lord” (6b).  Instead of idols, he trusts in God.  God is not like the worthless idols.  He is real, and people can depend on Him.

Then he speaks of the future, saying, “I will be glad and rejoice in your mercy” (7a).  Instead of an idol, which has nothing to give, he will find joy in God’s mercy.  He had received God’s mercy in the past and fully and joyfully expected it again.

David proceeds by pointing out what God had done for him (7b-8).  Consider these benefits.

1. “For You have considered my troubles” (7b) – God knows what is going on, and He looks on us with sympathy and compassion.  In Exodus 3:7, God told Moses, “I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows.” Be assured; God is well aware of our hardships today.
2. “You have known my soul in adversities” (7c) – Sometimes, when things are challenging, our friends are “out the door”––they turn their backs on us. This way of acting is not true of God, who is there for us in good and bad times.  One writer expressed it like this: “God owns his saints when others are ashamed to acknowledge them; he never refuses to know his friends. He thinks not the worse of them for their rags and tatters. He does not misjudge them and cast them off when their faces are lean with sickness, or their hearts heavy with despondency” (The Treasury of David).  God will be with us even in our adversities.
3. “You have not shut me up in the hand of the enemy” (8a) – In various places, the Old Testament speaks of delivering an enemy into the hand of another (1 Sam. 23:11-12, 24:18, 26:8).  To be shut up in the hand of someone would involve being brought under the power of that person, i.e., being defeated.  God had not allowed that to happen to David.
4. “You have set my feet in a wide place” (8b) – The word translated “wide” (NKJV)  is rendered by others as broad, spacious, and large. David being in a wide place, means he is free from his enemies, not being hindered as he would be if in a confined area––he has freedom.  David is liberated from his anxieties and felt safe, having the protection of God.

David in Trouble (9-13)

David has been in the “valley” (1-4a); he then moves back up to the peak (4b-8).  In the next section (9-13), he will descend into the valley again.

David starts this section by asking for God’s mercy.  He says, “Have mercy on me, O Lord,” and then states he was in trouble.  Consider another passage, Psalm 51, where David asks for God’s mercy. It is thought this Psalm was written by David after his sin with Bathsheba when Nathan confronted him.  Consider his agony when he asked, “Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness; according to the multitude of Your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Your sight — that You may be found just when You speak,  and blameless when You judge.” Here, God’s mercy is connected to forgiveness of sin and comes about due to various attributes that He possesses.  Moses told the people (Deut. 4:31) that God is a merciful God, and Ephesians 2:4 points out how God is rich in mercy.  The later part of verse 10, in our text, seems to indicate that David being in trouble had something to do with his sins.  Sin can cause all kinds of problems in our lives—David pleads for God’s mercy.

David lists the specific nature of his trouble in the verses which follow.  Consider them now.

1. His eyes, soul, and body were wasting. In the later part of verse 9, he says, “My eye wastes away with grief.”  Some think he is speaking of a literal disease of the eyes and point out that perhaps his condition was caused by the stress he was facing.  However, this statement is most likely intended to be interpreted figuratively, i.e., he was crying excessively due to extreme sorrow and despair. Consider a similar passage in Psalm 6:7, where he laments, “I am weary with my groaning; all night I make my bed swim; I drench my couch with my tears.”   In Job 17:7, Job, amid much pain, points out, “My eye has also grown dim because of sorrow, and all my members are like shadows.”  Today a person might say, “I have cried my eyes out,” after facing a traumatic event.  A figurative use may be what David intended.  He adds further (9b) that his soul and body were also wasting away.  Thus, his pain was so great that his whole body was affected.  One definition of the word translated “body” is “belly,” and some translations render it that way. From a literal standpoint, we know that dire circumstances can affect our stomach.  Again, however, he is probably speaking figuratively.  Consider this statement made by Elihu in Job 32:19.  “Indeed my belly is like wine that has no vent; it is ready to burst like new wineskins.”  David’s intent, however, could involve both the literal and figurative.

2. He was full of grief and sighing. The first part of verse 10 says, “For my life is spent with grief, and my years with sighing . . .”  Synonymous parallelism (life/years, grief/sighing) is probably the intent here.  Although the Hebrew word translated “spent” can be used in a positive way, it is used here in a negative way and carries with it the idea of consume or waste away.  At this point in his life, instead of joy and happiness, he was full of grief and sighing.
3. Due to His iniquity, his strength failed, and his bones were wasting away. The last part of verse 10 says, “My strength fails because of my iniquity, and my bones waste away.” As previously noted, this indicates that his suffering, at least in part, was the result of his own sin. We see this same concept in Psalm 32 as David speaks of what happened when he refused to confess his sin.  He states, “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.  Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.  When I kept silent, my bones grew old through my groaning all the day long. For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; my vitality was turned into the drought of summer.” (Note also  Psalm 102:1-11, 38:1-8)  David may be speaking literally or figuratively––perhaps a combination of both.
4. Everyone viewed him with contempt. In verse 11, he informs us, “I am a reproach among (Some render ‘because of”) all my enemies, but especially among my neighbors, and am repulsive to my acquaintances; those who see me outside flee from me.”  Another translation (NRSV) puts it like this: “I am the scorn of all my adversaries, a horror to my neighbors, an object of dread to my acquaintances; those who see me in the street flee from me.”  People may not be surprised to see their enemies looking on them with contempt and hatred, but not so with friends and neighbors.  However, this was the case with David.  People who would see him on the streets would be afraid of him.  They did not fear what he might do to them but were worried because of what others might do to them because of their association with David.  They looked at him like a contagious disease!  In another Psalm (38:11), he said, “My loved ones and my friends stand aloof from my plague, and my relatives stand afar off.”  They treated him like he had the plague!

This passage reminds us of the treatment Jesus received, not only by his enemies but also by his close associates, even the apostles.  At His arrest, the Bible tells us they all forsook Him and fled (Mk. 14:2).  Isaiah 53:3 speaks prophetically of Jesus’ treatment saying, “He is despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.”

Today, as with David, situations can get so bad that even our friends forsake us.  Like David, at times like these, we must continue to trust God!

5. People treat me as if I am dead––like a broken piece of pottery. Verse 12 says, “I am forgotten like a dead man, out of mind; I am like a broken vessel.”   He is saying that people treat him as if he did not exist.  After people pass away, generally, they are quickly forgotten and exist to many only as a marker in a cemetery.  Ecclesiastes 1:11 reminds us (NIV), “There is no remembrance of men of old, and even those who are yet to come will not be remembered by those who follow.”  (Note also Ps. 88:4-5, Eccl. 1:11.)  However, David was still alive and received treatment as if he were dead.  Then, he describes himself as a broken vessel.  If we drop a glass bowl, for example, and it breaks into many pieces, what do we do with it?  We throw it away; it is of no value.  In the eyes of others, David felt he had no more value than shattered pottery.
6. People are slandering and plotting against me. He continues in verse 13, “For I hear the slander of many; fear is on every side; while they take counsel together against me, they scheme to take away my life.”  So far, we have seen that David was teated with reproach (scorn) by his enemies––which people expect––but also he was mistreated by his friends and neighbors who wanted nothing to do with him (11).  He was forgotten by those who ought to remember him, and they treated him as if he were dead (12).  Now we see that David was subject to slander, and people were plotting to kill him (13).  The concept in the verse of there being fear on every side is used various times by Jeremiah (6:25, 20:10, 46:5, 49:29).  The phrase is sometimes called the “moto” of the book of Jeremiah and is often translated as “terror.”

If David wrote this psalm during the time he was fleeing from his son (Absalom), perhaps he is describing connected events.  Absalom had taken over, and David had to flee the city.  Ahithophel, a former advisor to David, proposed a plan to kill David and bring back those with him (2 Sam. 17:1-2).  As he was fleeing, Shimei (of Saul’s house) cursed David and threw stones at him. He said, “Come out! Come out! You bloodthirsty man, you rogue!” (2 Sam. 16:7b).  Attacks come upon David from every direction.  A similar alarm is in Psalm 7:1-2, which says, “O Lord my God, in You I put my trust; Save me from all those who persecute me; And deliver me, Lest they tear me like a lion, Rending me in pieces, while there is none to deliver.”

Further Cries for Help (14-18)

 Having listed reasons for his fear and anxiety, David expresses to God, his confidence in Him in verses 14-15a.  Here he lays a foundation for what he is about to say in the rest of this section.  Consider the following quote summarizing these verses.

When everything goes wrong, when all of our dreams come crashing down around us, when friends and neighbors shun and forsake us, when even the consciousness of our sins presses heavily upon our conscience, what is to be done?  These verses are the answer.  ‘Cry mightily unto God; lift up thy penitent voice unto Him, pour out thy soul to the Father in prayer,’ as ‘The man after God’s own heart’ did here. (Coffman)

Consider now the foundation part of this section.

1. I Trust You God – Verse 14 says, “But as for me, I trust in You, O Lord; I say, ‘You are my God.’” No matter what happens, David would trust God.  People may turn away from him––even his friends, but he would continue to trust the Lord.  The God he had faith in was HIS God.  Consider a similar passage in the days of the early church.  Peter and John were in prison.  When later released, they joined their companions and prayed, “. . .  “Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them.”  Today, no matter what happens, no matter how bad things get, we can trust God––He will never leave or forsake us.  He is our God!
2. You Are in Control – As he continues to lay the foundation, he cries, “My times are in your hand . . .” (15a). In a general sense, his life was in God’s hands and not in the hands of his enemies.  Also, with any particular setting, whether good or bad, God was in control.  Thus, David fully trusts God, having total confidence that He is in control.  Understanding this, he had full confidence in asking God for what follows.

Having this full confidence in God, he makes five requests in the verses that follow.

1. Rescue me from my enemies. In verse 15b, he requested, “Deliver me from the hand of my enemies, And from those who persecute me.”  Even though David was a good man (a man after God’s own heart), he still had enemies.  Further, people can persecute others in both word and deed.  Some may even look with disdain on others because they are doing right (1 Pet. 4:1-5).  Various passages tell us how to treat our enemies (Rom. 12:17-19, Mt. 5:43-48).
2. Show me your favor. In 16a, he asks God to “Make Your face shine upon Your servant.”  David is asking God to show his love and favor toward him by answering his prayers and by delivering him from his enemies.  David is asking for God’s presence and aid.  In Psalm 4:6, David appealed to God, “. . . Lord, lift up the light of Your countenance upon us.”  In Numbers 6:24-26, Moses spoke to Aaron and his sons and told them to say this to the people:  “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.” (Note also Ps. 31:16-18; 67:1; 80:3, 7, 19; 119:135.)
3. Bestow your mercy on me. In 16b, he pleaded, “Save me for Your mercies’ sake.”  There are two ways to interpret this phrase.  He might be asking God to deliver him because of His mercy.  Another viewpoint is he is asking for deliverance, so there would be a manifestation of God’s mercy.
4. Let me be free from shame. In verse 17, David pleas, “Do not let me be ashamed, O Lord, for I have called upon You; let the wicked be ashamed; let them be silent in the grave.” The shame he is speaking of here probably refers to the shame David would feel if he were captured by his enemies, who would then have occasion to ridicule God.  If the enemy were instead defeated, then they would face disappointment and would feel shame. David wanted his enemies to feel shame because it would mean that whatever, or whoever, they had relied upon would have failed them.  (See also verse 1.)  The reason he gives for this request is that he was a devoted servant of God.  Instead of boasting, David wants the wicked to be silent in the grave.  Consider the following comment by Barnes.  “This is represented as a land of ‘silence.’  This idea is derived from ‘the grave,’ where the dead repose in silence; and the meaning here is, let them be cut off and consigned to that land of silence.  It is a prayer that the wicked may not triumph.”  (from Barnes’ Notes)
5. Stop Lying Lips. Next, in verse 18, he appeals to God, saying, “Let the lying lips be put to silence, which speak insolent things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous.”  His statement could apply to those who spoke specifically against the Psalmist, or he could be speaking in a more general sense.  God could stop lying lips in more than one way (Note 17b).  He could silence liars by their reformation or by a judgment against them.  Also (18b), these liars were proud.  People who slander others are often full of pride.  In putting another person down, slanderers might think they can raise their own status.  They may often say, or imply, that they are not like the person against whom they are speaking.

The next section (19-22) marks a transition where he goes back to praising God.  David leaves the valley and ascends again to the mountain peak.

Praising God’s Goodness (19-22)

 In this section, the Psalmist begins praising God’s goodness.  He proclaims, “(19) “Oh, how great is Your goodness, which You have laid up for those who fear You, which You have prepared for those who trust in You In the presence of the sons of men!  (20) You shall hide them in the secret place of Your presence from the plots of man; You shall keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.”

God’s goodness, seen in His protection and deliverance, is for those who fear him (19a).  God’s goodness is also “laid up” (NKJV).  Many translations render it as “stored up.”  Hence, God’s goodness and mercy is plentiful––stored up as a treasure for those who trust in Him.  Storing up His goodness is done in the “presence of the sons of men,” i.e., people can observe it.  Thus, His goodness is not just treasured up––He shows it!

Verse 20 makes it clear that God would provide a “hiding” place for those who trust Him, i.e., God’s people would be under His protection.  Various passages speak of God’s protection for His people.  One example is Psalm 27:5 which assures, “For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; In the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock.”  (In this verse, the “secret place of His tabernacle” is used instead of “the secret place of Your presence.”)  Psalm 57:1 also shows the concept of trusting God and being protected by Him. Here the Psalmist asks for God’s mercy, saying, “Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me! For my soul trusts in You; And in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, Until these calamities have passed by.” (Note also Ps. 63:7)

In Psalm 31:21-22, the Psalmist continues to praise God extolling “(21) Blessed be the Lord, For He has shown me His marvelous kindness in a strong city! (22) For I said in my haste, “I am cut off from before Your eyes”; Nevertheless You heard the voice of my supplications When I cried out to You.”

He says that God had shown him kindness in a “strong city.”  Some try to identify this as a literal city, but this would involve being able to identify the period of the writing.  Probably, the city is figurative.  One possibility is that it is saying that with God’s protection, it is as if he were in a strong city.  However, it is also commonly translated as “besieged city.”  The NASB, for example, renders it, “For He has made marvelous His lovingkindness to me in a besieged city.”  Still interpreting the “city” figuratively, the idea would be that his state of affairs was like being in a besieged city; he was in a difficult situation, but God heard his pleas and delivered him.

In verse 22, David indicates that he was in a state of despair, thinking God would not help him.  Then, God heard and delivered him.

Encouragement for Others (23-24)

 The last two verses are the applications for all of the truths found in this psalm.  David has emphasized the importance of fearing and relying on God based on his experiences.  Now, he tries to encourage others to follow his example of trusting in the Lord.

In verse 23a, he implores, “Oh, love the Lord, all you His saints.”  Those who are God’s saints (holy, righteous people) must love the Lord.  Loving God involves trusting Him and obeying His commandments (3, 19; 1 Jn. 4:23).

David gives two reasons to love the Lord in 23b.  The passage says, “For the Lord preserves the faithful, and fully repays the proud person.”  Consider these reasons further.

1. God preserves the faithful. David could speak with confidence on this subject.  God had delivered him many times, and he urges others to follow his example and trust Him.
2. He fully repays the proud person. (The NIV says, “but the proud he pays back in full.”)  As today, many rejected God due to pride.  Pride is particularly odious to God, and the arrogant will have abundant punishment.

David also encourages others to be courageous.  In verse 24a, he urges, “Be of good courage.”  Many translations say, “be strong.”  A similar passage is in Psalm 27:1, “Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the Lord!”  (Note other passages such as Josh. 1:5-7, Deut 31:6, I Cor. 16:13).  Many times David followed this admonition and now encourages others to do the same.  It is essential for us today, no matter what happens, to be strong and courageous!

The result of being strong and courageous is in the last part of verse 24.  It says, “And He shall strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the Lord.”  Thus, God would strengthen the heart of those, the righteous,  who hope in the Lord.  To the person who has, more shall be given.  God would enable this individual to meet trials and opposition and not grow faint and disheartened.

 Conclusion

In conclusion, we must trust in God no matter what happens.  We trust in God amid hardships, trials, sorrows, and grief.  We trust Him even though, at times, it may seem like He has forsaken us.

We must remember, God has said, “. . . I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Heb. 13:5).  In Romans 8:38-39, Paul pointed out “. . . neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

In our time here on this earth, we must trust God and walk courageously. Indeed, in God, we trust!