Tyndale Open Study NotesPsalms 31

Tyndale House Publishers

Psalms 31:1-24

The psalmist urges the faithful to seek safety in the Lord and wait for his salvation. After experiencing something like death, he shares how the Lord remained faithful. This psalm points ahead to the suffering of Jesus (Luke 23:46).

Psalms 31:1-5

The Lord provides safety to anyone seeking his protection. The psalmist trusts and submits to the Lord. See also Psalm 71:1–3.

Psalms 31:2

The psalmist urgently asks the Lord to notice his desperate situation (PSalms 71:2; 88:2; 102:2).

Psalms 31:5

Into Your hands I commit my spirit: The psalmist will trust his Lord, whether he lives or dies. Jesus said these words on the cross before he died (Luke 23:46).

Psalms 31:6-8

Trusting the Lord means believing he cares about our well-being.

Psalms 31:8

in the open: This means a wide area, unlike a narrow or tight place that causes distress (see Psalm 18:19).

Psalms 31:9-13

In this prayer for mercy, the psalmist places a description of his intense suffering and the pain of rejection between two statements of trust in the Lord (Psalm 31:6, 14).

Psalms 31:10

my bones are wasting away: This phrase powerfully describes how despair can harm our physical health.

Psalms 31:14-18

Hope does not trust weak and unreliable human beings. It trusts only in the Lord. The suffering person places his life in God’s hands while he waits for the Lord to bring justice.

Psalms 31:15

My times are in Your hands: To give up control of timing is one way to express submission.

Psalms 31:17

The psalmist, who did not deserve to be disgraced, invokes the principle of retribution (see study note on Psalm 1:6; see also “Prayers for Vengeance” Theme Note).

Psalms 31:19-20

The psalmist, who did not deserve to be disgraced, invokes the principle of retribution

Psalms 31:19-24

The psalmist thanks the Lord for answering his prayer and rescuing him (Psalm 31:1–18).

Psalms 31:21-22

Blessed be the LORD: The psalmist expresses his joy at the experience of God’s goodness and love. Throughout his struggles, the Lord has cared for him.

Psalms 31:23-24

Out of his own pain and renewed awareness of the Lord’s goodness, the psalmist turns to others who suffer. He holds out the promise of God’s loving care for those who persevere in hoping for the Lord.