Psalms 31

David prayeth God very fervently for preservation, according to his confidence, which he putteth onely in him; that he may have cause to rejoice, instead of his present bitter suffering, by friends, and enemies in words and deeds; and feeling the fruit of his prayer, he magnifieth the provident care and tenderness of God to all the faithful, and especially to himself.

1. A Psalm of David for the chief Song-master. [See Psalm 4.on verse 1.]

2. In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust, let me not be ashamed in eternity; help me out, through thy righteousness. [Which requireth that thou maintain thy word and promise, and vindicate my righteous cause as Psalms 71:2.]

3. Incline thine ear unto my rescue me speedily, be to me a strong rock: [Heb. Rock of strength] to a very firm house, [Heb. House, or place of firmnesses, or Fortresses] to preserve me.

4. For that art my rock, and my Fortress, Lead me then, and conduct me [As a shepherd doth his sheep. So above Psalms 23:2:] for thy Names sake.

5. Make me to go out of the net, which thy have hid before mine eyes; [i.e. covertly or secretly laid or spread before me] for thou art my strength.

6. Into thy hand I commend my spirit, [i.e. I recommend, or resign my soul into thy power, keeping, care, and tuition] thou hast redeemed LORD, thou God of Truth. [or faithfulness, i.e. thou true and faithful God, that hast kept thy promises made unto me.]

7. I hate those that observe false vanities; [Or, naughty vanities. Heb. Vanities of falsehood, or naughtiness, nullity. He understands, those that rely and trust in canal and idolatrous help and assistance. See Deut.32.21. 1 Kings 16:26. 2 Kings 17:15. Psalms 62:11. Jerem.2.5. and chap.8.19. and chap.10.5. and 14.22. and 23.16. Rom.1.21. compare Lev.19.on verse 4.] and I trust in the LORD.

8. I will be glad and rejoice in thy kindness, for that thou hast beheld [See Genesis 16.on verse 13.] my misery, (and) known my soul in distresses. [not disdained, but tenderly regarded and provided for me. Compare Gen.18.on verse 19. And Psalm 1.on verse 6.]

9. And hast rot delivered me up. [Or, shut me up, as elsewhere] into the hand of the Enemy: thou hast made my feet to stand at large.

10. Be gracious unto me LORD, for I am in straight: mine eye, my soul, and my belly is gawned thorough vexation. [As Psalms 6:8.]

11. For my life is consumed with heaviness, and me years with sighting; my power is fallen away, (or decayed) [As when one trips and falleth down through weakness and infirmity. Compare Psalms 109:24. and see the contrary Psalms 105:37.] through mine iniquity: [i.e. the punishment of mine iniquity. See Gen.4. verse 13. And chap.19.on verse 15.and compare Num.14.on verse 33. Jerem.51.on verse 6.] and my bones are gnawed through.

12. Because of all my adversaries, I am likewise greatly [Heb. Much] become a reproach to my neighbours, and a terrors to my acquaintance: They that see me in the street, flee away from me. [That they may not be suspected by mine enemies, as if they were affected to his cause, or friends to his persons.]

13. I am forgotten out of the heart, as a dead one; I am become like a corrupt vessel. [Or, decaying, perishing, &c. Almost perished; which is very little, or not at all regarded, as good for nothing more. Compare Deuter.26.5. Psalms 119:176. item Jeremiah 22.verse 28.]

14. For I heard the back-biting [Defamation, slander, ill report. Compare Jerem.20,10.] of many; [or, of the great ones] fear is round about, because they consult together against me: they think [or practise, plot, design] to take my soul. [i.e. my life; Or thus; When they consult together against me, then they think to take my soul.]

15. But I trust in thee, O LORD; I say thou art my God.

16. My times are in thy hand; [i.e. My life, and whatever may therein betide me; however it may go with me, I know that all depends on thee, that thou doest govern all, and that it is not in the power of mine Enemies to do as they do purpose] rescue me out of the hand of mine Enemies, and of my persecutors.

17. Let thy face shine [See Num.6.on verse 25,26.] upon thy servant; redeem me through thy kindness.

18. LORD. Let me not be ashamed, for I call upon thee; let the wicked be ashamed, let them be silent in the grave. [That being taken away from the earth, they may be constrained to give over their practises, slanders and violences. Oth. Let them be cut off (or, destroyed) to the grave; as the Hebrew word is likewise taken. Psalms 49:13,21, etc.]

19. Let the false lips, [Heb. Lips of falsehood. See Psalms 12:5. and 27.12, &c.] grow dumb; which speak hard against the righteous, in haughtiness and scorn.

20. O how great (or, manifold) is thy good, which thou hast laid by for those that fear thee! [This regards indeed the good of soul and body in general, which God hath prepared, and laid or lockt up, for his in a certain Treasury or Magazine as it were, from thence at the appointed times and proper seasons, to produce the same for their good and to make them to enjoy it, but it proceedeth more particularly, from the rumination of a singular and unexpexted wonderful deliverance, shewed unto David, when he was in great danger, to be surprised, and could not conceive, that God had any such Deliverance in readiness for him, as he was made partaker of; which maketh him break forth with such a wondering] (which) thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee, in the presence of the children of men! [Heb. Over against, before; i.e. making the innocence of the godly to appear in the sight of all the world, and with thy wonderful unexpected help manifesting, that they are dear unto thee, which repair to thee for succour by their believing prayers.]

21. Thou hidest them in the hidden (part) of thy face [By shewing of thy fatherly favour, and gracious presence, thou doest comfort and support them, in a wonderful unknown manner, which the world is not able to comprehend; yea, often times into abstruse hinding-places, whither thou doest lead, and there regard, provide for, and protect them. This was made plain in David. See also 2 Kings 18:4. and chap.19. verse 4,5,9,11, &c. Heb.11.38. Compare likewise Psalms 27:5. and 32.7.] before the haughtinesses [or, combinations, couplings, alliances, complicated, through-stitched practises, or, raw designs and devises] of a man: [Hereby may be understood a certain great and mighty one, such as Saul was; or it may be taken more generally for mankind, any man what so ever, or, of every one] thou doest put them close in a hut, before the strife of tongues, [i.e. shiving, contentious tongues, which do always with their slanders, and false accusations seek to vex, molest, on slare and endanger the godly. See Psalms 35:11.]

22. Praise [Heb. Blessed] be the LORD, for he hath made his kindness wonderfull on me, [i.e. manifested the same unto me in a wonderful manner. Compare Psalms 4:4. See the contrary Deuter.28.59.] (conducting me as) into a fenced city. [Heb. City of fence. He will say, that God protected him so well in the open field, where he seemed to be quite surrounded, and past hope to escape, as if he had been in a strong and fenced City.]

23. I said indeed [viz. By my self, i.e. I thought] in my hasting; [this seems to relate to the history, I Sam.23.26. where the same word of Davids hastening is used; if God at that time hand not very wonderfully provided, David had been unite undone, in all appearance; see the place] I am cut off from before thine eyes: [The danger was so great and apparent, and the means of escaping to all human sence and apprehension, so impossible, and uncredible, that overcome with human frailty and astonishment, I thought verily, sure now God doth no more regard me. Never the less that in this very straight and perplexity of his, he did most humbly seek and supplicate to God, is plain out of the sequel. Compare Psalm 116.on verse 11. Jon.2.4.] never the less thou heardest the voice of my supplications, when I called unto thee.

24. Love the LORD, all ye his Favourites; [See Psalm 4.on verse 4.] (for) the LORD doth keep the faithful [or, believers, the true ones, Oth. Keepeth faithfulnesses. See Psalm 12.on verse 2.] and doth recompence abundantly to him that practiseth haughtiness.

25. Be strong, [As Psalms 27:14. see there] and he stall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.