Psalm 31: Pray and Pray Again
Introduction
In 318, a certain minister named Arius began teaching that Jesus was not fully God. He argued that Jesus was not eternal, but was begotten after God the father. This teaching became popular in the Roman empire. The only man who fought against this heresy was a man named Athanasius. He was not popular for being a stick in the mud. He was exiled 5 times. During his persecution, someone told him that the world was against Athanasius. He replied, “no Athanasius is against the world.” Athanasius could display courage that changed history because he believed three things: First, he believed the world was against him. Second, he believed he was on God’s side. Third, he believed that because He was on God’s side, the world was actually against God and didn’t stand a chance. Through the courage of Athanasius, the church wrote the Nicene Creed and was delivered from a dangerous heresy.
The Passage
For the choir director. A Psalm of David. In You, O Lord, I have taken refuge; Let me never be ashamed; In Your righteousness deliver me. Incline Your ear to me, rescue me quickly; Be to me a rock of strength, A stronghold to save me. For You are my rock and my fortress; For Your name’s sake You will lead me and guide me. You will pull me out of the net which they have secretly laid for me, For You are my strength. Into Your hand I commit my spirit; You have ransomed me, O Lord, God of truth. I hate those who regard vain idols, But I trust in the Lord. I will rejoice and be glad in Your lovingkindness, Because You have seen my affliction; You have known the troubles of my soul, And You have not given me over into the hand of the enemy; You have set my feet in a large place. Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am in distress; My eye is wasted away from grief, my soul and my body also. For my life is spent with sorrow And my years with sighing; My strength has failed because of my iniquity, And my body has wasted away. Because of all my adversaries, I have become a reproach, Especially to my neighbors, And an object of dread to my acquaintances; Those who see me in the street flee from me. I am forgotten as a dead man, out of mind; I am like a broken vessel. For I have heard the slander of many, Terror is on every side; While they took counsel together against me, They schemed to take away my life. But as for me, I trust in You, O Lord, I say, “You are my God.” My times are in Your hand; Deliver me from the hand of my enemies and from those who persecute me. Make Your face to shine upon Your servant; Save me in Your lovingkindness. Let me not be put to shame, O Lord, for I call upon You; Let the wicked be put to shame, let them be silent in Sheol. Let the lying lips be mute, Which speak arrogantly against the righteous With pride and contempt. How great is Your goodness, Which You have stored up for those who fear You, Which You have wrought for those who take refuge in You, Before the sons of men! You hide them in the secret place of Your presence from the conspiracies of man; You keep them secretly in a shelter from the strife of tongues. Blessed be the Lord, For He has made marvelous His lovingkindness to me in a besieged city. As for me, I said in my alarm, “I am cut off from before Your eyes”; Nevertheless You heard the voice of my supplications When I cried to You. O love the Lord, all you His godly ones! The Lord preserves the faithful And fully recompenses the proud doer. Be strong and let your heart take courage, All you who hope in the Lord. Psalm 31
Summary of the Passage
Like many psalms, we do not know the exact circumstance in David’s life that prompted this psalm. However, we can observe some interesting principles from this Psalm. First, notice that David prays twice in this psalm. Like a man looking for a cave in a storm, David prays for rescue in verses 1-8. Then like a man falsely accused of a crime, he prays for social defense in verses 9-24. This shows us that sometimes in the Christian life we move from one trial immediately into another like Job. Second, notice stark difference in which David portrays his enemies. He even says he hates them (v. 6) and prays for God to silence them in the grave (v. 17). This morning, we will look at two times when David was hunted and rejected, he prayed for God to rescue Him and God did. I want us to see that we should keep on trusting God when trials keep on coming.
Our God Rescues the Hunted (Ps 31: 1-8)
In this first prayer, we see that God knows your troubles and will deliver you from them (Ps 31:7-8). In the midst of a trial, we sometimes question God’s power to know our condition, or we question His love to help our condition. This questioning of God’s power and love results in worry, anxiety, and misery. But David displays joy because he trusts in God’s knowledge and love (v.7).
Throughout the first prayer, David asks for God to rescue him (v. 2) and simultaneously praises God for being his fortress (v. 3). Trust in the God who will rescue you (Ps 31:1-6). We don’t know what David’s trial is, but it seems like he’s looking for refuge (v. 1) and shelter (v.3). Whether it be anxiety over finances, worry over health, family trouble or work drama, in those times we look for protection. But also in those times, our three-fold spiritual enemy (the world, flesh, and Devil) set secret snares for us (v. 4). Notice, these are secret traps as in easily disguised. It’s not a devil in a pitchfork telling you to betray God. It’s a friend asking you for empathy and compassion. It’s a boss saying a little lie will be for the greater good of the company. The world is hunting you so trust in God.
Notice, David trusts in God and hates those who trust in emptiness. When you go through a trial, you will be tempted by the world to trust this medicine, this therapy technique, this investment portfolio. It’s one thing to take medicine trusting that God gave it to you in answer to your prayer. It’s another thing to take that medicine as an insurance in case God doesn’t come through. In our particular day and time, we are particularly seduced by silver bullets and paint-by-number solutions to our trials and problems. Instead of continually trusting in God, you trust the world when it comes to where your kids go to school (and after the same world says your son is now your daughter, you still trust the world). Instead, we should hate them and trust in God.
Our God Vindicates the Rejected (Ps 31:9-24)
In the first prayer, David encountered an outer trial that the wicked sought to use for their own advantage against him. Now, in the second prayer, we see the wicked world directly assaults David with reproach (v. 11), slander (v. 13), and conspiring against him (v. 13). This further revealed to David the difference between the wicked world and God’s people. David leaned into God and His people instead of surrendering. David trusted in God, which the wicked hate. Notice, David doesn’t retaliate but asks God to retaliate for Him. David proves his righteousness by praying for God to destroy and shame his wicked enemies. This shows us that God is not satisfied with worldly passivism, but with godly trust. When the wicked world stands against you (Ps 31:9-13), God will stand against the wicked world (Ps 31:14-21).
Even in your anxiety God hears you (Ps 31:22), so love God and hope in God and He will preserve you and give you the courage to persevere (Ps 31:23-24). In our haste and anxiety, we sometimes say, “God doesn’t hear me (v. 22).” But even then, when our faith shakes, the God who holds us remains unshaken and hears us (v. 22). This is why we can be courageous because God gives us courage. Be of good courage and God will give you courage (v. 24).
We can claim this courage because our Lord and savior gives it to us. He can give us heavenly gifts because He gave His spirit to heaven and heaven accepted His spirit. Throughout Jesus ministry, He performed works of righteousness but was slandered as a glutton and drunkard by His enemies (Luke 7:24). Jesus’ enemies claimed to fight for God’s righteousness while simultaneously committing the most unrighteous act in history when they crucified Him. Jesus was crucified under a blasphemy charge while representing God truly. While He was being slandered and executed by an unrighteous court, Jesus submitted Himself to the one who judges justly (1 Pet 2:23). He staked His entire ministry on God’s approval. On the cross, His enemies said that if God really approved of Him, He would deliver Him from that cross (Matt 27:40-44). Instead, Jesus submitted to God and trusted that God would vindicate Him. When Jesus gave up His spirit to God, He quoted v. 5. God then promised to declare Jesus righteous with the resurrection (1 Tim 3:16). Jesus died for our sin and was raised for our vindication (Rom 4:25). Now, Jesus’ vindication is our vindication.
Conclusion
When you trust in God and His word, you will be accused of being a legalist and a pharisee. When you tell people the truth that they need to save their soul, they will debate your tone. They will accuse you of not being loving because they don’t like the way the Bible made them feel. My encouragement for you is twofold. First, live in such a way that their accusations and slanders against you are false. Second, trust in God.