EXPOSITION OF PSALM 31 (1)
Introduction to the Psalm

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I. This is a psalm "To the Chief Musician" (superscription, and as are about 55 psalms). It was delivered to him in order that he might lead the children of Israel in singing it. It is worthy of being sung by all saints. May our own musicians lead us in singing it.

II. This is "A Psalm of David" (superscription). We are not told the incident of his life from which it arose. Some suppose it was when he was besieged by King Saul at Keilah (1 Samuel 23:1-13), others when he was pursued by Saul in the Wilderness of Ziph (1 Samuel 23:19-26; 26:1-4 [cp. Psalm 54]), yet others when he fled from Absalom (2 Samuel 15:10ff). Whichever, this psalm is, as in the superscription of the Septuagint, "a psalm of David, an utterance of extreme fear". All saints may find in this psalm solace when in such circumstances.

III. This is a psalm for times of deep distress. The psalmist cries, "I am in trouble" (v.9). The psalmist's troubles herein cited are often our own. His enemies had plotted against him (v.20), and were scheming to take his life (v.13b). They had secretly laid a net in which to entangle him (v.4). They were reproaching him (v.11a), slandering him (v.13a), and spreading falsehood against him (v.18). He had become exhausted (vv.9b-10). He was forgotten and forsaken by even his friends (vv.11b-12). In his perplexity he had imagined that he had been deserted by even God (v.22a).

IV. This is a psalm expressing confidence in Jehovah in times of distress. We should put our trust in Him (vv.1, 4, 14), commit our spirit to Him (v.5), be glad and rejoice in His mercy (v.7), and call upon Him alone (v.17).

V. This psalm identifies reasons why saints may be confident in Jehovah in times of distress. He is a defending and saving rock of refuge and fortress (vv.2, 3), strength (v.4), the God of truth (v.5) and goodness (v.19), and who hides His people in the secret place of His own presence (v.20).

VI. This psalm cites blessings bestowed by Jehovah to saints who call upon Him in times of distress. He delivers them (vv.7f), hides them in Himself (v.20), shows to them His marvelous kindness in His strong city (v.21), and forever preserves and strengthens them (vv.23f).

VII. This psalm is descriptive of Messiah.

1. Christ is identified as "David". Jehovah prophesied of Christ's first advent as the coming of David:

i. "But they shall serve the LORD their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up for them" (Jeremiah 30:9).

ii. "I will establish one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them - My servant David. He shall feed them and be their shepherd. And I, the LORD, will be their God, and My servant David a prince among them; I, the LORD, have spoken" (Ezekiel 34:23f).

iii. "David My servant shall be king over them, and they shall all have one shepherd; they shall also walk in My judgments and observe My statutes, and do them. ... My servant David shall be their prince forever" (Ezekiel 37:24f).

iv. "[T]he children of Israel shall return and seek the LORD their God and David their king" (Hosea 3:5).

This passage is therefore "A Psalm of David" in the fullest sense of the term.

2. Christ was "in trouble" on Mount Calvary (v.9).

i. Christ's enemies had plotted against Him (v.20) and schemed to take His life (v.13b). "Then the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders of the people assembled at the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas, and plotted to take Jesus by trickery and kill Him" (Matthew 26:4; cp. 12:14; 27:1)

ii. Christ's enemies secretly had laid a net in which to entangle Him (v.4). "Then the Pharisees went and plotted how they might entangle Him in His talk" (Matthew 22:15ff).

iii. Christ's enemies reproached Him (v.11a). "But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised by the people. All those who see Me ridicule Me; they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, 'He trusted in the LORD, let Him rescue Him; let Him deliver Him, since He delights in Him!'" (Psalm 22:6-8).

iv. Christ's enemies slandered Him (v.13a). "Then the whole multitude of them arose and led Him to Pilate. And they began to accuse Him, saying, 'We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar, saying that He Himself is Christ, a King'" (Luke 23:1f).

v. Christ's enemies spread falsehood against Him (v.18). "Now the chief priests, the elders, and all the council sought false testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, but found none. Even though many false witnesses came forward, they found none. But at last two false witnesses came forward and said, 'This fellow said, "I am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it in three days"'" (Matthew 26:61).

vi. Christ had become exhausted (vv.9b-10). "My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and My tongue clings to My jaws; You have brought Me to the dust of death. ... I can count all My bones. They look and stare at Me" (Matthew 22:15, 17).

vii. Christ was forgotten and forsaken by even His friends (vv.11b-12). "Then all the disciples forsook Him and fled" (Matthew 26:56); "Even My own familiar friend in whom I trusted, who ate My bread, has lifted up his heel against Me" (Psalm 41:9) - this being said of Judas Iscariot, who arose from the table at which he ate with Christ and went to betray Him to His enemies (John 13:18-30; Matthew 26:21-25).

viii. Christ in His agony declared He had been forsaken by even God (v.22a). "And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, 'Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?' that is, 'My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?'" (Matthew 27:46) - "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? Why are You so far from helping Me, and from the words of My groaning? O My God, I cry in the daytime, but You do not hear; and in the night season, and am not silent'" (Psalm 22:1f).

3. Christ expressed His confidence in Jehovah during His time of trouble.

i. Christ trusted in Jehovah (vv.1, 6, 14). In the Messianic Psalm 22 He confesses, "Our fathers trusted in You; they trusted, and You delivered them. They cried to You, and were delivered; they trusted in You, and were not ashamed. ... All those who see Me ridicule Me; they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, 'He trusted in ["rolled Himself on"] the LORD, let Him rescue Him; let Him deliver Him, since He delights in Him! [see Matthew 27:43]' ... You made Me trust while on My mother's breasts."

ii. Christ committed His spirit to Jehovah (v.5). "And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, 'Father, "into Your hands I commit My spirit"'" (Luke 23:46, v.5 here).

iii. Christ was glad and rejoiced in Jehovah's mercy (v.7). "I have set the LORD always before Me; because He is at My right hand I shall not be moved. Therefore My heart is glad, and My glory [i.e., my tongue] rejoices; My flesh also will rest in hope. For You will not leave My soul in Sheol, nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption. You will show Me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore" (Psalm 16:8-11 – a passage expressly applied to Christ in Acts 2:25-31).

iv. Christ called upon Jehovah alone (v.17). Since His enemies were engaged against Him, and His friends had deserted Him, and idols were helpless to aid Him, He directed His prayers to His Father alone.

4. Christ was delivered when He called upon Jehovah for help (vv.7f):

i. "Christ, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear" (Hebrews 5:7).

ii. "Then You [the Father] spoke in a vision to Your holy one [Christ], and said: 'I have given help to one who is mighty; I have exalted one chosen from the people'" (Psalm 89:19).

iii. "God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:9-11).

5. Christ is the "Chief Musician" who leads us in singing this psalm. He Himself declares, "I will declare Your name to My brethren; in the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to You" (Hebrews 2:11; fulfilling Psalm 22:22).

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