Psalms 31:1-24

EXPOSITION

THIS psalm is, in the main, a cry for deliverance out of pressing danger and trouble; but it is interspersed with passages of a more cheerful tone, expressive of faith and confidence (Psalms 31:5-8, Psalms 31:14, Psalms 31:15); and it winds up with a eulogy of God's goodness (Psalms 31:19-22), and an exhortation to the saints of God to "be strong," and trust in him. The title declares it to be David's; and it both breathes his spirit, and has many of his turns of expression. It has been thought to belong to the period of his early persecution by Saul; but, on the whole, it seems rather suggestive of the later period of trouble connected with the rebellion of Absalom. Dr. Kay divides it into three main portions:

but part 1. might be further subdivided into three, and part 2. into two portions. The psalm thus fails into six divisions:

Part 1. (Psalms 31:1-4), prayer;

Part 2. (Psalms 31:5-8), self-encouragement;

Part 3. (Psalms 31:9-13), causes of his trouble;

Part 4. (Psalms 31:14-18), profession of faith and prayer;

Part 5. (Psalms 31:19-22), praise of God's goodness;

Part 6. (Psalms 31:23, Psalms 31:24), exhortation to the people to praise God.