Psalm
31 reminds me of the advantage we gain from the passing of time. It
allows us to look back at events and decisions and see them with
hindsight. It seems we often miss the significance of our choices
while in the moment. In this psalm of David, he recognizes the times
when God’s hand of protection intervened. The psalm begins with
what might be the theme of David’s life, “In
You, O Lord, I have taken refuge“.
And he adds the second component is trust in God’s perfect
understanding, “Deliver
me in Your righteousness“.
Most of the time I want God to rubber stamp my
plan,
but with experience, David desires to know God’s
plan.
Listen to the difference, “Turn
Your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a
strong fortress to save me… for the sake of Your name lead and
guide me“.
His attitude is expressed in the verse later quoted by Christ on the
cross, “Into
Your hands I commit my spirit‘.
This is a level of trust that we rarely allow. Too often we enter
our relationship with God more like moving in with a flaky roommate,
we make contingency plans from the beginning. Notice the difference;
David calls Him, “The
God
of truth“.
There is no other equivalent option. David points out, “for
You saw my affliction and knew the anguish of my soul“.
To David this is just the starting place. Will you call out to God?
David
continues, “Set
my feet in a spacious place… for I am in distress;
my
eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and my body with grief“.
David was not walking around with a plastic smile, he knew
difficulty and brought it to God in prayer, “My
life is
consumed
by anguish… my strength fails… and my bones grow weak… I am the
utter contempt of my neighbors… I have become like broken pottery“.
Even David had times when he felt worthless. But again, notice his
response, “But
I trust in you, O Lord; I say, “You are my God.” My times
are in Your hands… save me in Your unfailing love“.
Did you know God desires to embrace you in His unfailing Love too?
The
psalm ends with David providing encouragement to the rest of us by
sharing his experience. “I
have cried out to You… How great is Your goodness, which You have
stored up for those who fear You“.
God is holy and we are not. We cannot approach God casually. To
those who come to God recognizing His perfection, David writes, “You
hide them… in Your dwelling You keep them safe from accusing
tongues“.
Here is David’s proof, “For
He showed His wonderful love to me when I was in a besieged city“.
And finally, he offers this encouragement, “Love
the Lord, all His saints! The Lord preserves the faithful… Be
strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord“.
Have you trusted The God of truth with your spirit? Maybe today is
the day?