16 Make Your face to shine upon Your servant ; Save me in Your lovingkindness . 17 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 . 18 Let the lying lips be mute , Which speak arrogantly against the righteous With pride and contempt .
19 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 ! 20 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 . 21 Blessed be the Lord , For He has made marvelous His lovingkindness to me in a besieged city . 22 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. 23 O love the Lord , all you His godly ones ! The Lord preserves the faithful And fully recompenses the proud doer . 24 Be strong and let your heart take courage , All you who hope in the Lord .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Psalm 31:16-35
Commentary on Psalm 31:9-18
(Read Psalm 31:9-18)
David's troubles made him a man of sorrows. Herein he was a type of Christ, who was acquainted with grief. David acknowledged that his afflictions were merited by his own sins, but Christ suffered for ours. David's friends durst not give him any assistance. Let us not think it strange if thus deserted, but make sure of a Friend in heaven who will not fail. God will be sure to order and dispose all for the best, to all those who commit their spirits also into his hand. The time of life is in God's hands, to lengthen or shorten, make bitter or sweet, according to the counsel of his will. The way of man is not in himself, nor in our friend's hands, nor in our enemies' hands, but in God's. In this faith and confidence he prays that the Lord would save him for his mercies's sake, and not for any merit of his own. He prophesies the silencing of those that reproach and speak evil of the people of God. There is a day coming, when the Lord will execute judgment upon them. In the mean time, we should engage ourselves by well-doing, if possible, to silence the ignorance of foolish men.
Commentary on Psalm 31:19-24
(Read Psalm 31:19-24)
Instead of yielding to impatience or despondency under our troubles, we should turn our thoughts to the goodness of the Lord towards those who fear and trust in Him. All comes to sinners through the wondrous gift of the only-begotten Son of God, to be the atonement for their sins. Let not any yield to unbelief, or think, under discouraging circumstances, that they are cut off from before the eyes of the Lord, and left to the pride of men. Lord, pardon our complaints and fears; increase our faith, patience, love, and gratitude; teach us to rejoice in tribulation and in hope. The deliverance of Christ, with the destruction of his enemies, ought to strengthen and comfort the hearts of believers under all their afflictions here below, that having suffered courageously with their Master, they may triumphantly enter into his joy and glory.