Psalm 31:2 Komentář

It is probable that David penned this psalm when he was persecuted by Saul; some passages in it agree particularly to the narrow escapes he had, at Keilah (Sa1 23:13), then in the wilderness of Maon, when Saul marched on one side of the hill and he on the other, and, soon after, in the cave in the wilderness of En-gedi; but that it was penned upon any of those occasions we are not told. It is a mixture of prayers, and praises, and professions of confidence in God, all which do well together and are helpful to one another. I. David professes his cheerful confidence in God, and, in that confidence, prays for deliverance out of his present troubles (Psa 31:1-8). II. He complains of the very deplorable condition he was in, and, in the sense of his calamities, still prays that God would graciously appear for him against his persecutors (Psa 31:9-18). III. He concludes the psalm with praise and triumph, giving glory to God, and encouraging himself and others to trust in him (Psa 31:19-24). To the chief musician. A psalm of David.

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 31 To the chief Musician, a Psalm of David. This psalm, according to Arama, was composed by David when in Keilah; but, according to Kimchi and others, when the Ziphites proposed to deliver him up into the hands of Saul; and who, upon their solicitations, came down and surrounded him with his army, from whom in haste he made his escape, and to which he is thought to refer in Psa 31:22. Theodoret supposes it was written by David when he fled from Absalom, and that it has some respect in it to his sin against Uriah, in that verse.

Bow down thine ear to me,.... Which is said after the manner of men, who, when they give attention, and listen to anything, stoop, and incline the ear; and this for God to do, as he sometimes does, is wonderful condescending grace! deliver me speedily; which shows that he was in great danger, and his case required haste: the Lord does help right early, and is sometimes a present help in time of need, and delivers at once, as soon as the mercy is asked for; be thou my strong rock: for shelter and security from enemies, as well as to build his everlasting salvation on, and to stand firmly upon, and out of danger; for an house of defence to save me; both for an house to dwell in, Lord being the dwelling place of his people in all generations, and a strong habitation to which they may continually resort; and for protection and safety, their place of defence in him being the munition of rocks, a strong hold, and a strong tower from the enemy.

"Bend down Your ear unto Me" [Psalm 31:2]. Hear Me in My humiliation, near at hand unto Me. "Make haste to deliver Me." Defer not to the end of the world, as with all who believe in Me, My separation from sinners. "Be unto Me a God who protects Me." Be unto Me God, and Protector. "And a house of refuge, that You may save Me." And as a house, wherein taking refuge I may be saved.

God rescues and frees the one who puts his hope in him. He bends his ear to them, and he snatches them … so that they are saved.

Then when he says, "In your justice," he adds the prayer, in which he does three things. First, he assigns the reason why he asks to be freed. Second, he asks for the speed of liberation, at "Incline." Third, he presents the manner: "Be to me." He says therefore: O Lord, I hope, and therefore I ask to be freed. But for what reason? Not because of my justice, but "in your justice," because you are just: Dan. 9: "We do not present our prayers before your face in our justifications, but in your great mercies." Or, "in your justice," which you have given to me, not my own: Rom. 10: "Being ignorant of the justice of God," and so on. Likewise, I ask to be freed quickly, because I cannot endure the affliction. Delay can occur for two reasons: one, because the liberator is far away; the other, because he is slow. God seems to be far from us; hence some have said that he does not have providence over us: Job 22: "He walks about the poles of heaven, and he does not consider our affairs." And therefore I ask that you, God, who dwell on high, since I cannot approach you, "incline your ear." The ear of God is the will to hear; and God is said to draw near to us when he condescends to our weaknesses and miseries. And therefore he says, "Incline," that is, condescend out of goodness; and this quickly, and therefore "make haste to deliver me": Is. 8: "Call his name, Make haste," because he does not delay in necessity. The manner of liberation is twofold: namely, that one is not harmed while remaining in evils, or that one flees the evils. As to the first he says, "Be to me a God, a protector," so that evils may not harm me: Is. 49: "He has hidden me in his quiver." As to the second he says, "And a house of refuge"; and this is the name of the Lord. Prov. 18: "The name of the Lord is a strong tower." And therefore he adds here, "That you may save me."

The prayer of a believer in time of deep distress. In the first part, cries for help are mingled with expressions of confidence. Then the detail of griefs engrosses his attention, till, in the assurance of strong but submissive faith, he rises to the language of unmingled joyful trust and exhorts others to like love and confidence towards God. (Psa. 31:1-24) Expresses the general tone of feeling of the Psalm.

He seeks help in God's righteous government (Psa 5:8), and begs for an attentive hearing, and speedy and effectual aid. With no other help and no claim of merit, he relies solely on God's regard to His own perfections for a safe guidance and release from the snares of his enemies. On the terms "rock," &c., (compare Psa 17:2; Psa 18:2, Psa 18:50; Psa 20:6; Psa 23:3; Psa 25:21).