Psalm 31:13 Kommentar

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.

For I have heard the slander of many,.... Both enemies and neighbours; fear was on every side; his enemies were a "Magormissabib" to him, Jer 20:3; encompassed him around, so that he was in fear from every quarter; while they took counsel together against me; how to apprehend him, and what to do with him; they devised to take away my life; nothing short of that would satisfy; but life is in the hand of God; men may devise, but God disappoints, and his counsel stands; hence the psalmist was encouraged, after all, to trust in him, in this time of imminent danger, as follows.

"For I have heard the rebuking of many dwelling by in a circuit" [Psalm 31:13]. For I have heard many rebuking me, in the pilgrimage of this world near me, following the circuit of time, and refusing to return with me to the eternal country. "Whilst they were assembling themselves together against me, they conspired that they might take my soul." That my soul, which should by death easily escape from their power, might consent unto them, they imagined a device, whereby they would not suffer me even to die.

Then he introduces the example: "I have become," and so on. "I have become as a vessel that is destroyed," that is, useless, which no one cares about. Jer. 51: "He has made me as an empty vessel; he has swallowed me up as a dragon," and so on. Third, the proof; and concerning this he does two things. First, he introduces the contempt; second, the persecution he suffers, at "When they assembled together." He says therefore, "I have become a reproach," because "I have heard the reproach" from my men. Jer. 20: "I heard the reproaches of many," and so on. "Round about." Augustine says: sometimes Christians sin, and unbelievers do not say, "the wicked do this," but "Christians do this." And if religious sin, likewise. And he says "round about," because they do not enter into the consideration of the truth; because then they would say, "wicked Christians do this." Ps. 11: "The wicked walk round about."

Then when he says, "When," he shows how he suffers persecution, and he aggravates it from the multitude of those persecuting, when he says, "When they assembled together," that is, unanimously, "against me": this would be greatly to be feared. Sir. 26: "My heart feared three things: the calumny of a city, the gathering of a mob, and a false accusation," and so on. From their cruelty, for they assembled not for something light, but to kill; hence, "They took counsel to take away my soul," that is, my life. Jer. 18: "You know, O Lord, all their counsel against me unto death." Gen. 49: "Into their council let not my soul come."

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.

For--introduces further reasons for his prayer, the unjust, deliberate, and murderous purposes of his foes.