Compiled By: Lisa K Gonzales
From: The Life Application Study Bible
9 “Have mercy on me, LORD, for I am in distress. My sight is blurred because of my tears. My body and soul are withering away. 10 I am dying from grief, my tears are shortened by sadness. Misery has drained my strength, I am wasting away from within. 11 I am scorned by all my enemies and despised by my neighbors – even my friends are afraid to come near me. When they see me on the street, they turn the other way. 12 I have been ignored as if I were dead, as if I were a broken pot. 13 I have heard many rumors about me, and I am surrounded by terror. My enemies conspire against me, plotting to take my life.” ~ Psalm 31:9-13
In describing his own feelings, David writes of the helplessness and hopelessness everyone feels when hated or rejected. But adversity is easier to accept when we recognize our true relationship with our Sovereign GOD. – 14 “But I am trusting YOU, O LORD, saying, ‘YOU are my GOD!’ 15 My future is in YOUR hands. Rescue me from those who hunt me down relentlessly. 16 Let YOUR favor shine on YOUR servant. In YOUR unfailing love, save me. 17 Do not let me be disgraced, O LORD, for I call out to YOU for help. Let the wicked be disgraced; let them lie silent in the grave. 18 May their lying lips be silenced – those proud and arrogant lips that accuse the GODly.” – Psalm 31:14-18 – Although our enemies may seem to have the upper hand, they are ultimately the helpless and hopeless ones. Those who know GOD will be victorious in the end. We can take heart and have courage because GOD will preserve us – HE has overcome the world. – “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in Me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33
In saying, ‘My future is in YOUR hands’, David was expressing his belief that all of life’s circumstances are under GOD’s control. Knowing that GOD loves and cares for us enables us to keep steady in our faith regardless of our circumstances. It keeps us from sinning foolishly by taking matters into our own hands or resenting GOD’s time table. It is not always easy, but we must wait on the LORD – HE is in control. – 19 “Your goodness is so great! YOU have stored up great blessings for those who honor YOU. YOU have done so much for those who come to YOU for protection, blessing them before the watching world. 20 YOU hide them in the shelter of YOUR presence, safe from those who conspire against them. YOU shelter them in YOUR presence, far from accusing tongues. – Psalm 31:19-20
– Below is my prayer of thankfulness to our LORD based on David’s prayer of thankfulness in Psalm 31:21-24. Pray as though it is your own.
“Praise YOU LORD, for YOU have shown us YOUR unfailing love. YOU kept us safe when we were under attack from Satan – our enemy. In sudden fear we cried out, we have been cut off from the LORD! But YOU, Father GOD, heard our cry for mercy and answered our call for help. Love the LORD all you faithful ones! For we know that the LORD protects those of us who are loyal to HIM, but HE harshly punishes all who are arrogant. Therefore, we will be strong and take courage, because we have put our hope in YOU LORD and YOU have overcome the world! Hallelujah!
Photo: Scala Santa (1891) (Quebec, Canada)
Photo By: Lisa K Gonzales
Click on the photo to enlarge
