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. Psalm 31:22 NASB My alarm– So scared you can’t move. Petrified by fear. Traumatized. Ah, when did that happen to you? Maybe it was so bad that you really…
Blessed be the Lord, for He has made marvelous His lovingkindness to me in a besieged city. Psalm 31:21 NASB To me– What matters most to you? When you have only one thing to hold on to, what makes the real difference between living or giving up? David’s poem provides us with his answer. What matters most is not just…
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. Psalm 31:20 NASB Secret place– Now that we’re searching for the hints of those promised elements of ṭôb, where is the first place to look? David’s song doesn’t leave us in the…
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! Psalm 31:19 NASB Have stored up– Do you like treasure hunts? Does finding the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow appeal to you? Well, according…
Let the lying lips be mute, which speak arrogantly against the righteous with pride and contempt. Psalm 31:18 NASB Arrogant– Some years ago (quite some years ago) I received a card from a dear friend. On the outside it read: “I used to be conceited, but I got over that.” On the inside: “Now I’m perfect.” 🙂 Arrogance is…
Let me not be put toshame, O Lord, for I call upon You; let the wicked be put to shame, let them be silent in Sheol Psalm 31:17 NASB Silent– Did you notice David’s poetic parallelism? First, don’t let me be put to shame for I call upon You. Implication: those who are exonerated by God have something to say in the…
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 Psalm 31:17 NASB Shame– We’ve investigated the Hebrew word bôš several times in the past. John Oswalt notes: The primary meaning of this root is “to fall into disgrace, normally through failure, either of self or…
Make Your face to shine upon Your servant; save me in Your lovingkindness. Psalm 31:16 NASB Shine upon– Facebook is a failure. So is texting, and any other form of personal communication that diminishes the human requirement of face-to-face relationship. Yes, all of those electronic (and other) forms of communication convey information, but they do not allow real…
My times are in Your hand; deliver me from the hand of my enemies and from those who persecute me. Psalm 31:15 NASB Times– The obvious personal application question here is this one: Are your times in God’s hand? Maybe we should expand this a bit. Is your emotional wellbeing, your sense of personal safety, your reliance on physical sustenance, your…
But as for me, I trust in You, O Lord, I say, “You are my God.” Psalm 31:14 NASB Trust– By now we should be quite familiar with bāṭaḥ (trust). TWOT’s reminder is important: in Hebrew, bāṭaḥ expresses that sense of well-being and security which results from having something or someone in whom to place confidence. It is significant…
