A Study Of Psalm 31 Series

A Study of Psalm 31

Psalm 31

Introduction

- Good evening … short intro on new format

- Open to all, may allow more to attend due to busy schedules

- Comments can be seen by all, questions can be asked through them

- Invite: Advent series on SUNDAY mornings – 1 left w/ communion

- Looking at our next Psalm, we see David pleading and teaching

- One take-away: David expresses trust in God even in face of life’s problems

- Read Psalm 31 / Pray

Point 1

David’s Plea

For David, God was his protection from attack of enemies (1)

He makes a bold request of God (2) … “Lord, pay attention to me”

And in that, He has one simple claim: I trust you God, for my ultimate defense

What David does is cry out to God for deliverance

But get this … it’s not because he is so good, but b/c God is righteous (3-4)

He deposit’s his life literally in God’s hands --- He is his ultimate protector

David’s Passion

Because of his heart’s desire and affection for God, he declares his passion

He has a zeal and jealousy for God holy name (6-8)

Something more of us could use more often in today’s day

David’s Pain

David faced many difficulties in life; and her sums up his life’s condition

He is devastated, drained emotionally, physically, and mentally

On a scale of 1-10 (for energy and hope) … David is a ZERO

Why? Because of the countless enemies that he is facing today (11)

Terrible condition to live under: without hope and torn apart

He is forgotten (as if he was dead) and feels smashed apart (12)

And to top all it off – everywhere he looks there is nothing but hopelessness

Re-read verse 13 … everyone is against him, and hope is difficult to find/see

HONEST: We’ve all been there … and we’ve all been on both sides

Whether talking about someone or being on the receiving end, we’ve seen this

Surely, we can understand how this man feels about life at the moment

EX of hopelessness: “…they conspire against me and plot to take my life.”

- TRANS: But David has lesson for each of us today

Point 2

David’s Petition

In spite of all that is going wrong, David trusts solely in the Lord

“But I trust in you” (14) … you are everything that I could ever want Lord

His reliance on God is encouraging here – we should start by saying it

Admitting the truth that God loves you/cares for you is paramount

FACT: He sent His Son, Jesus, to die for you and pay for YOUR sins

Even though David wants his enemies to be put to shame; battle isn’t his

He does not go on a rampage to accuse everyone else of wrong doing

Nor does he spend his energy defending how he is right (i.e. Facebook)

He simply cries out to the Lord, admitting who he is, and trusts in God

APP: Rather than vengeance at his hands, he defers to what God is doing

Re-read verses 17-18 It is a complete opposite view than what we see today

David’s Praise

This leads to an attitude change for David (and for us)

As he waits for God to do what God does, he is filled with praise

Proclamation is that God is good, wise, and able to handle all things

21: Look at what God has done!

22: He felt as if he would be cut off from the Lord

However, in God’s mercy – he heard David and responded as God does

Therefore, David’s praise is in anticipation of what God will do!

APP: God, you have heard me … and in you I trust … because you are good!

So, notice what David does from here – he encourages us!

David’s Proclamation

He challenges you and I to do one thing: Love the Lord! 23

Deut 6:5, “Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.”

We are challenged to find our strength in the Lord, not ourselves

The battle is never ours, but it is His because of who He is

God will take care of those who rebel (prideful against Him – 23)

Big Idea

- Our calling is to be faithful to God, to love Him because of what He has done

- Additionally, what has He promised? To never leave or forsake us …

-- To walk with us … to not leave us stranded and alone … to give us strength

- David writes in 24, “Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD.”

- Will we submit to God and be faithful, or continue to do things ourselves?

- Pray

* Special thanks to Holman Old Testament Commentary for the foundational outline of this sermon.