A Prayer For Protection

Psalms 31:1–14
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This is a very important Psalm as parts of it are quoted by Jonah, Jeremiah and Jesus. We cannot be certain when David wrote it or under what circumstances but it seems that he may have been looking back over various periods in his life. David does not hesitate to tell us what historians do not reveal.  This is one of the great values of the psalms. They shed light on certain areas that no other writer has touched on. They over and over again expose the emotions and secrets of the heart that reveal the cause of David’s grief.

David rejoices that his salvation is in the Lord and  that regardless of the circumstances he has the freedom to serve Him (vv. 1-8). He then shares how grief even effects a persons’ health (vv. 9-10). Sin often seems to promise freedom and fun and for awhile it will appear to make good on its promise. Trouble, sorrow and physical weakness had strapped his strength. But then comes regrets and ruin. He was a reproach to men and an object of malicious slander (vv. 11-13).

In verses eleven through fourteen he describes himself as:

1. A forsaken man  (v.11) - Little  did David think that his few moments of sin with Bathsheba would lead to such a reproach.
2. A forgotten man  (v.12) - The people that he use to enjoy talking to - where were they now?
3. A fearful man (v. 13) - The air was full of rumor and plot to get rid of him and clear the throne for Absalom. However, he ends up by saying, “I trust you Lord and I trust you as my God” (v. 14).

Application

As I see the grief and sorrow that David experienced because of a few minutes of sin, it should be a great warning to me to stay as far as I can from the sins of immorality.