Psalm 31

Psalm xxxi. is the expression of entire confidence in Jehovah — God known in our relationship with Him, in the most terrible circumstances of trial and distress. and that where sin has brought it on; yet where faith is at work, and the known name of God counted on, and therefore His righteousness in making it good. It is not reckoning upon God with pride. It is Jehovah trusted in for what He is- — His name — but

THE PSALMS. — PSALM XXXI. (J7

Avitli the fullest confession of failure, and that it is through sin that trouble has come upon Ilimthat cries to Him. It is not so much the confession of iniquity, hut that the sorrow out of which the ciy is sent up IS due to iniquity; but the extremity of pressure casts the soul in confidence on God according* to His revelation of Himself. The special character of the psalm is trust, and, from personal knowledge of Jehovah, the committing one’s case to Him. This is a deep principle of true piety — such a knowledge of the Lord, such faith in what He is, that the soul can trust Him, and cast all on Him, when distress and hostility come to an extremity. And it is a principle of utter righteousness, because the soul cannot look thus to God but in righteousness. The Lord is known as having considered the distressed one’s trouble. He has known his soul in adversities. The sufferings were not God’s forgetting the sufferer. God has known, recognized, followed, His heart owned, the sufferer’s soul, and thought of it in the midst of adversities; and the sufferer as an owned soul, (however faulty), looks through the suffering to the Lord. It accepts the punishment of its iniquity, but in this righteous feeling trusts Jehovah; and in this spirit, in what is perfect in principle, commits itself entirely to the Lord, and knows, ami is content that it should be so, that all is in His hand. (Ver. 15.) It looks hence for His face to shine on it; but that through His appearing for it, it should not be finally ashamed, nor will any that trust in Him. He has laid up goodness for them that fear Him, and trust in Him before the sons of men. His presence is a sure unfailing sanctuary, which makes human malice vain in its attempts. He admits that, in the pressure of distress, he had for a moment spoken as cast out of God. Still faith was shown in the cry to the Lord, and he was heard. The Lord preserves the faithful, so that the saints may love Him, and be of good courage, whatever come. It is not every one that has to pass through such sorrows, as those referred to here; but when it is the portion of the saint, it gives great intimacy and confidence. What a known God is, is the ground of the psalm, and the cry founded on faith in it. I should not say that such is the brightest exercise of faith. This will be found, for example, more in the Epistle to the Philippians, the bright expression of normal Christian experience. Nor is it the commonest: but God, in His rich mercy, has in’ His word met every need, and made provision in His word for every state. And the state of soul here is one of much exercised depth and intimacy of confidence in God only, learnt through needed distress.