(PSALM 31:7)

TROUBLE

I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy: for thou hast considered my trouble; thou hast known my soul in adversities. Psalm 31:7.

To summarize the teaching of this beloved passage, let us recognize it as a song of praise winging its way heavenward from the heart of the psalmist who recognized God’s changeless love to him. He was in the midst of affliction, and he sung these words of praise. It is easy to sing when things are well, but it takes the grace of God to sing songs in the night.

Further, God loved David though He took full account of all his adversities, refused to abandon him in the midst of them, and finally, after the test was complete, lifted him from the pit and set him in a wide, blessed place.

Warren Wiersbe outlines this Psalm as follows –

Foes, 1-8; Feelings, 9-13; Faith, 14-24.

Borrowing his outline, let us comment on each section.

Foes -vs. 1-8. David had plenty of enemies, and he needed help with them. To whom could he go? Only the Lord! The hand of the enemy against you? See verses 8 and 15. Find safety and comfort in the hand of the Lord! Note verses 5 and 15.

Feelings – vs. 9-13. We discover that David was sick possibly due to his own disobedience (vs. 9-13). Sin often brings disastrous results, and God can use sickness and other means to chasten us. But what is chastening? It is not punishment as some would suppose. To the contrary, it is child training; it is God teaching His child as a Father. And chastening may seem at times to be hard. But it is God’s way of breaking us, of leading us to submission. And the Lord in His goodness lovingly chastens us to make us more like His darling Son. Think of the chastisement as a good thing for that is what it is.

David, at this point, had gained the laughter of his enemies and the loss of his friends. Basically, he had lost all. His only source of help was the Lord. God will bring us to that place. Where we have nothing or no one upon whom we can depend, but God. And in David’s case, and ours as well, God will never fail.

Faith – vs. 14-24. David’s faith was real, and the emphasis is on the reality of that faith. We see God’s smile (v. 14-16), His goodness (v. 19), and we see hope and love (v. 23-24) which are companions of faith. Faith, hope, and love – these three.

I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy – David would rejoice in God’s mercy for he had experienced it, and thus, had ample proof of it. Since God’s mercy is new every morning, he knew that he would have further proofs of it as he lived his life.

For thou hast considered my trouble – Past and present – David had experienced God’s consideration of him. It is wonderful to know that God is considerate of us when we face trouble. His heart is upon us, and His eye is following our every move. His heart is moved with compassion toward us when our soul is vexed with the trouble. He knows, and He cares. He regards our prayer and will deliver in His own way and time.

Thou hast known my soul in adversities – God had seen and known the feelings of the Psalmist, the soul agony of his heart in the time of adversity – his sorrow and anxiety; his trust; his feeling of dependence; his confidence – that God would be with him to save him out of all his troubles. In such times, the Devil would tempt us to feel that God had abandoned us, that He has turned his face away from us, refusing to hear our cry. But God had not turned away from David, but had shown abundantly that He regarded with great interest the feelings of His child’s heart. What blessedness to know that in the time of trouble, God understands and knows our feelings, our sorrows. Unique are the states of mind that occur in time of trial, and such uniqueness is fully understood by no one but our precious Lord. He understands, and fully knows. And only He can meet he needs of the soul in such times.

Verse 9 – Have mercy upon me, O LORD, for I am in trouble – This is the verse we are considering as part of our text. The passages that follow reveal the nature and source of such trouble. Notice the grief caused by sin as seen in this verse. Mine eye is consumed with grief. That is weeping. The effect of such grief is that his strength was exhausted. And my belly. This is regarded as the seat of affections.

Verse 10 – spent. Consumed, wasted away, or destroyed. Sighing – lamenting; as it were, my years are consumed with lamentation over my sin.

My strength faileth because of mine iniquity – The Psalmist regarded all his trouble as the fruit of sin. No specific sin is mentioned which indicates that he is referring to the old corrupt nature. Sin affected his whole being even his bones – they were worn out or tired because of sin.

Moving to verse 14 – But I trusted in thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my God. His confidence never failed. Even in the midst of the most serious of trials, he looked to God as his Father and Friend. God was still on the throne – He was still in control. In the direst of circumstances, there is none other sure refuge but the Almighty God.

I said, Thou art my God. All that is implied in the name, God, He is. And such a God was his God. He was sure God would never forsake him, and that he could confide in Him as friend to Friend. Though all earthly friends might forsake him, he still had a Friend that sticketh closer than a brother. Such a Friend is more valuable than all the wealth of the universe combined.

Verse 15. My times are in thy hand. This is something David said in his trouble. What is the meaning here? He meant that all that pertained to him was under the control of God. This included all things in his life, even to the minute detail. He would live as long as God wanted – his life was given by God; his life is God’s to continue it and end it when He pleases. That is why suicide is so very wrong. God had given him life: it was the Psalmist’s privilege to give it back to God again – it was the Psalmist’s to give not to take.

All of life is in the control of the Almighty – its origin, its continuance, its changes. The seasons of life are under His control – Spring (childhood), Summer (youth), Fall (middle age), and Winter (old age). Yes, even the winter of life with its snow capped peaks and members that tremble. It is reassuring that when we enter old age, God is still in control of our lives – our physical infirmities and weakness included. All is in the hand of the Lord. Life is sure until ended by God – He is in control of its beginning and its ending. Yes, our time of death is appointed by God. We shall not live a moment less or a moment more than appointed by God. Therefore, we can commit it all to Him. We can calmly, peacefully commit it all to Him. This we may do in all seasons of life. This we may do whether in sickness, feebleness, or at the time of death. We shall live as long as God appoints, shall pass through such times and changes as He deems necessary, then we shall die when, where and how He chooses. Let us commit all of our life to Him.

Gene Griffin