Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart (See Gill on Psalms 27:14); by this instance of God's wonderful kindness to the psalmist, he would have the saints take heart, and be of good cheer, even in the greatest distresses, since their case cannot be worse than his was; and yet he had deliverance out of it; all ye that hope in the Lord; for the eye of the Lord is on such, and he takes delight in them, ( Psalms 33:18 ) ( 147:11 ) . Nay, you shall be more happy that everything should cross you than that everything should please you, if it be God's sweet will. He rejoices in his mercy9. 2. It is not alone, "Be of good courage"; there is an "and" with it: "and he shall strengthen your heart." BEST VALUE in digital Bible study. Do not be a religious or political "turn-coat" against the secret conviction of your mind. Psalm 138:3 In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul. The Schoolmen refuted by various passages. Its Peculiar Properties. Many things are and will continue to be implicitly John CalvinThe Institutes of the Christian Religion. Expect God to get here soon. If this weakness of the heart should continue, it will be very injurious. If you have any questions, please review our Privacy Policy or email us at privacy@biblegateway.com. But "faith directs in intention" as Augustine says against Julian (In Psalm xxxi, cf. Because, with the outward extension of the Church, its influence upon the inner man needs always to be considered. For Thou art my Rock and my Fortress.' 2. The Alexander MaclarenExpositions of Holy ScriptureBe for Thou Art'Be Thou to me a strong Rock, an house of defence to save me. 'I trusted Alexander MaclarenExpositions of Holy ScriptureHid in Light'Thou shall hide them in the secret of Thy presence from the pride of man; Thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.' 19. What to those who serve Thee with their whole heart? 22. This is good and just. The wicked would flee from God; they would neither be under His rules, nor within His reach. A friend who had watched with regret his unsuccessful attempts on former journeys to enter that jealous country, and who augured from the political changes which had taken place that permission might probably now be obtained, brought the subject again under his notice. Spurgeon. Such are those where, concerning the woman which had an issue of blood, He said, "Who touched Me?" On Psalm xxxi. 3. 3. It sounds strange logic, 'Be for Thou art,' and yet it is the logic of prayer, and goes very deep, pointing out both its limits and its encouragements. Some Generals Proposed. THE question as to the Rabbinic views in regard to the binding character of the Law, and its imposition on the Gentiles, in Messianic times, although, strictly speaking, not forming part of this history, is of such vital importance in connection with recent controversies as to demand special consideration. What this will is, and how necessary the knowledge of it. 8. For to me to live is Christ. Psalms 31 | MSG Bible | YouVersion The wicked would flee from God; they would neither be under His rules, nor within His reach. The history of the extension of the Church of Christ from one land to another, and of the successive victories won by the Cross over heathen races from age to age, gives by itself a very imperfect idea of the meaning of the words "The Holy Catholic Church." Let good or ill befall, It must be good for me; Secure, The Hymnal of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the USA. But heretics, Saint Thomas AquinasSumma TheologicaOther Fragments on the Psalms. YouVersion uses cookies to personalize your experience. Spurgeon. I Cor 2:2. On Psalm xxxi. The first part of this verse is consecrated for ever by our Lord's use of it on the Cross. What to those who serve Thee with their whole heart? 1. Have you never felt it? For it is written, He hath given us drink in tears by measure (Ps. The mercy of God is not so "marvellous" when it is shown in humbler cities as when it is shown in "a strong city," [1389] and for this reason "God is to be blessed. The parallelism between these two clauses is even stronger in the original than in our Version, for whilst the two words which designate the 'Rock' are not identical, their meaning is identical, and the difference Alexander MaclarenExpositions of Holy Scripture"My Times are in Thy Hand"Having thus taken to the best resource by trusting in Jehovah, and having made the grandest claim possible by saying, "Thou art my God", the Psalmist now stays himself upon a grand old doctrine, one of the most wonderful that was ever revealed to men. Some Generals Proposed. There are walls which no mortal hands built to surround me, A Refuge Eternal,--'Tis JESUS MY ROCK! William Crotch, 1836 Psalm 31 Henry F. Lyte, 1834 My spirit on Thy care, Blest Savior, I recline; Thou wilt not leave me to despair, For Thou art love divine. For to me to live is Christ, i.e.' This weakness occurs on many occasions. They err from the Scriptures who make the grace of God a reason for doing nothing; it is the reason for doing everything.1. A friend who had watched with regret his unsuccessful attempts on former journeys to enter that jealous country, and who augured from the political changes which had taken place that permission might probably now be obtained, brought the subject again under his notice. Question answered in respect to the devil. 22. TRUE COURAGE WILL NEVER SWERVE FROM THAT WHICH IT KNOWS IS RIGHT. WHAT IS REQUIRED IN THE EXHORTATION "good courage." "The Saints on earth, and those above, But one communion make; Joined to their Lord in bonds of love, All of His grace partake." MAN'S UNBELIEF AND THE DIVINE FAITHFULNESS. For to me to live is Christ, i.e.' Psalm 32. -- Psalm 31:15 Father, I know that all my life Is portioned out for me, And the changes that are sure to come, I do not fear to see; But I ask Thee for a present mind Intent on pleasing Thee. Jonah's refusal to obey the divine command to go to Nineveh and cry against it is best taken, not as prosaic history, but as a poetical representation of Israel's failure to obey the divine call of witnessing for God. It is not alone, "Be of good courage"; there is an "and" with it: "and he shall strengthen your heart." Spirit-Led Living in an Upside-Down World, Courageous - Being Daughters rooted in Grace, You Can Be Brave: Trusting God in the Unknown, Daily Encouragement For The Smart Stepfamily, Daily Jewels- Aligning Your Crown As A Daughter Of The King, Friendship for Girls: Teaching Healthy Habits to Our Daughters, Behind The Badge: Devotions For Law Enforcement, Daily Bible Reading June 2021, Gods Word of Hope, Daily Bible Reading April 2023 Gods Saving Word: Hope. Don't give up. We must understand Paul of a spiritual life. There are some things of this sort even of our Saviour in the Gospel, because the Lord of the Prophets deigned to be Himself also a Prophet. What an honour to that old saint that Jesus Christ, dying, should find nothing that more fully corresponded to His inmost heart at that moment than the utterance of the Psalmist long ago! You may have gone to your bed, sick at heart, "weary, and worn, and sad," and you wake in the morning ready for anything. I like the way this is put. The Psalmist has been describing, with the eloquence of misery, his own desperate condition, in all manner of metaphors which he heaps together--'sickness,' 'captivity,' 'like a broken vessel,' 'as a dead man out of mind.' By the design or end of acting. Old Objection, that the agency of God in such cases is referable to prescience or permission, not actual operation. An exhortation. 1. --PSALM xxxi. How His mind must Alexander MaclarenExpositions of Holy Scripture 'Lying Vanities''They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy.' Alexander took great pains to have him healed, and when he was quite well, he never exposed his precious life to any risk again. It does not make him neglect means. This doctrine obscured by the Schoolmen, who make God the object of faith, without referring to Christ. (1)At the present time, I believe that it restricts enterprise. --PSALM xxxi. How this is founded on hope. The Schoolmen refuted by various passages. 24.) Many things are and will continue to be implicitly John CalvinThe Institutes of the Christian ReligionLinksPsalm 31:24 NIVPsalm 31:24 NLTPsalm 31:24 ESVPsalm 31:24 NASBPsalm 31:24 KJVPsalm 31:24 Bible AppsPsalm 31:24 ParallelPsalm 31:24 Biblia ParalelaPsalm 31:24 Chinese BiblePsalm 31:24 French BiblePsalm 31:24 German BiblePsalm 31:24 CommentariesBible Hub, (3)In the midst of great labour for the Lord.The best of men are but men at the best; and, therefore, who wonders if their heart sometimes faileth them in the day of suffering, in the hour of battle, or under the broiling sun, when they are labouring for their Lord?3. 5. [2431] and of Lazarus. There are but few that love God: many give Him hypocritical kisses, but few love Him. "O love the Lord, all ye his saints" (Psalm xxxi. 19. 30). The Law in Messianic Times. Let me earnestly persuade all who bear the name of Christians to become lovers of God. By the kindly fellowship of friends.3. No, for , 1. When Life's gloomy curtain, at last, shall close o'er me, And the chill hand of death unexpectedly knock, I will, The Cities of Refuge: or, The Name of Jesus. 'I trusted Alexander MaclarenExpositions of Holy ScriptureHid in Light'Thou shall hide them in the secret of Thy presence from the pride of man; Thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.' Is it not wonderful that, at that supreme hour, He deigned to take an unknown singer's words as His words? 3. John CalvinThe Institutes of the Christian ReligionCovenanting Confers Obligation. He desired to know nothing but Christ, and him crucified. Psalms 31. Isaiah 35:3,4 Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees, Luke 22:31,32 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: . There are other analogous expressions in Scripture, setting forth, under various metaphors, God's protection of them that love Him. There are four general things here to be noticed. 5. 24 Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD. I ask Thee for a thoughtful love, Through constant watching wise, To meet the glad with joyful smiles, And to wipe the weeping eyes; And a heart at leisure from itself, To soothe and sympathize. 20. 3. Sometimes by gracious providences.2. The performance of that exercise is commanded, and the same law which enjoins that the duties John CunninghamThe Ordinance of CovenantingAppendix xiv. 1. For those who deplore sins of deed are to be admonished that perfected lamentations should wash out consummated evils, lest they be bound by a greater debt of perpetrated deed than they pay in tears of satisfaction for it. Example from the history of Job. He prays in his calamity19. --JONAH 11. David knew this, and from his own experience declares what God will do for His people. For to me to live is Christ.