Psalm 31 Part 2 of 3

Verses 9-18

9 Be merciful to me, O Lord, for I am in distress;

my eyes grow weak with sorrow,

my soul and my body with grief.

10 My life is consumed by anguish

and my years by groaning;

my strength fails because of my affliction,

and my bones grow weak.

11 Because of all my enemies,

I am the utter contempt of my neighbors;

I am a dread to my friends —

those who see me on the street flee from me.

12 I am forgotten by them as though I were dead;

I have become like broken pottery.

13 For I hear the slander of many;

there is terror on every side;

they conspire against me

and plot to take my life.

14 But I trust in you, O Lord;

I say, “You are my God.”

15 My times are in your hands;

deliver me from my enemies

and from those who pursue me.

16 Let your face shine on your servant;

save me in your unfailing love.

17 Let me not be put to shame, O Lord,

for I have cried out to you;

but let the wicked be put to

shame and lie silent in the grave.

18 Let their lying lips be silenced,

for with pride and contempt

they speak arrogantly against the righteous.

When others cause pain, ask God for mercy (vv.9-18)

David is crying out the Lord for mercy because he was very upset. He said he was in distress. His eyes weak. He felt this down to his core. He even said his strength was failing because of his misery. In verse 12, David declares he is forgotten like someone who has died!

There’s a lesson to be learned in these verses: cry out the Jesus!

It’s okay to tell Him how your heart aches. It’s okay to tell Him how it hurts. It’s okay to tell Him you’re scared, lonely, afraid. He knows and He cares.

In verse 14, though, David pulls it together and makes the powerful declaration that truly gives him hope “You are my God”. David professes trust in the Lord and puts his times—good and bad—in His hands. He closes this section by asking the Lord’s face to shine on him and save him. So…

Trust in Him!