PSALM 31 AND COMMITMENT | Northstar Church

“In you, O Lord, do I take refuge; let me never be put to shame; in your righteousness deliver me! Incline your ear to me; rescue me speedily! Be a rock of refuge for me, a strong fortress to save me! For you are my rock and my fortress; and for your name’s sake you lead me and guide me; you take me out of the net they have hidden for me, for you are my refuge. Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me,” – Psalms 31:1-5.

As Jesus hung on the Cross, humiliated and in excruciating pain, He gave us a powerful example of surrender. Perfect in every way, He did not stoop to self-pity, anger, or regret. The cruelty He had received from so many did not deter Him from the continual surrender of His life to the Father and His holy will.

In His last moments, Jesus quoted the Old Testament. No doubt weary from physical suffering and struggling for every breath, Jesus shouted the words of Psalm 31:5. Luke 23:46 says He called out with a loud voice: “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” Those were the last words He spoke from the cross. According to Luke 23:46, “and having said this he breathed his last.”

He borrowed these words from David. The Lord certainly didn’t need to have words put into His mouth. The context here is that David is fleeing from his son, Absalom. Things are not going well, and so he is desperately in need of sustenance, strength, and the preservation of his life. David was asking God for protection from the enemy and stated that he had committed himself to God’s hands because God had redeemed him.

At the beginning of Psalm 31, the emphasis is clearly on God being a refuge. God is called “my rock and fortress,” He is the one who will “lead me and guide me,” He will “take me out of the net they have hidden for me,” He will never let me “be put to shame,” He will “deliver me,” incline His ear to me,” and “rescue me.”

Whatever the world throws at you, put your trust in God. Put life over into God’s hands and not your own. Leave everything in God’s hands; eventually, you’ll see God’s hand in everything. Isaiah 41:9-10 says, “I have called you back from the ends of the earth, saying, ‘You are my servant.’ For I have chosen you and will not throw you away. Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand” (Isaiah 41:9-10).

Isaiah poetically and beautifully describes us as servants of the Lord, chosen and accepted by Him. There is no need to fear or be dismayed because God’s presence is pronounced and personal. Jesus died and committed His spirit to His Father so He might fulfill God’s promises.

Discussion Questions:

From this Psalm, what do you think David expected of God (Psalm 31:1-3)?
Why do you think that David was confident in his expectations (Psalm 31:3-4)?
Why does it mean that God is our refuge?