This psalm is addressed to “the chief Musician,” and purports to be a psalm of David. On the meaning of the phrase “To the chief Musician,” see the notes at the title to Psalms 4:1-8. There can be no doubt that the inscription which ascribes it to David is correct, and that he was the author. The occasion, however, on which it was composed is unknown, and cannot now be ascertained. Most of the Jewish and many Christian interpreters have supposed that it was written when David was in the wilderness of Maon, and when, having been betrayed (as to the place of his retreat) by the Ziphites, he was hotly pursued by Saul and his host, 1 Samuel 23:19-26. There is, however, no particular reason for referring it to this period of his life, for there were many occasions to which it would be equally applicable.
Its general purpose is to inspire confidence in God in other hearts - from the experience of the psalmist - from that manifested favor by which he had been brought through his troubles. See Psalms 31:23-24. The psalm refers to the dangers which surrounded its author at the time referred to; his fears and apprehensions in those dangers; his calm confidence in God amid his dangers; the deliverance from trouble which was vouchsafed to him; his joy and gratitude for deliverance; and the lessons which others might learn in their trials from the divine dealings toward him in his. That the psalmist was in trouble or danger when he penned this psalm there can be no reason to doubt; that he prayed earnestly at that time for deliverance is clear; but it is also plain that in the psalm he refers to former troubles, and to the deliverance which God had granted to him in those troubles, and that he seeks and derives consolation and assurance from the dealings of God with him then. In some parts of the psalm he refers to his present afflictions; in other parts to the trials of other days, and to his deliverances in those trials; in the entire psalm he inculcates the duty of confiding in God, from his own experience of His mercy, and from his own reliance upon Him.
The contents of the psalm are as follows:
I. Prayer to God for deliverance from his sufferings and his enemies, on the ground of his confidence in Him, and his previous experience of His mercy, Psalms 31:1-8.
II. Description of his troubles and of the calamities under which he was oppressed; or an enumeration of his present distresses, Psalms 31:9-13. He says that he is in trouble, and that his eye is consumed with grief, Psalms 31:9; that his life is spent with grief, and his years with sighing, that his strength failed, and that his bones were consumed, Psalms 31:10; that he is a reproach among his neighbors and an object of dread to his acquaintances, or that they fled from him, he was so abject, forsaken, and afflicted, Psalms 31:11; that he was forsaken and forgotten like a dead man who had passed away from the recollection of mankind, Psalms 31:12; that he was slandered, and that people conspired together to take away his life, Psalms 31:13.
III. Calm confidence in God in these times of trouble; or a calm committing of all into His hands, under an assurance which he felt that all would be well, Psalms 31:14-20. He says that he trusted in God, Psalms 31:14; and that his times were in the hand of God, Psalms 31:15; he prays that God would deliver him, Psalms 31:15-18; he finds comfort and peace in the assurance of the divine goodness and mercy, Psalms 31:19; and in the assurance that God would hide them that trusted in Him from the pride of man, and would keep them safely in His pavilion, Psalms 31:20.
IV. Thanks for deliverance, Psalms 31:21-22. He seems to have found the deliverance, even while he prayed, or to have had such an assurance of it that he could speak of it as if it were already his. He felt that he had been hasty in supposing that he would be cut off; and seems to have reproached himself for even a momentary doubt in regard to the goodness of God, Psalms 31:22.
V. The lesson furnished to others by his experience, Psalms 31:23-24. It is a lesson of encouragement to all in similar circumstances, prompting them to be of good courage; to be cheered by his example and experience; never to despond; never to cease to trust God. Because He had found God to be a refuge and strength, he calls upon all others to believe that they would also find him such if they likewise trusted in Him.