Thursday, June 6 – Psalms 27, 31
1. What does David compare God to so that he has nothing to fear? Psalms 27:1
2. What does David ask of God? Psalms 27:4
3. What assurance did David have of God’s protection compared to the care of his earthly parents? Psalms 27:10
4. When David felt slandered and forgotten, what rhetorical figures does he compare himself to in his distress? Psalms 31:12
Commentary and Reflection
In the Bible, the Psalms are considered popular reading because they address the everyday problems we face. You probably know several of them by heart, and perhaps we memorize them by reading them over and over. I have several of them that I consider favorites. My mother used to read Psalm 91 beside our bed every night. I learned Psalm 23 as a child, and I felt like a little sheep of the flock of the Good Shepherd, Jesus. Today, it is our turn to study two of them, 27 and 31. These psalms were David’s hymns expressing his full confidence in God amid the unjust persecution inflicted upon him by Saul. How many sleepless nights did he spend hiding in the rugged mountains with the stars as his roof? In such occasions, the soul opens more fully to God.
“This psalm (Psalm 27) was written by David when he was “a hunted fugitive, finding refuge in the rocks and caves of the wilderness” (Ed 164). It reveals the psalmist’s spirit of absolute confidence in God amid the perils of flight. It has been called The Tonic Psalm. In no other psalm is David’s yearning after the service of the sanctuary as intensely expressed as here. Some suggest 1 Sam. 22:22 as a background to the psalm. The psalm has three divisions: vs. 1-6 express the poet’s assured confidence in God, despite the threatenings of the enemy; vs. 7-12 cry out plaintively for help; and vs. 13, 14, as a conclusion, find sure relief in hopeful trust in God. In the modem Jewish ritual, Ps. 27 is recited daily throughout the sixth month in preparation for the New Year and the Day of Atonement.” SDABC, introduction to Psalm 27
“Psalm 31 is a heartfelt prayer for deliverance from trouble, enlivened by a sincere trust in God’s ability to deliver. It is characterized by a galaxy of rich figures describing the distress of the persecuted and the hope that comes in time of trouble. Some suggest as its background the experience of David in the Wilderness ofMaon (see 1 Sam. 23:19-26), although the theme could apply to many similar occasions. The psalm was a favorite of Huss, Luther, and Melanchthon.” SDABC, introduction to Psalm 31
Let us pray together: Almighty God, thank You for inspiring Your servant David in these precious psalms that give us so much strength today! We need You like David did then, and we are sure that You remain the same loving God. Take our hearts and instill in us the desire to love and serve You. We want to prepare for Your coming kingdom. We long to sing praises before Your throne with David. May our plea reach You in the holy name of Your beloved Son, Jesus, Amen!