Episode Transcript
Psalm 31 (NIV)
1 In you, Lord, I have taken refuge;
let me never be put to shame;
deliver me in your righteousness.
2 Turn your ear to me,
come quickly to my rescue;
be my rock of refuge,
a strong fortress to save me.
3 Since you are my rock and my fortress,
for the sake of your name lead and guide me.
4 Keep me free from the trap that is set for me,
for you are my refuge.
5 Into your hands I commit my spirit;
deliver me, Lord, my faithful God.
6 I hate those who cling to worthless idols;
as for me, I trust in the Lord.
7 I will be glad and rejoice in your love,
for you saw my affliction
and knew the anguish of my soul.
8 You have not given me into the hands of the enemy
but have set my feet in a spacious place.
9 Be merciful to me, Lord, for I am in distress;
my eyes grow weak with sorrow,
my soul and 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
and an object of dread to my closest friends—
those who see me on the street flee from me.
12 I am forgotten as though I were dead;
I have become like broken pottery.
13 For I hear many whispering,
“Terror on every side!”
They conspire against me
and plot to take my life.
14 But I trust in you, Lord;
I say, “You are my God.”
15 My times are in your hands;
deliver me from the hands of my enemies,
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, Lord,
for I have cried out to you;
but let the wicked be put to shame
and be silent in the realm of the dead.
18 Let their lying lips be silenced,
for with pride and contempt
they speak arrogantly against the righteous.
19 How abundant are the good things
that you have stored up for those who fear you,
that you bestow in the sight of all,
on those who take refuge in you.
20 In the shelter of your presence you hide them
from all human intrigues;
you keep them safe in your dwelling
from accusing tongues.
21 Praise be to the Lord,
for he showed me the wonders of his love
when I was in a city under siege.
22 In my alarm I said,
“I am cut off from your sight!”
Yet you heard my cry for mercy
when I called to you for help.
23 Love the Lord, all his faithful people!
The Lord preserves those who are true to him,
but the proud he pays back in full.
24 Be strong and take heart,
all you who hope in the Lord.
CONSIDER THIS
Today’s post is from A Meditative Journey Through the Psalms by Timothy and Julie Tennent. He holds the Methodist Chair of Divinity at Beeson Divinity School and served as president of Asbury Theological Seminary for fifteen years. She is a gifted musician and was one of the driving forces that helped bring to fruition the Seedbed hymnal, Our Great Redeemer’s Praise. We will share some of their writing on the Psalms on Sundays.
Psalm 31 holds a special place in Christian history because it is one of only two psalms that are explicitly quoted by Jesus on the cross. The other, Psalm 22, is frequently cited in our sacred remembrance of the passion, but it is here in Psalm 31 where we find the last spoken words of Jesus according to the Gospel of Luke: “Into your hands I commit my spirit” (v. 5; Luke 23:46). However, there is a little detail that you should notice when comparing the two passages. Psalm 31 addresses Yahweh, the sacred covenantal name of God. It is a name so exalted and holy that the Jews would not even pronounce the name. It is rendered in the Hebrew Bible with only four consonants: YHWH. However, Jesus precedes these words from Psalm 31 with the most intimate term imaginable when he says, “Father, into your hands, I commit my spirit.” The movement from YHWH to Father is, in seed form, one of the greatest summaries of the gospel message and is why Jesus came to earth. Before the coming of Christ, God was distant and unapproachable. His name could not be spoken. Now, through the intercession of Christ and his redemptive work, we who were once “far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ” (Eph. 2:13).
Indeed, it is fitting that at the very moment Jesus was, quite literally, shedding his blood for us, he addressed God as Father, thereby modeling for us the new and living way that was being opened to all of us through the gospel. Now, we can all cry, “Father” for, as Paul declares, “you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father’” (Rom. 8:15). This is the good news that is ours through the work of Jesus Christ!
For the Awakening,
Timothy and Julie Tennent
THE HYMN
Sing Psalm 31 with the Seedbed Psalter today. If you listen to the podcast audio version, you will hear the Tennents singing Psalm 31 to the familiar tune "Before the Throne of God." Here in the new year, be inspired to sing the psalms with or without accompaniment. Keep your focus on the Lord as you pray, lament, and worship through the psalms. For your convenience, the words from the Psalter are printed below.
1 In You, O Lord, I take refuge, let me be never put to shame;
And in Your righteousness, O Lord, deliver me—I trust Your name.
2 O come and turn Your ear to me; come quickly and my rescue be;
And be my Rock of refuge sure, a fortress strong to rescue me.
3 Since You’re my fortress and my Rock, for Your name’s sake, lead me and guide;
4 Free me from traps they set for me, for You’re the strength where I abide.
5 For I commit my spirit, Lord, into Your sovereign, steadfast hands;
Redeem me, Lord, O God of truth; my life before You ever stands.
6 I hate those who to idols cling; I trust in God the Lord alone;
7 I will be glad, rejoice and sing in Your love, for I am Your own.
For You saw my affliction and You knew the anguish of my soul;
8 You did not hand me to my foe, but set my feet in places full.
9 Be merciful to me, O Lord, for I am in distress and grief.
My soul and body fill with grief; my eyes with sorrow do grow weak.
10 My life’s consumed by anguish and my years by groans as You I seek.
My strength fails from affliction and my very bones grow sick and weak.
11 Because of all my enemies, my neighbors pour contempt on me;
I am a dread e’en to my friends—when they see me, they turn and flee.
12 I am forgotten as though dead; I’m like old broken pottery.
13 I hear their slander; I’m in dread; for they conspire and plot ’gainst me.
14 But I will trust in You, O Lord; I say, “You are my God indeed.”
15 My times are in Your hands for sure; deliver me from enemies.
16 Let Your face shine upon Your child; in Your unfailing love, save me;
17 And let me not be put to shame, for I have cried out, Lord, to Thee.
17 Let shame upon the wicked come; let them lie silent in the grave;
18 Let lying lips be silenced, for with pride and arrogance they rave.
19 How great Your goodness which You store for those who fear and reverence You;
Which You bestow in sight of all, on those who take refuge in You.
20 For in the shelter of Your face, You hide them from intrigues of men;
You keep them in Your dwelling place; safe from accusing tongues of men.
21 Praise to the Lord, for He has shown His love when I was under siege.
22 In my alarm, I cried alone, “I’m cut off and You don’t see me!”
22 Yet, You did surely hear my cry for mercy; when I call, You hear.
23 O love the Lord, all you His saints! The Lord saves faithful who draw near.
But all the proud He pays in full; He pays them back their due reward.
24 Be strong, O faithful, and take heart; all you who put hope in the Lord.
