Psalm 31:9–16 (NRSV)
Read Psalm 31:9–16 on biblegateway.com
Verse 9Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am in distress; my eye wastes away from grief, my soul and body also.
Verse 10For my life is spent with sorrow, and my years with sighing; my strength fails because of my misery, and my bones waste away.
Verse 11I am the scorn of all my adversaries, a horror to my neighbors, an object of dread to my acquaintances; those who see me in the street flee from me.
Verse 12I have passed out of mind like one who is dead; I have become like a broken vessel.
Verse 13For I hear the whispering of many- terror all around!- as they scheme together against me, as they plot to take my life.
Verse 14But I trust in you, O Lord; I say, "You are my God."
Verse 15My times are in your hand; deliver me from the hand of my enemies and persecutors.
Verse 16Let your face shine upon your servant; save me in your steadfast love.
Devotion
The wonderful thing about the psalms is that there is generally one to fit just about any mood or situation. In Psalm 31, things are going very poorly for the psalmist. The psalmist is dealing with a variety of unfortunate events including bodily affliction, persecution from enemies, ostracization from neighbors, and even the pain of being forgotten. But the beauty of this psalm is the utter trust the psalmist has for God and God’s ability to save the psalmist from troubles. The passage begins and ends with pleas for God’s mercy and protection. The conclusion comes in a beautiful petition of trust: Let your face shine on your servant; save me with your unfailing love. It is not a request to vanquish enemies but a desire to be saved by God’s powerful and unfailing love.
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Prayer
Gracious God, let your face shine on us, and save us with your unfailing love. Help us endure and triumph over adversity and let us take comfort in you. Amen.