Psalm 31 - Part 1

Introduction:

For the title, see Psalm 22.

Thesis:

Comfort in the midst of oppression often does not come without persistent and faithful prayer.

Lessons:

1. God loves to honor His own name even in this life (v. 3). Let us direct our prayers to those things that honor the name of the Lord and let His honor give us hope that our petitions will be fulfilled.
2. The Lord Jesus Christ sympathizes with us in all of our distresses (v. 5). Let us commit our souls to the Lord (as Stephen did) because Christ committed His soul to the Father on the cross for our sakes.
3. Prayer for confidence in trials needs to be repeated often (v. 9ff). As soon as we receive comfort from the Lord through His promises, we are often tempted to despair once again. Do not be discouraged when you must “fight” continually in prayer for confidence in your Lord. This is the very means that He uses to drive us to daily communion with Himself.
   4 It is a great comfort in difficult times to remember that our times and seasons are in the hand of the Lord (v. 15).
4. God’s faithfulness to His covenant promises demands that all of His people worship Him together (v. 23-24).