Our Place of Safety

Psalm 31

When I was a child growing up in the 1960’s the children of the neighborhood would get together to play various outdoor games, such as “tag”, or other games which had a safety place, where if you ran to that, the opponent couldn’t get you out.  Sometimes boardgames have a space that is safe from getting taken out, as well.  With all of the dangers and trials of life, it would be nice to have a safety place, where our enemies, real or figurative, could not harm us.  Our psalm for today speaks of just such a place.  Let’s take a look so that when we want or need a safe place we know where to run to.

Psalm 31 was written by David, possibly when he was fleeing for his life from King Saul, or perhaps when his son Absalom staged a coup against him and he had to flee Jerusalem.  David knew where his safety was, and who to trust in the middle of severe distress, betrayal, slander, and danger.  Right in the opening lines we see that he proclaimed that God is his refuge and righteous deliverer.  This was not casual belief.  This is total reliance upon Yahweh for deliverance.  David cried out to the Lord, praying for deliverance, not because of anything good he had done to deserve it, but because of God’s righteousness (vs. 1).  He appealed to God’s character, not his own.

David called God his rock and his fortress (vs. 2-3).  The many large rocks and boulders in the wilderness were a safe place to hide behind. Ancient communities would build fortresses when they knew an enemy army was on the way, so the people could flee to that for safety.  One was protected from danger when hiding behind a large rock or within a fortress.  David knew that Yahweh was his safety place.  The enemy could not harm him when he was in God’s care.

We all have times in our life when we feel the enemy is pursuing us or our family.  We need a safe place to run to.  We may have real, literal enemies pursuing us, or it could be other serious problems, such as major health problems, financial problems, or other worries.  Like David did, we can turn to God.  We can commit ourselves completely into His hands (vs. 5).   The Lord Jesus is our Rock and Fortress, our place of safety when we are tired of running and hiding.  He offers relief for those who seek security in the strength of God’s presence.  Like David found, we too can be pulled out of the net that tries to trap us (vs. 4), and have our feet set in a wide place (vs. 8), a picture of safety and freedom.

The Bible doesn’t deny the reality of truly deep suffering.  David described himself as consumed with grief, weakened by sorrow, and surrounded by enemies (vs. 9-13).   As we read, David said he was a reproach among both his enemies and his neighbors, and repulsive to his acquaintances (vs. 11).  Everyone, it seemed, was against him.  Not only was he suffering physically and emotionally, he also was socially, as well.  People were plotting against his life (vs. 13).  This is something that was also echoed in the life of Jesus, during His last days (Matthew 27:1).

There are times in the middle of our trials, that we also experience betrayal, slander, and abandonment.  We may be misunderstood, are lonely, have lies told about us, and even be abandoned by those we thought were our friends.  David’s enemies foreshadow the world’s hostility towards God’s people.  Like David, and most importantly, also like the Lord Jesus, we can put our trust and hope in the Lord, who is our only true anchor.

The turning point of this psalm is when David proclaims his trust in the Lord (vs. 14).  He goes from looking at all the problems he is facing, and how his enemies are attacking, to renewed trust in Yahweh.  David knew that all power and authority are from God, and that He controls whatever happens in his own life (vs. 15).  God controls our circumstances, our lifespan, and our destiny, not ourselves.  Our life is not governed by chance but by God’s hand.  He permits suffering, He also provides comfort.  Deliverance is God’s prerogative, not man’s, and the wicked will ultimately be silenced and judged (vs. 17-18).  We don’t need to let our problems and troubles discourage us.  Our life is in Jesus’ hands.  Instead, focus on finishing each day in a way that will please Him.

David ended his psalm with triumphant praise (vs. 19-24).  He praised God for His goodness, which is laid up for those who fear Him.  David also praised Him for His protection, as believers are hidden in the secret place of His presence, a picture of spiritual security.  When he panicked and felt that God was not seeing him, he remembered the truth, that God still does hear his cry (vs. 22), just as He does for us.  We may have moments of doubt, but God remains faithful despite our weakness.

David closed with an exhortation to be of good courage and hope in the Lord (vs. 24).  The world doesn’t offer much hope for those in despair, but God does.  If we surrender to Him in moments of despair like David did, He will provide what we need.  He wants to strengthen His children so that they can bear up under the weight of tough circumstances.  God gives hope to the hopeless and help to the helpless.  The hope that God gives is beyond the scope of human limitations because God is a good God.  Like in those childhood games with the neighbors, run to the Lord Jesus, and find in Him your place of safety.