Albert Barnes Commentary Psalms 31:23

"Oh love Jehovah, all ye his saints: Jehovah preserveth the faithful, And plentifully rewardeth him that dealeth proudly." — Psalms 31:23 (ASV)

O love the Lord, all you his saints — This is the application of all the truths suggested in the psalm.

The psalmist's experience had shown the wisdom of trusting in God in times of danger and trouble. This experience laid the foundation for a proper exhortation to others to imitate his example, providing an argument why all the people of God should love him and be of good courage.

The reason given here for loving the Lord is that he preserves those who are faithful to him and rewards the proud doer.

This is a reason for loving God, or for putting our trust in him, though the psalmist does not say that this is the only reason for doing it.

The meaning here is that God's dealings with the psalmist had established this truth about God's character: he preserves the faithful and punishes the proud. This fact constitutes a reason why all his people should confide in him.

For the Lord preserves the faithful — The faithful are those who put their trust in him, those who do not give up in despondency and despair in time of danger and trouble, and those who do not forsake him even though for a time he seems to forsake them.

What God looks for mainly in his people is confidence, faithfulness, trust, and fidelity.

And plentifully rewards — This means he abundantly rewards. Literally, in plenty. That is, his punishment does not fall short of the wicked man's desert; it is ample or full. He does full justice.

The proud doer — This refers to the man working pride. The reference is to the man who is confident in himself, who seeks to aggrandize himself, and who in doing this is regardless of the rights of others.