John Calvin Commentary Psalms 31:14

"But I trusted in thee, O Jehovah: I said, Thou art my God." — Psalms 31:14 (ASV)

Yet I have trusted in you, O Jehovah! The rendering is properly, And I have trusted in you; but the Hebrew copulative particle ו, vau, and, is used here instead of the adversative particle yet, or nevertheless. David, setting the steadfastness of his faith in opposition to the assaults of the temptations he has mentioned, denies that he had ever fainted. On the contrary, he maintains that he stood firm in his hope of deliverance from God.

Nor does this imply that he boasted of being so magnanimous and courageous that he could not be overthrown through the infirmity of the flesh. However contrary to one another they appear, these things are often joined together—as they ought to be—in the same person: namely, that while he pines away with grief and is deprived of all strength, he is nevertheless supported by so strong a hope that he does not cease to call upon God.

David, therefore, was not so overwhelmed by deep sorrow and other dreadful sufferings that the hidden light of faith could not shine inwardly in his heart. Nor did he groan so much under the weighty load of his temptations as to be prevented from rousing himself to call upon God.

He struggled through many obstacles to be able to make the confession he makes here. Next, he defines the manner of his faith: namely, that he reflected with himself thus: that God would never fail him nor forsake him. Let us note his way of speaking: I have said, You are my God. In these words, he indicates that he was so entirely persuaded of this truth—that God was his God—that he would not admit even a suggestion to the contrary.

And until this persuasion prevails enough to take possession of our minds, we will always waver in uncertainty. It is, however, to be observed that this declaration is not only inward and secret—made in the heart rather than with the tongue—but it is also directed to God Himself, as its sole witness.

Nothing is more difficult, when we see our faith derided by the whole world, than to direct our speech to God alone and to rest satisfied with this testimony our conscience gives us: that He is our God. And certainly, it is an undoubted proof of genuine faith when, however fierce the waves are that beat against us, and however severe the assaults by which we are shaken, we hold fast to this as a fixed principle: that we are constantly under the protection of God and can say to Him freely, You are our God.