Matthew Henry Commentary Psalms 31:9-18

"Have mercy upon me, O Jehovah, for I am in distress: Mine eye wasteth away with grief, [yea], my soul and my body. For my life is spent with sorrow, And my years with sighing: My strength faileth because of mine iniquity, And my bones are wasted away. Because of all mine adversaries I am become a reproach, Yea, unto my neighbors exceedingly, And a fear to mine acquaintance: They that did see me without fled from me. I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind: I am like a broken vessel. For I have heard the defaming of many, Terror on every side: While they took counsel together against me, They devised to take away my life. But I trusted in thee, O Jehovah: I said, Thou art my God. My times are in thy hand: Deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me. Make thy face to shine upon thy servant: Save me in thy lovingkindness. Let me not be put to shame, O Jehovah; for I have called upon thee: Let the wicked be put to shame, let them be silent in Sheol. Let the lying lips be dumb, Which speak against the righteous insolently, With pride and contempt." — Psalms 31:9-18 (ASV)

David's troubles made him a man of sorrows. In this, he was a type of Christ, who was acquainted with grief. David acknowledged that his afflictions were deserved because of his own sins, but Christ suffered for ours. David's friends dared not give him any assistance.

Let us not think it strange if we are deserted in this way, but let us make sure of a Friend in heaven who will not fail. God will be sure to order and arrange all things for the best for all those who also commit their spirits into His hand. The time of life is in God's hands, to lengthen or shorten it, make it bitter or sweet, according to the counsel of His will.

A person's way is not in their own hands, nor in our friends' hands, nor in our enemies' hands, but in God's. In this faith and confidence, he prays that the Lord would save him for His mercies' sake, and not for any merit of his own. He prophesies the silencing of those who reproach and speak evil of the people of God.

There is a day coming when the Lord will execute judgment upon them. In the meantime, we should commit ourselves to doing good, if possible, to silence the ignorance of foolish men.