Psalm 31:2 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Incline your ear to me; rescue me speedily! Be a rock of refuge for me, a strong fortress to save me!

NIV: Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me.

NASB: Incline Your ear to me, rescue me quickly; Be a rock of strength for me, A stronghold to save me.

CSB: Listen closely to me; rescue me quickly. Be a rock of refuge for me, a mountain fortress to save me.

NLT: Turn your ear to listen to me; rescue me quickly. Be my rock of protection, a fortress where I will be safe.

KJV: Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to save me.

NKJV: Bow down Your ear to me, Deliver me speedily; Be my rock of refuge, A fortress of defense to save me.

David asks God to quickly answer his prayer. This suggests the urgency in which David needed the Lord's help. David's need of rescue may have been physical, emotional, spiritual, or all three. At many times in his life, he was under attack (1 Samuel 23:25; 2 Samuel 21:15). These situations would make him physically and emotionally exhausted. Perhaps the enemy was closing in on him. When danger was close, it would be natural to wonder if the Lord still cared about him (Psalm 22:1). And yet, God heard his prayer and met his need.

This psalm reminds believers of God's personal relationship to His people. David personally takes refuge in the Lord and calls to Him in the midst of need, trusting God will listen or "incline His ear." Every believer in Jesus Christ has a personal relationship with God. John 1:12 identifies all who receive Jesus as Savior as God's children. Galatians 4:5 teaches that God sent His Son into the world to redeem us "so that we might receive adoption as sons." The next verse explains: "And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, 'Abba, Father!'" (Galatians 4:6). We can all come to God in prayer, knowing He will hear us (Hebrews 4:14–16; 1 Peter 3:12; 1 John 5:14–15).

Phrases such as "rock of refuge" emphasize the safety and trust which believers are meant to invest in God.

Psalm 31:1–8 reveals David's trust in God to rescue him from his enemies. He detests idolaters but rejoices in the Lord's unfailing love. He praises the Lord for protecting him and allowing him to stand in a spacious place. These verses parallel similar psalms, in which David looks back on God's prior rescues in answer to prayer.

Because God has rescued him in the past, David chooses to trust the Lord even when he is in danger. Neighbors and friends may abandon him, and enemies may plot, but David is confident he will be vindicated. He also calls on others to be firm and brave as they choose to trust in God.

David mentions dangers and enemies in this psalm. He may have been referring to besieged cities such as Keilah (1 Samuel 23:1–15) or Ziklag (1 Samuel 30). Despite the plots of his enemies and abandonment by friends, David trusts in the Lord, receives an answer to his prayer, and encourages his fellow believers to love the Lord and be strong. This echoes themes also seen in Psalms 4, 25, and 71.

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.