Be Glad In The Lord And His Unfailing Love

I will be glad and rejoice in your unfailing love, for you have seen my troubles, and you care about the anguish of my soul. Psalm 31:7

At the beginning of this Psalm, David, its writer, laid out his petition before the Lord. In the first verse, it appeared like he had some uncertainty about whether or not he would suffer disgrace.

It doesn’t mean the he lacked faith. No, not by a long shot. Sometimes, however, God lets us go through things to build our faith. Even at that, David trusted the source of his protection.

O Lord, I have come to you for protection; don’t let me be disgraced. Save me, for you do what is right. Psalm 31:1

Are we willing to confess that we believe God’s words and actions are right? Or do we fuss and complain about how He does things because He didn’t do them our way?

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David didn’t go in that direction. He wanted God to hear him because, in his mind, he needed God to rescue him quickly. David understood the character of God and often proclaimed it.

Turn your ear to listen to me; rescue me quickly. Be my rock of protection, a fortress where I will be safe. You are my rock and my fortress. For the honor of your name, lead me out of this danger. Psalm 31:2-3

Like David, we often feel surrounded and trapped by the enemy. Sometimes, we find ourselves heading toward a trap, and until we realize it, it’s too late. Then, we, too, must cry out to God.

Pull me from the trap my enemies set for me, for I find protection in you alone. I entrust my spirit into your hand. Rescue me, Lord, for you are a faithful God. Psalm 31:4-5

God’s Protection

In Psalm 31, we find the word protection used four times.

Twice, he said, O Lord, I have come to you for protection.
Once, he said, Be my rock of protection, a fortress where I will be safe.
And in the verse we just referred to, David said, for I find protection in you alone.

I’m glad we can call on the Lord and rest in the security of His protection. When thinking of security, my mind goes to world leaders who rely on teams offering the best protection available.

Yet, as good as their security details function, some have infiltrated their secure parameter. Thus, the infiltrated person shoots at the protected leader and sometimes kills them.

I believe David accepted death as a part of life. Therefore, he took his prayer for protection to another level. He entrusted his spirit into God’s hand, a place no one can infiltrate.

You have not handed me over to my enemies but have set me in a safe place. Psalm 31:8

The Psalmist continued by seeking God’s mercy. In the next several verses he told God his troubles. Maybe you can relate. See if they correspond with things happening in your life.

I am dying from grief. Sin has drained my strength;
I am scorned by all my enemies, even my friends are afraid to come near me.
They ignore me as if I were dead,
I have heard the many rumors about me, and I am surrounded by terror.
My enemies conspire against me, plotting to take my life. Psalm 31:1-13

Be Glad Even When Things Don’t Go Right

Do you feel the world falling in on you? Or do you feel backed into a corner with no way of escape? If so, don’t stay there. Instead, tell God about it. David moved on and trusted God.

But I am trusting you, O Lord, saying, “You are my God!” My future is in your hands. Rescue me from those who hunt me down relentlessly. Psalm 31:14-15

David wanted God to do more than set him free. He wanted his enemies to see God’s hand upon him. And he wanted them to question why he had a glad heart instead of a fearful one.

Let your favor shine on your servant. In your unfailing love, rescue me. Psalm 31:16

When He rescues us and shines His favor on us, we, too, can boast. Not in ourselves but boast on the Lord. Be glad and rejoice! He elevates we who fear Him far above the enemy of our soul.

How great is the goodness you have stored up for those who fear you. You lavish it on those who come to you for protection, blessing them before the watching world. Psalm 31:19

The word fear carries with it two definitions. The negative sense of the word means afraid, as in afraid of the devil. But to fear God means to respect Him. He protects those who fear Him.

You hide them in the shelter of your presence, safe from those who conspire against them. You shelter them in your presence, far from accusing tongues. Psalm 31:20

David praised the Lord. He said that God had shown him the wonders of His unfailing love. With a glad heart, he relied on the Lord because even when under attack, God kept him safe.

God Wants Us to Maintain a Glad Heart

God wants to make your heart glad, so you will continually shout praises unto Him. I know that doubt sometimes overtakes us, as it did with David. When it does, quickly turn away from it.

In panic I cried out, “I am cut off from the Lord!” But you heard my cry for mercy and answered my call for help. Psalm 31:22

You see, God, who rescued you yesterday, will rescue you again today. He doesn’t leave us or forsake us. When it seems like He has left us, He hasn’t; we have moved away from Him.

We move away from God in three major ways: pride, self-reliance, and a lack of faith. Those three become a foundation for many other ways that cause us to move away from the Lord.

David closed this Psalm with some encouraging words to help us stay in tune with our Lord. So, if you want to be glad in the Lord make these last two verses the theme for your life.

Love the Lord, all you godly ones! For the Lord protects those who are loyal to him, but he harshly punishes the arrogant. So be strong and courageous, all you who put your hope in the Lord! Psalm 31:23-24

Lord, thank you for giving us the strength and courage that helps us to maintain our hope in you. Like David, I will be glad and rejoice in your unfailing love.

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