Psalm 31:2-8 Bow down your ear to me; deliver me speedily: be you my strong rock, for an house of defense to save me. What a helpless, hopeless thing would a ship be, launched forth upon the deep without a helm, and without a pilot; how it would be drifted about by every current, and tossed to and fro by every wind and wave; how speedily it must be driven amid the shoals, or dashed upon the rocks. No better is man, launched forth on the waves of this troublesome world. Without a Divine helmsman, how must he inevitably be drifted into danger, and betrayed into ruin, if he follows his own wit, and will, and wisdom! The very essence of all Christian life is to walk by faith and not by sight, and the very essence of Divine wisdom in heaven-taught man is to "trust in the Lord" with all his might, and not to trust in himself, not to trust in his own understanding. How appropriate, then, is this prayer for us all. I. THE PETITION. "Lead me and guide me." It implies — 1. That a man feels that he cannot guide himself. 2. That he believes God does interpose in the affairs of men, and that He condescends to guide and lead all who trust in Him. 3. Expectation that God will direct us. Some pray but never wait for the answer. 4. And there must be leading as well as guiding. II. THE PLEA. Some plead that they do their best: but they do not. This is the true plea — "Thy name's sake," God's gracious character. It is a believer's prayer. God's providence, word, and spirit will make plain to us our way. Let us each adopt this prayer. (Hugh Stowell.) Parallel Verses KJV: Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to save me.WEB: Bow down your ear to me. Deliver me speedily. Be to me a strong rock, a house of defense to save me. |
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