Psalm 31 Prayer Examples From A Psalm

Daily Bible Study for Wednesday August 10, 2016

By: Hanny Lynn Stearns

Fish N Loaves Ministries, Inc.

“Multiplying God’s Word Around The Globe”

Chapter Reading for Today: Please read in your Bible before proceeding. Note that most translations are considered paraphrases. The Young’s Literal Translation provides a more accurate translation since he is the one who authored a concordance. Others are helpful for seeing a different perspective, but we cannot always depend on their wording. I hope this is helpful to you. If you are studying in another version, that is fine. I am studying from the KJV, but for the purpose of this study, I will keep it with the New King James Version.

One final note: I will put the scripture in italics to differentiate from my own writing. I am adding red to the letters when it is Jesus talking – just like the Bible. Thank you.

Bible Gateway Verse of the Day

Psalm 46:1

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 

Psalm 100:4

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,

and into His courts with praise.

Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.

Song: God is My Everything    By: Chicago Mass Choir

Psalm 31

Prayer Examples From A Psalm

If we don’t understand more about who God is, what He can do and the power of prayer by the time we finish studying the Psalms, then there is something seriously wrong! Laugh out loud! We are getting a crash course in all of these things, aren’t we? We go from Christianity “101” to advanced prayer techniques all by studying these books known as the “Psalter”, a collection of prayers and hymns. Even though the New Testament gives us the correct prayer principals to abide by in these days and times according to the instructions given us by the Master – Jesus, the Psalms are a reflection of powerful and effective prayers en route to the ears of the Lord.  Let’s pray…

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for the joy we get when we place our trust in You! We are filled with gladness, just like David said he was, and we rejoice in You as we turn to You in every situation our lives may encounter. Father, teach Your children today in this lesson what it means to fully place our trust in You. Show us how to pray effectively as we study Your word so that we can get results. Then Lord, as we learn, bring us to others that we can tell and encourage by what we have learned. Father, I ask You to quicken our hearts and establish Your word in them today. Cause Your message to go out through my mind, my heart and my hands unhindered and unchecked by any outside force or my flesh. Father, we always want to be doers of Your word and not forgetful hearers. Thank You for always watching over Your word to perform it in our lives when we trust and obey You. Thank You in advance for the answer to this prayer. We believe we receive it and give You all the glory in Jesus name. Amen.

Jeremiah 1:12

Then the Lord said to me, “You have seen well, for I am ready to perform My word.”

There are several things that the Psalmist points out about who God is and what He does. Some of the titles and purposes are used interchangeably. Let’s review some of them…

God – Creator of the heavens, earth, man, animals, everything seen and unseen

Savior – The One who saved us from an eternity in hell

Helper – Helps His people in every situation they face

Strong Rock – Someone solid to stand on

Fortress – A strong place of security

Redeemer – One who bought us back from the snares of the devil

Deliverer – Delivers us from the yoke of the enemy

Merciful – Shows us kindness we don’t deserve

All Knowing – Knows the depths of our hearts at all times

God of Truth – There is nothing false in Him

Shelter – Protection from the enemy and storms of life

Here’s What’s Happening…

Our man of God is calling on the Lord. He is placing his trust in God. He is asking for deliverance from his enemies, and petitioning the Lord to hear him out. And we can know for certain that He did. David looked to God as a shelter – a place of safety and defense from his enemies. He looked to the Lord for His leading and guidance in the situation he faced. Can you see the examples that are set for us saints? Let’s move on. David was specific in his requests. He asked the Lord to pull him out of the enemy’s snares. He committed himself to the Lord. That’s always a good thing to do. We discussed this before but it bears repeating. David recognized what God has done for him in the past. The Lord wants us to remember what He has done and it also gives us more faith for our current situation, remembering that He had been faithful in the past.

David knew the benefits he would receive for trusting in the Lord. He would be glad and rejoicing. That’s good news, isn’t it? He also appreciated where God had brought him too. No matter where we are at the present moment, it is good to recognize where God has brought us to thus far. And He has kept us, regardless of what we are currently dealing with. We must never forget that. 

David was in a current situation that required the Lord’s help and he asked Him for His mercy. In verses 9-10, we see that he was dealing with some personal sin that had brought grief, sighing, and weakness. How many know that when we are living in sin, it will show up in our bodies? It is true. Sickness can reveal sin. When Job had sinned it showed up as sore boils from his head to his toe. He could tell us all about these verses we can be sure. I myself can admit that when I was not living right with the Lord I was dealing with a lot of sickness and overall weakness – it was awful!

We see that because of his situation, he was a target of the enemy. When we are outside of the will of God and/or when we are living in sin, the enemy comes at us like an arrow flying toward the bull’s eye marked smack dab in the center of our forehead!  People avoided David like the plaque. He was like a dead man – out of sight and out of mind. I can relate, how about you? When I was in my storm of the century, all the people I knew and was once in good fellowship with avoided me. Even those I had known since childhood stayed far away from me. It was terribly lonely and heart breaking. But that’s what sin can do. It is a thief. It steals our peace, our joy and our relationship with the Lord and with others.

Psalm 38:3

There is no soundness in my flesh because of Your anger, nor any health in my bones because of my sin.

David was like a broken vessel. Maybe many of you can understand this more than I ever could. I know what it was like for me when I had to crawl my way to the Savior’s loving arms back in 2005. I had made a horrendous mess of my life and also the lives of the ones I claimed to love the most – my husband and children. I hurt everyone so terribly because I was hurting. Hurting people hurt other people. It is a known fact. Inside I was shattered. I was a pile of broken pieces. Like Humpty Dumpty, I had a great fall. It took the King of kings to put me back together again – amen!

Proverbs 17:22

A merry heart does good, like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones.

Psalm 147:3

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

The people around David were saying some ‘not so nice’ things about him. Ever been there? It doesn’t feel good, does it? That’s how the enemy works – through people. He uses their minds to get them to say unkind things. When those folks are ruled more by their flesh than the Spirit, they are wide open to be used of the enemy to attack those who are the Lord’s elect when they are in trouble.

Ephesians 6:12

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

There were spirits of fear surrounding him like a pack of hungry wolves. Fear is a spirit. It isn’t just a feeling. It is a real spirit and it is evil. When we are in sin, then evil spirits have an open door to come against us. Even when we are not in sin the enemy will try to come against us. The difference in that case is that we are protected if we are trusting in the Lord and keeping ourselves free of sin. The enemy is always planning our demise. David knew it. He was surrounded by maybe thousands who were hunting him down and looking to kill him. A person in the position he held is always a prime target for attack. The devil likes to go after leaders. If he can take them out, he can take a whole lot of people down with them.

Here’s What David Did…

David made a firm decision that he was going to trust God. He said it and he followed through with it. He declared that the Lord was his God. Have you done that when you faced a trail? Did you step up and say, “God, You are my God. I am going to trust You in this no matter what happens!” Have you placed your life in His capable hands? David did, and he was used as our example for right now today, in whatever comes against us. We can do exactly what he did. David placed his entire life into the hands of his God and asked the Lord to deliver him. He was specific. He made a request. He told the Lord what he wanted. Did you know that we have to ask also? Look at this…

John 16:24

Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

David asked the Lord to shine His face upon His servant, or in other words, look upon him with favor. That’s a good request. He asked the Lord to save him, knowing that He is merciful. Do you know of His mercy? Do you realize that He wants to save your life from the troubles that surround you? If not, I want to encourage you. Do not listen to what people tell you. Put Your hope in God. Listen to and meditate on His word. David wanted the Lord to spare him from the embarrassment of failure in the eyes of his enemies because he had called on God. And the Lord will never allow that to happen when we are fully placing our trust in Him. Never!

Isaiah 41:13

For I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, ‘Fear not, I will help you.’

David asked the Lord to let the wicked ones be the ones who would be ashamed instead of him. He knew that the vengeance belonged to the Lord…

Romans 12:19

Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.

Acknowledging God’s Goodness…

Here’s the truth about God – He is good, all of the time! Hallelujah! He reserves His goodness for those who fear Him and place their trust in Him. Yes, those are the ones who will see His goodness in the land of the living…

Psalm 27:13

I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.

And He hides them in the secret place of His shelter…

Psalm 91 The Entire Chapter

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
² I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress;
My God, in Him I will trust.”

³ Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler
And from the perilous pestilence.
⁴ He shall cover you with His feathers,
And under His wings you shall take refuge;
His truth shall be your shield and buckler.
⁵ You shall not be afraid of the terror by night,
Nor of the arrow that flies by day,
⁶ Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness,
Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.

⁷ A thousand may fall at your side,
And ten thousand at your right hand;
But it shall not come near you.
⁸ Only with your eyes shall you look,
And see the reward of the wicked.

⁹ Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge,
Even the Most High, your dwelling place,
¹⁰ No evil shall befall you,
Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;
¹¹ For He shall give His angels charge over you,
To keep you in all your ways.
¹² In their hands they shall bear you up,
Lest you dash your foot against a stone.
¹³ You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra,
The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.

¹⁴ “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him;
I will set him on high, because he has known My name.
¹⁵ He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will deliver him and honor him.
¹⁶ With long life I will satisfy him,
And show him My salvation.”

Friends, we cannot look at or say this Psalm too much! In fact, I encourage you to say it out loud for yourself every day. Put your name in where it would be appropriate. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. The more you say it, the more you will believe it. When we decree a thing it will be established. So decree God’s word over your life every day and I can tell you from personal experience that you will see positive changes come to pass in your life as a result – praise His name forever!

The Lord will keep us from the evil doers. He will protect us from those who are proud and who bring forth strife (opposition, contention, etc.) with their mouths.

Our Response To What God Has Done For us…

David responded to what the Lord had done for him by blessing the Lord! Did you know that you can bless the Lord? Yes, by how we live and trust in Him – that will bless Him greatly! Also, we can even tell our souls to bless Him…

Psalm 103:1-5

Bless the Lord, O my soul;
And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
² Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And forget not all His benefits:
³ Who forgives all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases,
⁴ Who redeems your life from destruction,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
⁵ Who satisfies your mouth with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

David praised the Lord for showing him His wonderful kindness when he was in a place that was far too strong for him to deal with in his life. Have you seen the Lord do that for you? If so, what has been your response to Him for that kindness? Have you thanked Him regularly and blessed His heart? He appreciates that you know. Like we studied yesterday about the ten lepers, He appreciates the ones who take the time to come back and magnify Him and acknowledge His goodness to Him with gratitude. Many don’t do that. Many just go back to life as usual once the Lord gets them out of the pinch they are in. It is so SADD-U-CEE! He is worthy of all our praise and thanks on a regular basis – like every day!

1 Chronicles 16:12

Remember His marvelous works which He has done, His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth,

Job 5:8-9

“But as for me, I would seek God, and to God I would commit my cause— Who does great things, and unsearchable, marvelous things without number.

Psalm 17:7

Show Your marvelous lovingkindness by Your right hand, O You who save those who trust in You from those who rise up against them.

Psalm 139:14

I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well.

The next thing that David notes here is that he had spoken hastily (speedily – too quick with his mouth! Anyone out there ever done this besides me? Hmmmm…LOL! He was thinking that he was cut off from the Lord. But even with all of that – God had still heard his cries for help. Praise the Lord. Sometimes when we are going through a trial we can imagine that the Lord has turned away from us. But in reality He is right there. When we seek Him in humility and in truth, He is there and ready to help. There are many factors that will make a difference in whether God can answer our prayers. One thing we must have is faith. That is key. We cannot please Him without it.

We also have to believe that He hears us and that we receive the answer the minute we pray. Again, there are certain rules that apply to effective prayer, and every Christian needs to properly study this out so everyone can get the results they are looking for. The Kenneth E. Hagin Bible study prayer guide is marvelous for showing us exactly how the Master Himself taught brother Kenneth to pray. He had 55 years of getting all his prayers for himself answered. That’s a great track record, isn’t it? Every one of us can have that. It is not just for him.

Now I am Going To Tell Others…

As we near the crescendo ending of this great Psalm, David was telling people to love the Lord! David assures us that God will preserve the faithful while giving the proud exactly what they have coming. Look at this wonderful song of praise that another person in the Bible bellowed out of a heart overflowing with gratitude for all that God had done…

Luke 1:46-55

The Song of Mary

⁴⁶ And Mary said:

“My soul magnifies the Lord,
⁴⁷ And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
⁴⁸ For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant;
For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.
⁴⁹ For He who is mighty has done great things for me,
And holy is His name.
⁵⁰ And His mercy is on those who fear Him
From generation to generation.
⁵¹ He has shown strength with His arm;
He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
⁵² He has put down the mighty from their thrones,
And exalted the lowly.
⁵³ He has filled the hungry with good things,
And the rich He has sent away empty.
⁵⁴ He has helped His servant Israel,
In remembrance of His mercy,
⁵⁵ As He spoke to our fathers,
To Abraham and to his seed forever.”

When I look at this song of praise, I call it “Hanny’s song” because it is my sentiment exactly! Glory to God! He has done all the things the Bible says He will do for me and that my soul knows very well. I rejoice in the Lord who pulled me out of such a slimy pit. It is a wonder to me that so many Christians are silent about what the Lord has done for them. When we stop to think of what He has spared us from, we should be ready at the drop of a hat – so to speak, to tell someone, anyone who will listen about how good God is. In our world today there is so much sorrow and death filling the spiritual airways in people’s lives. They are desperate for some good news. People long to hear a good report about something.

If we can’t come up with something good to tell others about what God has done for us, then maybe we should check ourselves to be sure we got born again in the first place. Any heart that experienced God’s love and help will have something to shout and get excited about. Does that describe you? The gospel means “good news” and if someone gave you the good news and you received it and got saved, then you have some good news to tell others. We don’t have to know a litany of scriptures off the top of our heads.

If you got saved, you were there and you know what Jesus did for you. All you have to do then is tell someone else about it and Holy Spirit will take it from there. That’s it – simple, isn’t it? Anybody can do it. That’s basically what Paul traveled from town to town doing. He was telling people his testimony of what the Lord had done for him and why he is eager to tell others. As long as I live I never want to stop telling people about the goodness of God in the land of the living. If it were not for Him, I assure you that I would not be here sending you this Bible study – praise His name forever!

Encourage Others…

David’s closing words are words we can all tell people – “Be courageous!” God will strengthen you! He will do this for any heart that places their hope and trust in Him…

Psalm 27:14

Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the Lord!

Isaiah 41:10

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’

Isaiah 58:58:11

The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in drought, and strengthen your bones; you shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.

Jesus even prayed for Peter so that once he repented and returned to the Lord, he would go out and strengthen the other brothers and sisters in the body of Christ…

Luke 22:32

But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.”

Not only are we called to tell others what God has done for us – both in the church and in the streets of the lost, but we have been commissioned to encourage one another. We all need it. That’s why we all need to be in a church every week. We need to establish relationships. We need to give an encouraging word to the person sitting next to us who may be going through a tough time. Maybe you have experienced something similar and gained the victory – and the Lord can use your testimony to encourage them to stay in the good fight of faith.

When your chair is empty at church, someone is missing the blessing you could be used to give them, and you are missing the blessing that someone can be used to give you. God can’t use us to help the body if we are dismembered! A finger laying out in left field somewhere can’t do a single thing to help the rest of the hand. Paul said we should not stop meeting together as some are in the habit of doing. If you aren’t in a good Bible teaching church – find one. Stay where God plants you and do not move unless and until He tells you to go. Obedience is critical to receiving blessings. Hallelujah! 

Questions:

List the characteristics about God that stood out to you the most in this chapter.

What was the number one thing David was doing in this Psalm?

Name some of the things he was asking the Lord for.

Why was David experiencing sickness or weakness?

What did David decide to do for help?

What main trait did he acknowledge about God?

What was David’s response to the way the Lord had helped him?

What did David tell us to do in verse 23?

What was his encouragement to us in the last verse?

List some of the ways that the Lord has helped you.

What has been your response to Him as a result?

Are you telling others about His goodness? If not, explain why and take it to prayer.

How would you encourage someone who is hurting right now?

What has helped you the most in this study?

There are three main points to consider from today’s study…

When trouble comes we can depend on God

It is important to acknowledge what He has done for us and tell others about it

Encouraging others is a commission for all believers

Let’s pray…

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for always being there for me in times of trouble. Lord, I want to praise You for all You have done for me. You have been there for me time and time again! Father, I desire to tell others about Your goodness and how You delivered me. I want to encourage people because You have encouraged me. Show me who I can be a blessing to. Show me who I can tell. As You do, Lord, I will make it my goal to be a faithful steward of Your word for them. Thank You in advance in Jesus name. Amen.

Who do you know right now that might need a word of encouragement?

And God Said… You fill in the blanks.

Malachi 2:5-6

“My covenant was with him, one of life and peace,
And I gave them to him that he might fear Me;
So he feared Me
And was reverent before My name.
The law of truth was in his mouth,
And injustice was not found on his lips.
He walked with Me in peace and equity,
And turned many away from iniquity.

That was the life of David. Does it describe you?