Psalm 31: How Does It Point To Christ?

Psalm 31 is a psalm of David expressing deep distress, complete reliance 
on the Father, and ultimate vindication. Christ fulfills this psalm 
directly in His Passion, crucifixion, and resurrection.

The Commendation of the Spirit (Psalm 31:5)

Text: "Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O LORD 
God of truth."

Fulfillment: Luke 23:46

On the cross, Jesus takes the opening line of Psalm 31:5 as His final 
words before dying: "And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he 
said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, 
he gave up the ghost." Where David expressed daily trust and 
preservation of life, Christ fulfills this in the ultimate act of 
physical death, freely yielding His human spirit into the hands of the 
Father in total confidence of the resurrection.

The Secret Snare and the Betrayal (Psalm 31:4, 13)

Text: "Pull me out of the net that they have laid privily for me: for 
thou art my strength... For I have heard the slander of many: fear was 
on every side: while they took counsel together against me, they devised 
to take away my life."

Fulfillment: Matthew 26:3-4, Matthew 26:14-16

The religious leaders and Judas secretly plotted to trap Christ and put 
Him to death. Matthew records that the chief priests, scribes, and 
elders "consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty, and kill him." 
Christ walks directly into this snare to fulfill the will of the Father, 
enduring the secret conspiracies and slander spoken of by David.

Rejection, Grief, and Abandonment (Psalm 31:9-11)

Text: "Have mercy upon me, O LORD, for I am in trouble: mine eye is 
consumed with grief... I was a reproach among all mine enemies, but 
especially among my neighbours, and a fear to mine acquaintance: they 
that did see me without fled from me."

Fulfillment: Matthew 26:56, Mark 14:50, Isaiah 53:3

During His trial and crucifixion, Christ bore the totality of human 
grief and reproach. When the armed mob seized Him in Gethsemane, "all 
the disciples forsook him, and fled." His closest companions deserted 
Him, fulfilling the reality of being an object of dread and shame to His 
acquaintances.

Regarded as Dead and Discarded (Psalm 31:12)

Text: "I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind: I am like a broken vessel."

Fulfillment: Matthew 27:62-66

Christ was treated as utterly worthless, numbered with transgressors, 
and sealed away in a tomb as one forgotten and finished. The chief 
priests sought to ensure His memory and influence would perish entirely 
by securing the sepulchre with a stone and a guard.

Complete Reliance and Vindication (Psalm 31:14-15, 19-24)

Text: "But I trusted in thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my God. My times 
are in thy hand... Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up 
for them that fear thee... Blessed be the LORD: for he hath shewed me 
his marvellous kindness in a strong city."

Fulfillment: 1 Peter 2:23, Acts 2:24-32

Throughout His unjust suffering, Christ "committed himself to him that 
judgeth righteously." His life, death, and resurrection were held 
entirely in the appointed times of the Father. The Father did not leave 
His soul in Sheol, but raised Him from the dead, demonstrating the 
marvelous goodness and total deliverance prophesied in the conclusion of 
the psalm.


-- 
Good News †

By dying on the cross, Christ canceled the legal debt of our sins 
against God (Colossians 2:14), and God validated this victory by raising 
Him from the grave (Romans 1:4). God is now able to justly declare 
sinners righteous (Romans 3:26) and spare them from His future wrath (1 
Thessalonians 1:10). This grace is freely given to all who place their 
trust in Him (Romans 6:23). Put your faith in the Lord and call on His 
name to be saved (Romans 10:9-13):

How to be saved: christrose.news/salvation