Psalm 31:9
Be merciful to me, O LORD, for I am in distress; my eyes fail from sorrow, my soul and body as well.
Be merciful to me, O LORD
The plea for mercy is a recurring theme throughout the Psalms, reflecting the psalmist's deep awareness of human frailty and the need for divine compassion. The Hebrew word for "merciful" here is "חָנַן" (chanan), which conveys a sense of graciousness and favor. This plea is directed to "O LORD," using the sacred name "Yahweh," emphasizing a personal relationship with God. The psalmist acknowledges that only the LORD, the covenant-keeping God of Israel, can provide the grace and mercy needed in times of trouble.

for I am in distress
The word "distress" in Hebrew is "צָרָה" (tsarah), which can denote a tight or narrow place, symbolizing the pressure and constraints of difficult circumstances. The psalmist's admission of distress is an honest acknowledgment of his vulnerability and need for divine intervention. Historically, this reflects the many times Israel found itself in dire situations, relying on God's deliverance. It is a reminder that believers can bring their troubles to God, trusting in His ability to rescue and provide relief.

my eyes fail from sorrow
The imagery of failing eyes suggests overwhelming grief and exhaustion. In Hebrew, "fail" is "כָּלָה" (kalah), meaning to be consumed or spent. The eyes, often seen as windows to the soul, reflect the depth of the psalmist's emotional pain. This phrase captures the physical manifestation of inner turmoil, a common experience for those enduring prolonged suffering. It serves as a poignant reminder that God sees and understands the full extent of our sorrow.

my soul and body as well
The Hebrew words for "soul" (נֶפֶשׁ, nephesh) and "body" (בֶּטֶן, beten) encompass the entirety of the psalmist's being. "Nephesh" often refers to the life force or inner self, while "beten" can mean the belly or womb, symbolizing the physical aspect of a person. This holistic expression of distress indicates that the psalmist's suffering affects both his spiritual and physical state. It underscores the biblical understanding that humans are integrated beings, where spiritual anguish can manifest in physical symptoms. This comprehensive cry for help invites believers to seek God's healing for both soul and body, trusting in His power to restore wholeness.

Persons / Places / Events
1. David
Traditionally attributed as the author of Psalm 31, David is expressing a deep personal lament and plea for God's mercy during a time of distress.

2. The LORD (Yahweh)
The covenant name of God, to whom David directs his plea for mercy and deliverance.

3. Distress
The emotional and physical state of suffering that David is experiencing, which is a central theme of this verse.

4. Eyes, Soul, and Body
These represent the totality of David's being, indicating that his distress affects him physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

5. Sorrow
The deep emotional pain that David is experiencing, which is causing his eyes to fail, symbolizing overwhelming grief.
Teaching Points
Understanding Distress
Recognize that distress can affect every part of our being—physically, emotionally, and spiritually. It's important to acknowledge and address each aspect.

Seeking God's Mercy
In times of overwhelming sorrow, our first response should be to seek God's mercy, trusting in His compassion and willingness to comfort us.

The Role of Lament
Lament is a biblical way to express our deepest pains and sorrows to God. It is not a sign of weak faith but a demonstration of trust in God's character.

Holistic Healing
God's mercy and comfort can bring healing to our entire being—our eyes (perspective), soul (emotions), and body (physical health).

Community Support
While personal prayer is vital, sharing our burdens with a faith community can provide additional support and encouragement.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does David's expression of distress in Psalm 31:9 resonate with your own experiences of sorrow and suffering?

2. In what ways can you actively seek God's mercy in your current circumstances, and how might this change your perspective?

3. How does understanding the holistic impact of distress (on eyes, soul, and body) influence the way you approach your own or others' suffering?

4. What role does lament play in your spiritual life, and how can you incorporate it more intentionally in your relationship with God?

5. How can you support others in your community who are experiencing distress, and what biblical principles can guide your actions?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Psalm 6:6-7
This passage also describes David's weeping and physical exhaustion due to distress, showing a similar emotional state.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4
Paul speaks of God as the "Father of compassion" and "God of all comfort," which aligns with David's plea for mercy.

Matthew 5:4
Jesus' teaching on the blessedness of those who mourn, as they will be comforted, connects to the theme of seeking God's mercy in times of sorrow.

Isaiah 53:3-4
The prophecy of the suffering servant who is acquainted with grief, paralleling the experience of distress and sorrow.

1 Peter 5:7
Encourages believers to cast all their anxieties on God, for He cares for them, echoing David's reliance on God's mercy.
The Saint Rehearsing His Experience of the Great Protector's CareC. Clemance Psalm 31:1-24
Duty and DestinyW. Forsyth Psalm 31:5, 15
A Story of Suffering and SorrowC. Short Psalm 31:9-18
The Complaints of a Sufferer, and the Entreaties of a SuppliantHomilistPsalm 31:9-18
The Exhausting Ministry of SinJ. H. Jowett, M. A.Psalm 31:9-18
People
David, Psalmist
Places
Jerusalem
Topics
Belly, Body, Consumed, Distress, Eye, Favour, Gracious, Grief, Grow, Mercy, O, Provocation, Sorrow, Soul, Trouble, Vexation, Waste, Wasted, Wasteth, Weak, Yea, Yes
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Psalm 31:9

     5134   blindness, natural
     5796   bereavement, experience
     5952   sorrow
     5970   unhappiness

Psalm 31:9-10

     5136   body
     5559   stress
     5582   tiredness
     5888   inferiority
     8358   weakness, physical

Psalm 31:9-12

     5398   loss
     5831   depression
     8713   discouragement

Psalm 31:9-13

     5569   suffering, hardship

Library
Goodness Wrought and Goodness Laid Up
'Oh how great is Thy goodness, which Thou hast laid up for them that fear Thee; which Thou hast wrought for them that trust in Thee before the sons of men!'--PSALM xxxi. 19. The Psalmist has been describing, with the eloquence of misery, his own desperate condition, in all manner of metaphors which he heaps together--'sickness,' 'captivity,' 'like a broken vessel,' 'as a dead man out of mind.' But in the depth of desolation he grasps at God's hand, and that lifts him up out of the pit. 'I trusted
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Hid in Light
'Thou shall hide them in the secret of Thy presence from the pride of man; Thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.'--PSALM xxxi. 20. The word rendered 'presence' is literally 'face,' and the force of this very remarkable expression of confidence is considerably marred unless that rendering be retained. There are other analogous expressions in Scripture, setting forth, under various metaphors, God's protection of them that love Him. But I know not that there is any
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

'Into Thy Hands'
'Into Thine hand I commit my spirit: Thou hast redeemed me, O Lord God of truth.'--PSALM xxxi. 5. The first part of this verse is consecrated for ever by our Lord's use of it on the Cross. Is it not wonderful that, at that supreme hour, He deigned to take an unknown singer's words as His words? What an honour to that old saint that Jesus Christ, dying, should find nothing that more fully corresponded to His inmost heart at that moment than the utterance of the Psalmist long ago! How His mind must
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

'Lying Vanities'
'They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy.'--JONAH 11. 8. Jonah's refusal to obey the divine command to go to Nineveh and cry against it is best taken, not as prosaic history, but as a poetical representation of Israel's failure to obey the divine call of witnessing for God. In like manner, his being cast into the sea and swallowed by the great fish, is a poetic reproduction, for homiletical purposes, of Israel's sufferings at the hands of the heathen whom it had failed to warn. The
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Be for Thou Art'
Be Thou to me a strong Rock, an house of defence to save me. 3. For Thou art my Rock and my Fortress.'--PSALM xxxi. 2, 3 (R.V.). It sounds strange logic, 'Be ... for Thou art,' and yet it is the logic of prayer, and goes very deep, pointing out both its limits and its encouragements. The parallelism between these two clauses is even stronger in the original than in our Version, for whilst the two words which designate the 'Rock' are not identical, their meaning is identical, and the difference
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

"My Times are in Thy Hand"
Having thus taken to the best resource by trusting in Jehovah, and having made the grandest claim possible by saying, "Thou art my God", the Psalmist now stays himself upon a grand old doctrine, one of the most wonderful that was ever revealed to men. He sings, "My times are in thy hand." This to him was a most cheering fact: he had no fear as to his circumstances, since all things were in the divine hand. He was not shut up unto the hand of the enemy; but his feet stood in a large room, for he was
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 37: 1891

That it is Sweet to Despise the World and to Serve God
Now will I speak again, O my Lord, and hold not my peace; I will say in the ears of my God, my Lord, and my King, who is exalted above all, Oh how plentiful is Thy goodness which Thou hast laid up for them that fear Thee!(1) But what art Thou to those who love Thee? What to those who serve Thee with their whole heart? Truly unspeakable is the sweetness of the contemplation of Thee, which Thou bestowest upon those who love Thee. In this most of all Thou hast showed me the sweetness of Thy charity,
Thomas A Kempis—Imitation of Christ

An Exhortation to Love God
1. An exhortation. Let me earnestly persuade all who bear the name of Christians to become lovers of God. "O love the Lord, all ye his saints" (Psalm xxxi. 23). There are but few that love God: many give Him hypocritical kisses, but few love Him. It is not so easy to love God as most imagine. The affection of love is natural, but the grace is not. Men are by nature haters of God (Rom. i. 30). The wicked would flee from God; they would neither be under His rules, nor within His reach. They fear God,
Thomas Watson—A Divine Cordial

Father, I Know that all My Life
"My times are in Thy hand." -- Psalm 31:15 Father, I know that all my life Is portioned out for me, And the changes that are sure to come, I do not fear to see; But I ask Thee for a present mind Intent on pleasing Thee. I ask Thee for a thoughtful love, Through constant watching wise, To meet the glad with joyful smiles, And to wipe the weeping eyes; And a heart at leisure from itself, To soothe and sympathize. I would not have the restless will That hurries to and fro, Seeking for some great
Miss A. L. Waring—Hymns and Meditations

His Journey to South Russia.
1853. The call which John Yeardley had received to visit the German colonies in South Russia, and which had lain for a long time dormant, now revived. A friend who had watched with regret his unsuccessful attempts on former journeys to enter that jealous country, and who augured from the political changes which had taken place that permission might probably now be obtained, brought the subject again under his notice. The admonition was timely and effectual. After carefully pondering the matter--with,
John Yeardley—Memoir and Diary of John Yeardley, Minister of the Gospel

Whether Faith is Required of Necessity in the Minister of a Sacrament?
Objection 1: It seems that faith is required of necessity in the minister of a sacrament. For, as stated above [4401](A[8]), the intention of the minister is necessary for the validity of a sacrament. But "faith directs in intention" as Augustine says against Julian (In Psalm xxxi, cf. Contra Julian iv). Therefore, if the minister is without the true faith, the sacrament is invalid. Objection 2: Further, if a minister of the Church has not the true faith, it seems that he is a heretic. But heretics,
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

Other Fragments on the Psalms. Ii.
On Psalm xxxi. 22. Of the Triumph of the Christian Faith. The mercy of God is not so "marvellous" when it is shown in humbler cities as when it is shown in "a strong city," [1389] and for this reason "God is to be blessed."
Hippolytus—The Extant Works and Fragments of Hippolytus

My Spirit on Thy Care
[861]Emmaus: [862]St. Michael: Louis Bourgeois, 1551; Arr. William Crotch, 1836 Psalm 31 Henry F. Lyte, 1834 My spirit on Thy care, Blest Savior, I recline; Thou wilt not leave me to despair, For Thou art love divine. In Thee I place my trust, On Thee I calmly rest; I know Thee good, I know Thee just, And count thy choice the best. Whate'er events betide, Thy will they all perform: Safe in Thy breast my head I hide, Nor fear the coming storm. Let good or ill befall, It must be good for me; Secure
Various—The Hymnal of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the USA

How God Works in the Hearts of Men.
1. Connection of this chapter with the preceding. Augustine's similitude of a good and bad rider. Question answered in respect to the devil. 2. Question answered in respect to God and man. Example from the history of Job. The works of God distinguished from the works of Satan and wicked men. 1. By the design or end of acting. How Satan acts in the reprobate. 2. How God acts in them. 3. Old Objection, that the agency of God in such cases is referable to prescience or permission, not actual operation.
John Calvin—The Institutes of the Christian Religion

Covenanting Confers Obligation.
As it has been shown that all duty, and that alone, ought to be vowed to God in covenant, it is manifest that what is lawfully engaged to in swearing by the name of God is enjoined in the moral law, and, because of the authority of that law, ought to be performed as a duty. But it is now to be proved that what is promised to God by vow or oath, ought to be performed also because of the act of Covenanting. The performance of that exercise is commanded, and the same law which enjoins that the duties
John Cunningham—The Ordinance of Covenanting

Appendix xiv. The Law in Messianic Times.
THE question as to the Rabbinic views in regard to the binding character of the Law, and its imposition on the Gentiles, in Messianic times, although, strictly speaking, not forming part of this history, is of such vital importance in connection with recent controversies as to demand special consideration. In the text to which this Appendix refers it has been indicated, that a new legislation was expected in Messianic days. The ultimate basis of this expectancy must be sought in the Old Testament
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

There are Some Things of this Sort Even of Our Saviour in the Gospel...
27. There are some things of this sort even of our Saviour in the Gospel, because the Lord of the Prophets deigned to be Himself also a Prophet. Such are those where, concerning the woman which had an issue of blood, He said, "Who touched Me?" [2431] and of Lazarus. "Where have ye laid him?" [2432] He asked, namely, as if not knowing that which in any wise He knew. And He did on this account feign that He knew not, that He might signify somewhat else by that His seeming ignorance: and since this
St. Augustine—Against Lying

The Death of the Righteous
'For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.' Phil 1:1I. Paul was a great admirer of Christ. He desired to know nothing but Christ, and him crucified. I Cor 2:2. No medicine like the blood of Christ; and in the text, For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.' I. For to me to live is Christ. We must understand Paul of a spiritual life. For to me to live is Christ, i.e.' Christ is my life; so Gregory of Nyssa; or thus, my life is made up of Christ. As a wicked man's life is made up of sin,
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

How they are to be Admonished who Lament Sins of Deed, and those who Lament Only Sins of Thought.
(Admonition 30.) Differently to be admonished are those who deplore sins of deed, and those who deplore sins of thought. For those who deplore sins of deed are to be admonished that perfected lamentations should wash out consummated evils, lest they be bound by a greater debt of perpetrated deed than they pay in tears of satisfaction for it. For it is written, He hath given us drink in tears by measure (Ps. lxxix. 6): which means that each person's soul should in its penitence drink the tears
Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great

The Nature of Justification
Justification in the active sense (iustificatio, {GREEK SMALL LETTER DELTA}{GREEK SMALL LETTER IOTA}{GREEK SMALL LETTER KAPPA}{GREEK SMALL LETTER ALPHA}{GREEK SMALL LETTER IOTA WITH OXIA}{GREEK SMALL LETTER OMEGA}{GREEK SMALL LETTER SIGMA}{GREEK SMALL LETTER IOTA}{GREEK SMALL LETTER FINAL SIGMA}) is defined by the Tridentine Council as "a translation from that state wherein man is born a child of the first Adam, to the state of grace and of the adoption of the sons of God through the second Adam,
Joseph Pohle—Grace, Actual and Habitual

"The Truth. " Some Generals Proposed.
That what we are to speak to for the clearing and improving this noble piece of truth, that Christ is the Truth, may be the more clearly understood and edifying, we shall first take notice of some generals, and then show particularly how or in what respects Christ is called the Truth; and finally speak to some cases wherein we are to make use of Christ as the Truth. As to the first. There are four general things here to be noticed. 1. This supposeth what our case by nature is, and what we are all
John Brown (of Wamphray)—Christ The Way, The Truth, and The Life

Jesus, My Rock.
When the storm and the tempest are raging around me, Oh! where shall I flee to be safe from their shock? There are walls which no mortal hands built to surround me, A Refuge Eternal,--'Tis JESUS MY ROCK! When my heart is all sorrow, and trials aggrieve me, To whom can I safely my secrets unlock? No bosom (save one) has the power to relieve me, The bosom which bled for me, JESUS MY ROCK! When Life's gloomy curtain, at last, shall close o'er me, And the chill hand of death unexpectedly knock, I will
John Ross Macduff—The Cities of Refuge: or, The Name of Jesus

The Communion of Saints.
"The Saints on earth, and those above, But one communion make; Joined to their Lord in bonds of love, All of His grace partake." The history of the extension of the Church of Christ from one land to another, and of the successive victories won by the Cross over heathen races from age to age, gives by itself a very imperfect idea of the meaning of the words "The Holy Catholic Church." Because, with the outward extension of the Church, its influence upon the inner man needs always to be considered.
Edward Burbidge—The Kingdom of Heaven; What is it?

Of Faith. The Definition of It. Its Peculiar Properties.
1. A brief recapitulation of the leading points of the whole discussion. The scope of this chapter. The necessity of the doctrine of faith. This doctrine obscured by the Schoolmen, who make God the object of faith, without referring to Christ. The Schoolmen refuted by various passages. 2. The dogma of implicit faith refuted. It destroys faith, which consists in a knowledge of the divine will. What this will is, and how necessary the knowledge of it. 3. Many things are and will continue to be implicitly
John Calvin—The Institutes of the Christian Religion

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