lectionary.com

Lenten Season · Liturgy of the Passion · Year C

Psalm 31:9-16

Into Your Hand I Commit My Spirit

April 9, 2028

The Man of Sorrows, Aelbert Bouts
The Man of Sorrows, Aelbert Bouts, c. 1525The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
Christ, crowned with thorns and weeping, shows the wounds in his hands against a golden ground.Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am in distress; my eye wastes away from grief, my soul and body also.Aelbert BoutsA painter of Leuven, son of Dieric Bouts, who made many small devotional images of the suffering Christ.The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New YorkThe Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, one of the largest art museums in the world.The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
Revised Common Lectionary
GospelLuke 22:14-23:56Lk 22:14-23:56 orLuke 23:1-49Lk 23:1-49
EpistlePhil. 2:5-11Phil 2:5-11
Old TestamentIsa. 50:4-9aIs 50:4-9a
PsalterPs. 31:9-16Ps 31:9-16

Overview & Insights

“Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God.” (Psalm 31:5)

Psalm 31 is an individual lament.[1] The lament proper is found in 31:10–13, where the psalmist complains about his crisis, which, judging from the anatomical language of 31:9–10, was an illness, interpreted by his enemies as God’s ill favor. In view of the declaration of trust in the Lord (31:6, 14), the attestation of his deliverance (31:7–8, 21–22), and the affirmation of God’s goodness as the basis of his trust (31:19), it could be considered an individual psalm of trust.[2] Yet, it is not unusual that trust is an integral part of lament. The unity of the psalm has been disputed because of the repetitious nature of the content and the awkward transition between 31:18 and 19.

From Sermons.com: Join Today to access the most scholarly & well written preaching resources anywhere.

Take it further: Psalm 31:9-16

Commentary

Commentary on Psalm 31:9-16Commentary on Ps 31:9-16 Working Preacher

The Lutheran home commentary on the lament of trust used on Passion Sunday.

Psalm 31:9-16 CommentaryPs 31:9-16 Commentary Center for Excellence in Preaching

A Reformed preaching commentary on the psalm of distress and confidence.

Psalm 31Ps 31 Enduring Word · David Guzik

A verse-by-verse evangelical commentary on trusting the God of refuge.

Background & Word Study

Psalm 31 (Hebrew and English)Ps 31 (Hebrew and English) Sefaria

The Hebrew text with classical Jewish commentary for word study.

The Church Fathers

Psalm 31 (Catena)Ps 31 (Catena) Catena

Patristic commentary on Psalm 31 gathered verse by verse.

Questions preachers ask

How is Psalm 31 a Passion psalm?

The psalmist, scorned by enemies and poured out like water, entrusts himself entirely to God with the very words Jesus speaks from the cross.

Prep at sermons.com

Ready to write?

  • Full sermons on Luke 22:14-23:56 or Luke 23:1-49
  • Illustrations cleared for use in worship
  • Commentary, quotes, and Bible dictionary
Open it at sermons.com →

Trusted by pastors since 1995.

Free every Tuesday

Illustrations & Sermon Prep in your inbox

The coming Sunday’s readings, a cleared-for-use illustration, and a sermon-prep head start. One email, free.