The Book of Psalms (30-Day Journey)ਨਮੂਨਾ

The Quoted Psalms

Psalm 31:1 In you, Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; deliver me in your righteousness. (NIV)

We often think of the book of Psalms as a gift to us, modern readers—but we sometimes forget how deeply it impacted those within Scripture itself. The Psalms were more than poetic inspiration; they were the very words of comfort, strength, and truth that generations of believers, including biblical figures, clung to in their darkest hours.

One remarkable example is Psalm 31. Parts of this chapter were quoted or echoed by many during moments of great trial. The prophet Jeremiah, for instance, referenced Psalm 31:13 six times—across Jeremiah 6:25; 20:3, 10; 46:5; 49:29 and Lamentations 2:22. Jonah seems to allude to Psalm 31:6 in his prayer from the belly of the great fish (Jonah 2:8). Psalm 71, likely written by David, begins by quoting the first three verses of Psalm 31.

In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul draws from Psalm 31:24 when encouraging believers in 1 Corinthians 16:13. Most profoundly, Jesus Himself quoted Psalm 31:5 on the cross: “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit” (Luke 23:46 NIV). These were His final words before He gave up His life. Similarly, Stephen, the first Christian martyr, echoed this verse in Acts 7:59 as he was stoned.

It’s a powerful realization that so many biblical figures turned to Psalm 31 during their darkest and most painful moments. Even today, this psalm and many others remain a source of hope when we walk through tragedy, loss, or confusion. Like them, we can turn not to despair but to God’s Word, which is a steady, trustworthy anchor for our soul.

David opens Psalm 31 with this declaration: “In You, O Lord, I put my trust; let me never be ashamed; deliver me in Your righteousness. (NIV)” Here, David makes a deliberate choice: instead of isolating in pain, he runs to God. He doesn’t follow his emotions—he speaks what he knows to be true. He affirms that God will not fail him and that deliverance will come through God’s righteousness. That last part may be puzzling: how does righteousness deliver us? Wouldn’t we expect strength or power to rescue us instead? Interestingly, this same question troubled a well-known figure in church history—Martin Luther. In the early 16th century, while teaching through the Psalms at the University of Wittenberg, Luther wrestled with the idea that God’s righteousness could be a source of deliverance. To him, it seemed like God’s righteousness would only condemn sinners like himself. But one night, while meditating on Psalm 31:1 and Romans 1:17—“For in it [the gospel] the righteousness of God is revealed…”—he came to a life-changing realization. God's righteousness, revealed in the gospel, isn’t just His holy standard—it’s His gift to the one who believes. It’s the righteousness that He imparts to us by grace, through faith in Jesus. Luther later described this profound moment of realization as passing “through open doors into paradise.” He wrote: “I grasped the truth that the righteousness of God is that righteousness whereby, through grace and sheer mercy, He justifies us by faith. Therefore, I felt myself to be reborn…” It was in that quiet, personal moment that the spark of the Reformation began—first in Luther’s heart, long before any theses were nailed to a church door.

The major takeaway of today's devotional is this: whatever battle you’re facing today, take heart: the righteousness of God—His perfect, unchanging nature—is not only holy and just, but it is also full of mercy. It is a wellspring of joy to those who believe. That joy doesn't depend on your situation—it comes from seeing God clearly and trusting Him fully. Psalm 31 reminds us that we, too, can take refuge in God. We can memorize His words, speak them aloud, and let them become our prayers. In doing so, we’ll find what generations before us have found: a light that leads us through the darkness.