Psalms 31:19

My Notes

What Does Psalms 31:19 Mean?

Psalm 31:19 is an eruption of wonder in the middle of a psalm that swings between desperate lament and soaring praise. David has been describing persecution, isolation, and physical deterioration — and then this: an astonished exclamation about God's goodness that feels almost involuntary.

"Oh how great is thy goodness" — the Hebrew mah rav (how great, how abundant) expresses not just quantity but overwhelming surplus. The goodness isn't adequate; it's extravagant. The Hebrew tov (goodness) encompasses everything beneficial — kindness, beauty, generosity, moral excellence.

"Which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee" — the Hebrew tsaphan (laid up, hidden, stored, treasured) is the same word used for hiding treasure. God's goodness is not scattered carelessly; it is deliberately stored, reserved, kept in trust for a specific group. The image is of a vault — God has been accumulating goodness and holding it for the right moment and the right recipients. Those recipients are identified as people who "fear" Him (Hebrew yare', reverential awe and trust).

"Which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men" — the Hebrew pa'al (wrought, worked, accomplished) shifts from stored to spent. There is goodness in reserve and goodness already deployed. The phrase "before the sons of men" means publicly, visibly. God's goodness isn't only a private comfort; it's a public demonstration. The watching world sees what God does for those who trust Him.

The verse thus contains two storehouses of divine goodness: hidden reserves (not yet revealed) and public works (already on display). David marvels at both — what God has done and what God still has waiting.

Reflection Questions

• 1.David distinguishes between goodness God has 'laid up' (stored) and goodness He has 'wrought' (already done). Can you identify examples of both in your life?
• 2.The idea of God storing goodness in reserve implies timing matters. Is there something you've been waiting for that might be in God's 'laid up' category — not denied, just not yet?
• 3.God's goodness is described as being demonstrated 'before the sons of men' — publicly. When has God's goodness in your life been visible to others, and how did that affect them?
• 4.David writes this in the middle of a psalm full of suffering. How is it possible to marvel at God's goodness while still in pain? Have you experienced that paradox?

Devotional

There's a word in this verse that might change how you think about your life: "laid up."

God has goodness that He's been storing. Not goodness He's giving you right now — goodness He's keeping in reserve. Treasured. Hidden. Waiting. The image is of someone who has been quietly setting things aside for you — provisions you don't know about yet, answers to prayers you haven't prayed, blessings timed for moments that haven't arrived.

David writes this in a psalm full of suffering. He's not in a season where God's goodness is obvious. And yet he's suddenly overcome by the realization that what he can see isn't all there is. There's a vault. And it's full. And it has his name on it.

The second half makes it even better: God has also "wrought" goodness publicly — worked it out in visible, undeniable ways "before the sons of men." So it's both. Goodness you can already point to and goodness you can't see yet. A track record and a trust fund.

If you're in a season where God's goodness feels theoretical — where you believe it doctrinally but can't feel it experientially — this verse asks you to consider the possibility that you're only seeing the "wrought" portion. The "laid up" portion is still in storage. Not because God is withholding. Because the timing isn't right yet. And when it is, David's astonishment suggests you'll say what he said: oh, how great.

Commentary

Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.

Cross References

Related passages throughout Scripture