Psalms 31:20

My Notes

What Does Psalms 31:20 Mean?

David describes divine protection with extraordinary intimacy: "Thou shalt 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." Two threats — the pride of man and the strife of tongues — are both addressed by hiding in God's presence. The hiding place is God himself.

The "secret of thy presence" (sether panekha — the concealment of your face, the hidden place of your countenance) means the hiding occurs in God's own presence. You're not hidden in a remote location away from God. You're hidden in the closest possible proximity to God — in the secret of his face. The most intimate divine space becomes the most secure human shelter.

The "pavilion" (sukkah — a booth, a tabernacle, a temporary shelter) adds the tabernacle resonance: the protection is provided through the same structure that housed God's presence during the wilderness wandering. The pavilion that sheltered the Ark now shelters the person. The worship space becomes the hiding place.

Reflection Questions

• 1.What does 'the secret of thy presence' as a hiding place mean for how close God's protection is?
• 2.How does the pavilion (sukkah/tabernacle) imagery connect worship space to hiding place?
• 3.Which threat do you face more currently — the pride of man (power) or the strife of tongues (words)?
• 4.How do you practically 'hide in the secret of God's presence' when under verbal or social attack?

Devotional

Hidden in the secret of God's presence. That's where the protection is — not in a fortress, not behind walls, not in a safe house. In the secret place of God's own face. The most intimate space in the universe becomes your hiding place.

Two threats are named: the pride of man (the arrogant aggression of powerful people who use their status to crush you) and the strife of tongues (the verbal warfare of people who attack through speech — gossip, slander, accusation, mockery). The first is about power. The second is about words. Both are addressed by the same remedy: hiding in God's presence.

The 'secret of thy presence' means the protection is intimate. You're not sent to a distant stronghold. You're pulled close — into the hiddenness of God's own face. The hiding happens at the point of maximum proximity. The closer you are to God, the more hidden you are from the threats. The enemy can reach the periphery. The enemy can't reach the secret place.

The pavilion — sukkah — echoes the tabernacle: the booth that sheltered God's presence during the wilderness. The same structure that housed the Ark houses you. The worship space is the hiding place. When you enter worship, you enter protection. The pavilion that once held the glory now holds the person who needs the glory's shelter.

The strife of tongues — verbal attack, word-based warfare — is specifically named as something God's presence protects against. The words that wound you can't penetrate the pavilion. The gossip that circulates outside can't reach the inside of the secret place. The hiding in God's presence creates a barrier that verbal attacks can't cross.

What pride of man or strife of tongues is currently threatening you — and have you entered the secret of God's presence as your hiding place?

Commentary

Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.

Cross References

Related passages throughout Scripture