Psalm 31:1-5; Leviticus 21:1-24; Luke 12:1-12
The psalm contains one of the great visuals in the psalter: YHWH inclining his ear to the psalmist. Picture a mother leaning over to listen to what her child is saying to her. That is the image here and its sentiment. Knowing that YHWH listens emboldens the psalmist and you. We commit our spirit to Him, for He listens to us. The passage continues to press the issue of being holy, set apart. Significanly, it is YHWH who makes you and me holy (vv., 8, 12, and 23). This holiness is a matter of the heart–the core of who we are–not of what things appear to be. Because YHWH does makes us holy through Christ, we have nothing to fear and joyfully serve as his witnesses in the world.
