Worthington, Ohio

Psalm 31:23 says, "O love the LORD, all ye his saints: for the LORD preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer."

That is an interesting text.  And it is true that some use this Psalm in an attempt to defend the idea of being "proud" also being a positive thing in some context or other.  

But I believe this, too, is a negative context and here is why:

1. This is the ONLY use of the word that even hints at being positive and ONLY if you read it that way.  You have to add emphasis and tone that isn't really there and ignore...
2. The fact that every other single use of "pride" or "proud" is negative.  This would be an exception but would also be the single, solitary exception to the rule.  

When you consider that "rewards" is not always a good thing, then even this reference to "the proud doer" in Psalm 31 actually appears to be a contrast of the wicked against the righteous. The Lord preserves the faithful BUT "rewards" the proud doer.

And I believe in this context, "rewards" is NEGATIVE.  And that is in line with other texts as we compare Scripture with Scripture:

Psalm 91:8 "Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked."

Isaiah 3:11 "Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands shall be given him."

Hebrews 2:2 "For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward;"

2 Peter 2:13 "And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you;"

Revelation 18:6 "Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double."

And there are a number of other passages showing God "rewarding" the wicked and it's not good!  He gives the proud "the wages of sin" and that is DEATH (Romans 6:23).  And the wicked will be judged according to their works and rewarded accordingly (see Revelation 20:12-13) and in the words of Jesus:

Revelation 22:12 "And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be."

Peter Ruckman even says this is a direct reference to the Antichrist!  “The perseverance of the saints” is found in verse 23, and “the proud doer” is a direct reference to the Man of Sin (see Ps. 10: 3– 5). "

-- Peter S. Ruckman, Psalms Commentary Volume 1 (The Bible Believer's Commentary Series) (Kindle Locations 4490-4492). BB Bookstore. Kindle Edition. 

But the icing on the cake as far as I am concerned regarding the question of the "proud doer" is a parallel passage in the Psalms that, I believe, is a clear commentary on Psalm 31:23 and that is:

Psalm 94:2 "Lift up thyself, thou judge of the earth: render a reward to the proud."

Let's see those two together: The LORD "plentifully rewardeth the proud doer" and as Judge of the Earth will "render a reward to the proud."

In the words of Matthew Henry's teaching on this: "We must love him, not only for his goodness, because he preserves the faithful, but for his justice, because he plentifully rewards the proud doer (who would ruin those whom he preserves), according to their pride."

Therefore, I interpret Psalm 31:23 to show the contrast between the righteous and the proud.  And the proud is "the wicked" who will get his reward meaning that he gets the punishment he deserves. 

OTHER TEACHERS:

"The proud doer; the enemies and persecutors of God's faithful ones before mentioned, whom he calls here proud doers, because of their rebellion against God's will, and their contempt of his threatenings and judgments, and their most insolent and contemptuous carriage towards his people; all which proceeds from the pride of their heart, Psalm 10:4." --Matthew Poole, "Early Annotation on the Holy Bible" (1685 A.D.).

"And plentifully rewardeth the proud doer.  This also is cause for gratitude: pride is so detestable in its acts that he who shall mete out to it its righteous due, deserves the love of all holy minds." -- C.H. Spurgeon, "Treasury of David" (1885)

"His goodness will be displayed in their behalf, He will answer the voice of their supplications in the coming great deliverance. The faithful ones will be preserved. the proud rewarded for their evil deeds." -- A.C. Gaebelein, "Annotated Bible (1919 A.D.)

"In the meantime, he admonishes them to keep a good conscience, and to cultivate uprightness, since God promises to preserve only such as are upright and faithful. On the other hand, he declares that he plentifully recompenses the proud, in order that when we observe them succeeding prosperously for a time, an unworthy emulation may not entice us to imitate them, and that their haughtiness, and the outrage they commit, while they think they are at liberty to do what they please, may not crush and break our spirits. The amount of the whole is this, Although the ungodly flatter themselves, while they proceed in their wickedness with impunity, and believers are harassed with many fears and dangers, yet devote yourselves to God, and rely upon his grace, for he will always defend the faithful, and reward the proud as they deserve." John Calvin (1509-1564 A.D.), "Verse Commentary" (the Calvin Translation Society edition of Calvin's Commentaries).