“Into Your hand I commit my spirit; You have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God” (Psalm 31:5, ESV).
When things are going well and our lives are peaceful and at ease, it is relatively easy to proclaim the goodness of God - that is, if we are inclined to remember Him at all [note the warning in Deuteronomy 6:10-12!]. As Psalm 31 begins, David seems to be remembering fondly the way the Lord has become his “refuge” [v1], a “rock” [vv2, 3], and a “fortress” [v3]. Upon closer inspection, however, it becomes clear that the king is calling to God with absolute confidence in the midst of his affliction! He begs, “in your righteousness deliver me!” [v1], and “rescue me speedily!” [v2]. He knows that it is God who takes him “out of the net they have hidden” for him [v4].
Because of his certainty that the “faithful God” is his redeemer, David is able to find rest even as his persecutors surround him [v5]. His words, “into your hand I commit my spirit” [v5] are not the consigned resignation of a man with no other options, but rather the calm confidence of one who has learned through years of disciplined service that God is more than capable of answering every need, every desperate situation, and every impossible condition. Rather than turn to worthless idols in his despair as so many others of his countrymen have done [v6], his trust and his rejoicing even in conflict is in God’s “steadfast love” [v7]. The all-knowing God is aware of his “affliction” and his “distress” and has kept him from being delivered “into the hand of the enemy” [vv7-8].
Even as his moments of despair weigh upon him, he recognizes God’s continuing grace, which causes him rather to be sorrowful over his own sin than over the painful circumstances that surround him in a world that is broken [vv9-10]. And his circumstances are dire! Enemies multiply on every side, and even his closest acquaintances abandon him as evil ones close in and “plot” to take his life [vv11-13]!
Because he has learned to trust in God, none of these worrisome issues pulls him away from the only One who can save him [v14; consider Paul’s similar confidence in Christ Jesus, expressed in the often-quoted Philippians 4:13]. Though God may delay, David recognizes “my times are in your hand” [v15] and that God’s righteousness will be exalted in the end, despite all appearances [vv16-20; cp 2 Peter 3:3-4, 8-9].
As is the custom with David, his Psalm ends with a song of praise and a call for others to love and praise Jehovah for the good he has shown him [vv21-24]. “Blessed be the LORD!”, for He is the One who hears when the afflicted cry for help [vv21-22]. “Love the LORD, all you his saints!” , for He knows how to “preserve the faithful” and also how to “repay the one who acts in pride” [v23], which means the righteous can “take courage” for the long haul as they “wait for the LORD” [v24].
Of course, David’s very words and the description of his circumstance should ring familiar to our ears. We see them played out with prophetic accuracy in the final moments of Jesus’ life. While we recognize Jesus’ call from the cross “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” as being an appeal to the crowd at His feet to reflect on Psalm 22, have we failed to consider the importance of His final words, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit”? [Luke 23:46; Mark 15:34; Psalm 22] Jesus indeed trusted in the Father, who saw His affliction and the distress of His soul [v7; cp Matthew 26:36-44; Luke 22:44; Hebrews 4:7-8]. From the cross – at His death! – Jesus affirmed that God had not delivered Him “into the hand of the enemy”, and had “set [His] feet in a broad place” [v8]. The plans of God for us are not fully realized in this lifetime, and for the righteous are not thwarted even in death! [see 1 Corinthians 15:19; Matthew 16:18; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; etc]
What are the painful situations that drive you to your knees? Have you felt the affliction and abandonment that David and Jesus both suffered? I pray that you have not – but no matter what enemies ally themselves against you, there is no one stronger and more invested in you than the LORD! David and Jesus serve as extreme examples, that we may learn from their faithfulness – and more from the faithfulness of God toward them! Have you learned through disciplined servanthood in the more peaceful moments of life to put your trust fully in the Lord? If not, will you be prepared to put your trust fully in Him when the Enemy closes in, and when death – the consequence of sin in this world! – draws near? “Blessed be the LORD!” “Love the LORD!” “Be strong” in Him starting today, and “take courage” as you “wait for the LORD”!