INTO THY HAND I COMMIT MY SPIRIT

The text which heads today’s reading is one which speaks of submission to the will of God. The same spirit is also seen in verse 15, “My times are in thy hands”. Similar words were spoken by Stephen when he was stoned to death, Acts 7. 59. At a ceremony of degradation, a bishop said to John Huss the reformer, “and now we commit thy soul to the devil”. To this the martyr replied, “I commend my spirit, which Thou hast redeemed, into Thy hands O Lord Jesus Christ”. He was then burned to death.

On the cross, the Lord took up these words of David, Luke 23. 46. However, He imparted a new meaning into the words which could not apply in David’s case. The Lord committed His spirit by an act of His own free will.

There are many references in the psalms to the hand of the Lord. The two occurrences here, vv. 5, 15, are set against two mentions of the hand of David’s enemies, vv. 8, 15, which were of no match in comparison. This is always so. Sennacherib, through his spokesman Rabshakeh, boasted that his hand was greater than God’s. He taunted Hezekiah and his men with the words, “that your God should be able to deliver you out of mine hand?”. God took up the challenge, and slew his mighty men so that he with shame of face returned to his own land, 2 Chron. 32. 11-15, 21.

The hand of the Lord is not only strong, Psa. 89. 13, but it is also a shepherding hand, 95. 7. David, the shepherd king, knew the reality of this, 23. 1-2. We, too, have a Shepherd, out of whose hand none can pluck us, John 10. 28.

In the thick of trouble, adversity, conspiracy and slander, vv. 7, 9, 13, David was sorely distressed, vv. 9-13, and bewildered, v. 22. In Psalm 30. 6, we have the danger of prosperity; here, the danger is adversity. In circumstances like these, to whom could he appeal except to the Lord? Three times his trust in Him is stated, vv. 1, 6, 14. This was not in vain. Instead of being put to shame, he testifies of God’s great goodness, v. 19, which filled his mouth with praise, v. 21, and inspired him to encourage others, vv. 23, 24.

God “comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble”, 2 Cor. 1. 4.