Into Your Hands

March 2, 2016

Into Your Hands

I entrust my spirit into your hand.

    Rescue me, Lord, for you are a faithful God.

Psalm 31:5

In Psalm 31, over and over again David communicates the wonders of trusting in God’s care: “But I am trusting you, O Lord, saying, “You are my God!” My future is in your hands. How great is the goodness you have stored up for those who fear you. You lavish it on those who come to you for protection. Praise the Lord, for he has shown me the wonders of his unfailing love. He kept me safe. Love the Lord, all you godly ones! For the Lord protects those who are loyal to him. So be strong and courageous, all you who put your hope in the Lord!” (Psalm 31:14, 19, 21, 23-24).

Throughout the Psalm, David is expressing his trust in God as he moves from petition to affirmation. “Be my rock of protection, a fortress where I will be safe. You are my rock and my fortress. For the honor of your name, lead me out of this danger” (Psalm 31:2b-3). David’s foundation for trust is not in his own worthiness to receive God’s care; rather, his foundation is the grace of God. Jesus takes us even deeper into an understanding of God’s grace.

As powerful as David’s affirmations of God’s power, love and care for his children are, they pale in comparison to the intimacy Jesus infused into this psalm. David’s psalm states in verse five, “I entrust my spirit into your hand. Rescue me, Lord, for you are a faithful God.” Remember that the expression, LORD, was a formal, very reverent, rendering of the name of God. On the Cross, Jesus changed this formal address to God to an expression of the intimacy of parent and child: “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit” (Luke 23:46).

Of course, on the cross was not the first time Jesus revealed to us the intimacy God desires with his children. Jesus took all of the gracious expressions for the love and care of God and taught us to come before God’s throne, as his children, praying, “Our Father, who art in heaven . . .”

Sē’lah

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com. The BLOG is also available on Amazon Kindle, by subscription.

Publications by Alex M. Knight:

·        Seeking the Life in Christ, Meditations on the New Testament and Psalms has been published and is now available at Amazon.com in paperback and Kindle.

·        The second edition of First Think – Then Pray is available on Amazon Kindle.

·        Meditations on The Story of My Life as told by Jesus Christ has been released as an e-book on Amazon Kindle.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.