My Redeemer's Hands

We read several devotions daily, plus we read a chapter from the Bible. A few days ago we read Psalm 31. As we read, my spirit was quickened by David’s plight as He was praying in distress, but fully trusting in God.

He prayed Psalm 31:5 -- “Into your hands I commit my spirit; deliver me, LORD, my faithful God.” Those words sounded familiar. That’s because we heard them on Good Friday by our Lord.

At the very end of Jesus’ life, as He was hanging on the cross, the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn down the middle. Then “Jesus called out with a loud voice, ‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.’ When He had said this, He breathed his last.” (Luke 23:46)

I was inspired by the difference in David’s prayers for rescue in verses 1 through 4 and Jesus’ absolute surrender to God’s will. David’s prayer:

1 -- “In you, LORD, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; deliver me in your righteousness.
2 -- Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me.
3 -- Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me.
4 -- Keep me free from the trap that is set for me, for you are my refuge.”

David was in fear AND in faith in His Lord – not unlike us. We ask God to rescue us, to deliver us, to lead and guide us, to not let us be put to shame. I relate to David and even Jesus Who prayed: “Take this cup from me, but nevertheless, not My will, but Your will be done.” Matthew 26:39

Because the Lord was David’s refuge, He could comfortably commit his spirit into His hands. Because those were Jesus’ dying words, it was death that He was accepting. Both David and Jesus trusted their lives to the sovereign actions of God.

Surrender – in both David and Jesus. I desire to surrender my life too. Sometimes I get caught up – way too often -- in concerns and worries about this and that. I need to be redeemed DAILY. I carry way more burdens than I should.

Thanks be to God for His marvelous gift of His Son, Who was AND is our Redeemer. David needed to lay it all out on the line – his worries and concerns. Oh, how much I wish to be like Jesus Who completely surrendered His all for you and me.

God is the same for us as He was for David and even His beloved Son, Jesus. God will always be a refuge for His people. He will always be a hiding place for the persecuted, a resting place for the weary, a shelter for the overwhelmed. God will always be the Redeemer of the world.

But, until we ask God to be OUR Redeemer, then we are still lost. Until we surrender to Christ, we will still be weary and overwhelmed. God is there, waiting to be our refuge. That's why Jesus committed His spirit into the Father’s hands.

Today, I am having a “committal service” of my own. Into Your mighty hands Lord, I am releasing it all – the worries, concerns, and weariness. I praise and thank You, my Redeemer. You committed Your spirit into Your Father’s hands.

I solemnly and willingly, commit my spirit into my Redeemer’s hands. Those mighty hands can handle it all!