David prayed and said in Psalm 31: 5, into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O LORD, faithful God. This was a Jewish prayer of surrender to God for his faithfulness. It is an irreversible notice of surrender to a superior power in all circumstances. David knew God’s power and authority. He could not contend against God but wanted God’s will to prevail in his life. Under what circumstances do we submit to God for his will to prevail? It is when we accept the following facts;
The Lord is faithful to redeem
David prayed and said in Psalm 31: 5,… you have redeemed me, O LORD, faithful God. In other translations, it says you have redeemed me, O LORD GOD of truth. David committed his spirit to God because God had proved himself to him as his redeemer. David could therefore trust the Lord to keep his soul. In whom do we trust?
Revelation 1: 8 says, “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty. Revelation 21: 6 says I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. In Revelation 22: 13 it reads, I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” David started with God and wanted to end with God. A number of us started with God but are not finishing with him but in hell because we have rejected him by our words, thoughts and deeds.
David committed his spirit to God. We can also surrender to the Lord God Almighty as David did if we want to experience the divine truth of God. Without total surrender to God, there will be no redemption, and without redemption there will be no eternity. Acts 4: 12 says there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved. We must commit our spirits and souls to Jesus who has the power to save.
The Lord heals broken hearts
David wrote in Psalm 31: 12, I am passed out of mind like one who is dead; I have become like a broken vessel. David was broken because those in whom he trusted disappointed him. He felt true emptiness in his spirit hence he said he was like a dead person. We must not trust in man but only God. Isaiah 49: 15 says can a woman forget her nursing child, or show no compassion for the child in her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you. It is written in Job 15: 15, God puts no trust even in his holy ones.
Broken vessel or broken heart or broken life means a life without hope or future, a life of emptiness or a life of rejection. Everything appears not working or working in disarray. Life is negative at every turn without a solution. It means a time of despair for many reasons including setbacks, defeat, humiliation, sickness, frustration, anxiety, challenges, etc. David committed such a situation as he faced into God’s hands by first committing his spirit. This is how Jesus can heal our hearts and wounds by grace.
Jesus said in Matthew 6: 33 strive first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Many of us in dire situations rather commit the situation to God without our spirit or souls. If we return to sin, our wounds will come back. Proverbs 26: 11 says like a dog that returns to its vomit is a fool who reverts to his folly. Jesus heals broken situations whatever the challenges be. Psalms 147: 3 says he heals the brokenhearted, and binds up their wounds. Jesus is ready to heal our stubborn hearts of unbelief no matter our past, creed or colour if you will commit to him.
Psalms 51:17 says the sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. David knew that God accepts penitent hearts. Like David, let us also carry our brokenness to Jesus who is ready to restore us to perfection. Jesus said in Matthew 11: 28 come to me, all you that are weary and carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. We must come to Jesus with our troubled hearts for healing.
The Lord’s face shines on his people
When we commit our lives to Jesus the Lord’s face shines upon us as we share in his countenance of glory and peace. At the transfiguration Matthew 17: 2 says and when Jesus was transfigured before them, his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. God’s presence emits his countenance on his faithful. David needed that identification of good standing with the Lord.
Stephen committed his spirit to God so at his trial before the council which sentenced him to death by stoning, Acts 6: 15 says all who sat in the council looked intently at him, and they saw his face was like the face of an angel. The face of an angel here is not only innocence but the reflection of God’s light on him. Moses experienced the same glory. Exodus 34: 30 says when Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, the skin of his face was shining, and they were afraid to come near him.
We read further from Exodus 34: 34-35, whenever Moses went in before the LORD to speak with him,… the Israelites would see the face of Moses, that the skin of his face was shining; and Moses would put the veil on his face again, until he went in to speak with him. The countenance of God also stands for God’s approval. David committed his spirit to the Lord for God’s approval. Today we sadly decry God’s approval before we take a step. Have we been accepted into God’s hands?
Isaiah 2: 5 says O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the LORD! Have we committed to Christ Jesus? 1 John 1: 7 says if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. Jesus is still waiting patiently for us. Let us commit our vulnerable bodies, souls and spirit into his caring hands.
Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus, thank you that we can entrust our lives into our care for you are a faithful redeemer who heals and accepts broken and contrite hearts. Let your countenance shine through our hearts so we may always reflect your glory. We surrender to you all we have and hope to be and pray that your will may prevail in our circumstances. Hear our prayer in your holy name, Lord Jesus, Amen!!
