David, like any of us, had control of his life yet he saw the need to submit it back to God. He therefore did what was right in God’s sight. David’s prayer in Psalm 31: 5 said, into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O LORD, faithful God. He was honest to acknowledge all the benefits he had received from God. Among the benefits he knew first hand were as follows:
The Lord protects his people
David committed his spirit to the Lord because he knew God was the protector in all circumstances. The best protection is God’s presence. David wrote in Psalm 31: 20, in the shelter of your presence you hide them from human plots; you hold them safe under your shelter from contentious tongues. We are always in God’s hands if we do right.
David also wrote in Psalms 27: 1, the LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? David again wrote in Psalms 57: 1, in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, until the destroying storms pass by. God has appointed Christ Jesus to protect us in every circumstance as the keeper of our souls. He is the eternal judge, the protector and preserver of our souls in eternity and we will need it on the last day. What is our need before God?
The benefits of keeping the covenant
The Jews had an eternal covenant with God through Abraham. God said in Genesis 17: 8, I will be their God. This is also found in Exodus 29: 45; Jeremiah 24: 7. God said in Jeremiah 32: 38 they shall be my people, and I will be their God. See also Ezekiel 11: 20; 37: 23, 27. In Zechariah 8: 8 God said, I will be their God, in faithfulness and in righteousness. In Zechariah 10: 6 he said, I am the LORD their God and I will answer them.
This covenant is repeated in 2 Corinthians 6: 16; Hebrews 8: 10 among other references. David honoured this covenant and resigned his spirit into God’s hands as his God. Many cultures and traditions do not have God as their God yet God seeks them as his creation. It is surprising that some groups who identify with Christ are rather churning out unscriptural doctrines in betrayal of Christ Jesus saying there are other ways to God at the expense of their souls.
Jesus said in John 14: 6, I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. Jesus also said in John 10: 7-9, very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. David kept God’s covenant and remained in God’s care, what about us? Are we keeping the covenant by committing our lives to Jesus?
Jesus also kept the Jewish covenant
Jesus also prayed similarly on the cross when he cried loudly in Luke 23: 46, Father, into your hands I commit my spirit. We must preserve the tradition of having the Lord as a personal God so we can confidently commit our lives to him without fear of losing our lives in death.
Christ Jesus had a personal relationship with God as the one to whom he was accountable. Both Jesus and David were confident of this fact. 2 Chronicles 7: 15 says if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, pray, seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. If we have to commit our lives into the hands of Jesus, then we must do what the bible says.
God said at Jesus’ baptism in Matthew 17: 5, this is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him! Jesus carried all our burdens to the cross and committed them into God’s hands so we may be redeemed through forgiveness in his blood. Psalms 55: 22 said cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved. We cannot be moved when our cares and burdens are in the hands of Christ Jesus for he said in Matthew 11: 28 come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens and I will give you rest. In whose hands have we kept our souls or spirits for safekeeping and eternal rest? Let it not be too late for us to accept Jesus.
Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus, your word has been with us since creation in faithfulness and in truth. Those who accept it in truth and in obedience are never found wanting. Therefore into your hands do we commit our spirits and souls trusting in your goodness, mercy and eternal love. Let your Holy Spirit ever remind us that you are the foundation of our lives and upon you we depend. Into your hands we commit our spirit in your holy name, Amen!!
