In Good Hands

Read Psalms 29:1–32:11

1. O Lord, I have come to you for protection; don’t let me be disgraced. Save me, for you do what is right.
2. Turn your ear to listen to me; rescue me quickly. Be my rock of protection, a fortress where I will be safe.
3. You are my rock and my fortress. For the honor of your name, lead me out of this danger.
4. Pull me from the trap my enemies set for me, for I find protection in you alone.
5. I entrust my spirit into your hand. Rescue me, Lord, for you are a faithful God. . . .
14. But I am trusting you, O Lord, saying, “You are my God!”
15. My future is in your hands. Rescue me from those who hunt me down relentlessly. Psalm 31:1-5, 14-15

Thirty seconds of bungee jumping requires more trust than many people have in God over a lifetime. People entrust their lives to a total stranger and an unknown piece of equipment—all for a few seconds of excitement.

Unlike many people today, David knows where to place his trust—and it isn’t in the hands of strangers. In Psalm 31, David unloads anguish over his circumstances—feeling alone, helpless, and threatened. His source of hope, however, is that he knows he’s in good hands.

Trust is the theme of the psalms in this reading: trusting God to give us peace and strength through life’s storms (Psalm 29); trusting ourselves to God (Psalm 30); and trusting God to free us from guilt (Psalm 32).

David wrote many psalms about the attacks of his enemies and the utter ruin they made of his peace of mind. Psalm 31 is one of them. David was so plagued by opponents that he felt he was “dying from grief” (Psalm 31:10). Yet in the same prayer he added the words, “I entrust my spirit into your hand” (31:5), showing that he had complete trust in God.

Jesus used this phrase as he was dying on the cross—showing his absolute dependence on God the Father (see Luke 23:46). Stephen expressed a similar sentiment as he was being stoned to death (see Acts 7:59), confident that he was passing from God’s earthly care to God’s eternal care.

Having faith in God—really trusting him—risks nothing. That’s why we can safely commit our possessions, our families, and our jobs to God.