My times are in thy hand

“My times are in thy hand,” writes the Psalmist David (Psalm 31:15). The antecedent of “my” is David, found in the superscription “A Psalm of David.” The antecedent of “thy” is the Lord God, found in verse 14. David’s times, he recognizes, are in God’s hands. David’s times are the incidents of life, such as guarding the sheep, facing Goliath, running from Saul and Absalom, inflicted with chills from which he died.

David’s times are unique, his very own. However, the truth “my times are in thy hand” is applicable to every unique member of the human race. You and I can take it up and say with full assurance, “my times are in God’s hands” – “In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind” (Job 12:10).

We all share generalities in common, such as “A time to be born, and a time to die” (Ecclesiastes 3:2). The dash in between belongs to each uniquely, the race that God has set before him or her (Hebrews 12:1). Be we males or female, black or white, rich or poor, Jew or Gentile, Americans or Chinese, our times – uniquely and individually – are in God’s hands. Since David knew and was assured that he was in God’s hands, he could pray with calmness and confidence to God for deliverance.

One day the dash will come to a close, for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, and the wages of sin is death (Romans 3:23; 6:23). It is appointed unto men once to die (Hebrews 9:27). Cancer or coronavirus, car wreck or heart attack, stillbirth or old age atroke, the time comes when, like Elisha, we will meet the thing whereof we die ( 2 Kings 13:14).

In life, by creation, every creature is in God’s hands. However, only some are uniquely in God’s hands for both time and eternity – his sheep who hear his voice (John 10:26-27). “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one.” (John 10: 28-20).

Sovereign ruler of the skies,

Ever gracious ever wise!

All my times are in thy hand—

All events at thy command.

Plagues and death around me fly;

Till he bids I cannot die:

Not a single shaft can hit

Till the God of loves sees fit.

O thou gracious, wise, and just,

In thy hands my life I trust.

Have I something dearer still?

I resign it to thy will.

(Isaac Watts)