It isn’t clear what was occurring in David’s life when he penned these words, other than the fact that he was in real danger. The theme which stands out throughout this psalm is that his only hope of rescue is God—but he fully expects the Lord to protect him.
In the midst of his expressions of trust in the Lord, he makes what almost seems like a passing comment: “My times are in Your hand…” This word (Heb. eth) is sometimes translated as “seasons,” and perhaps using that term would make this statement a little more illuminating for us: “My seasons are in Your hand…” All the various stages of my life: youth, adulthood and old age are all played out under Your watchful gaze. And all the different periods of my life: the times of prosperity and the times of adversity, the times of advance and the times of retreat, the times of activity and the times of waiting, they are all in Your hand.
David's son would later write: “There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven—A time to give birth and a time to die; a time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted. A time to kill and a time to heal; a time to tear down and a time to build up. A time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance.… He has made everything appropriate in its time.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1-11) Yes, and God oversees all of it in the life of the believer.
David understood that his entire life was under God’s personal care, but he also understood that his days were numbered. His life would not end one day sooner or one day later than had been ordained by the Lord. He had entrusted his future into God’s care. In fact, some translators narrowed the scope of David’s statement to regard only his future:
- My fate lies in thy hands…(Mof)
- My future is in your hands. (NLT)
- You determine my destiny! (NET)
As one old time writer put it, “Till He give the command, nothing can force open the door of eternity for us; and when He does, nothing can keep us from entering it.”
Whatever the case may be, it is clear that David saw a sovereign God’s care over the entirety of his life. Let us lift our eyes off the temporal and catch a sight of the sovereign God who controls every stage of our lives—including its culmination.