Why for now and for then can be the beginning of your forever
By Dean Collins
For now, for then, forever.
You must do it now if you think you will need it then. Now and then are the beginning of forever.
I think this is what David came to realize as he prayed Psalm 31. The psalmist knew it was a daily situation to place one’s life into the grasp of God. When we walk together with God it is difficult to realize all of the benefits. David names some of them in this psalm. God is:
Our refuge
Our rescuer
Our deliverer
Our redeemer
Our covering
Our safe place
Our strength
Our courage
All of these and more are indicated in Psalm 31. David says God will listen to our prayers, not allow us to be put to shame, will lead and guide us, will not let us stay stuck when we trip or become trapped. He is aware of our distress, sees our tears, and knows all our pains of grief and suffering.
David was discovering the vast riches of God, and this gave him strength to do the thing we all must do: place our hand and commit our very essence, our soul and spirit, into God’s hands. He will not let go now or later. This may be difficult when the pain is great or the problem seems too big, but our job is to hold on to the one who has enough love, enough strength, and all the time in his hands.
Stepping forward, with hope
Often we hear and say a version of this Psalm at someone’s death. When our loved one lies breathless we have no other option but to commit their spirit to the Lord. There is nothing we can do in such moments but to surrender them to God and trust that he is good at keeping his promises. The resurrection of Jesus confirms that he is, and so with both sadness and hope we step forward.
I think every Bible scholar agrees that Jesus quoted part of this psalm from the cross. What we don’t know but might imagine is whether Jesus prayed all of this psalm from the cross. Did Jesus randomly pick verse 5 in his dying moment? Or is it possible that in and out of consciousness he remembered and prayed all of the promises David had prayed in his own moment of stress and pain?
Praying is preparing
As we can reach out and place our hand in God’s and surrender our life to him now, we also can pray all of this wonderful psalm. When we do, there is strength for now and for later. Praying these things now prepares us for when those moments of disbelief and shock come in a sudden moment of fear or tragedy. And praying these words now prepares us for our victory where we, like David and like Jesus, live in God’s presence forever.
The martyr Steven may have also prayed part of this psalm with his dying breath. He called out to God to receive his spirit. It appears that praying this prayer and extending our hand into the strong hand of God will give us assurance that God will in fact be with us now, then, and forever.
Lord, our times are in your hands. Rescue us from our enemies, and shine your face upon us that we might experience your steadfast love and walk into victory with our hand in your firm grasp.
Amen.
Your time with God’s Word
Psalm 31:1-24; 2 Corinthians 1:20-22 ESV
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