Psalm 31:15 My times are in your hand: deliver me from the hand of my enemies, and from them that persecute me. I. OUR TIMES ARE NOT NATURALLY OUR OWN, to employ as we please, to be accountable to ourselves only for the use of them. 1. Certainly not the times which are gone by; for we cannot recall them: they are not in our power. As little control can we exercise over the hours that are present: we cannot command sickness or health, youth or age. The times will never come when we shall begin to be at our own disposal, and cease to depend on God's sovereign will. It is not possible, neither is it desirable. Rejoice that your times are in God's hand. 2. It is not less so in regard to His dispensations towards us, as we are His redeemed people, children of grace. In this respect, especially, "none of us liveth to himself," etc. II. THIS ARRANGEMENT IS FOR OUR ADVANTAGE. 1. The happiness of feeling assured, when we come to die, that our time of dying is in the Lord's hand, must be inconceivably great. 2. The way to have this happiness when we die is to make it our aim while we live, to seek God's mercy in Christ, to submit to His disposal, and to follow His steps, led by His hand, in a holy, serious, humble, uncorrupt way; and, as all our times are in the Lord's hand, to bless the Lord at all times. (W. Firth, B. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me.WEB: My times are in your hand. Deliver me from the hand of my enemies, and from those who persecute me. |
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