Psalms 31:15

KJV

My times [are] in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me.

KJV (with Strong's)

My times {H6256} are in thy hand {H3027}: deliver {H5337} me from the hand {H3027} of mine enemies {H341}, and from them that persecute {H7291} me.

Complete Jewish Bible

My times are in your hand; rescue me from my enemies' power, from those who persecute me.

Berean Standard Bible

My times are in Your hands; deliver me from my enemies and from those who pursue me.

American Standard Version

My times are in thy hand: Deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 31:15 is a profound declaration of unwavering faith and a fervent prayer for divine intervention, uttered by David amidst intense personal distress and persecution. It encapsulates the deep theological truth of God's absolute sovereignty over every aspect and season of life, immediately followed by a heartfelt plea for deliverance from the threatening power of enemies. This verse serves as a powerful model for believers to surrender their circumstances to God's providential care while simultaneously engaging in confident, earnest prayer for protection and rescue.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalm 31 is a classic individual lament, a genre where the psalmist expresses profound suffering, appeals to God for help, and often concludes with an expression of trust or a vow of praise. The verses immediately preceding Psalms 31:15 (e.g., [Psalms 31:9-14](/psalms/31-9 "Psalms 31:9-14 - David's Deep Distress")) vividly describe David's dire circumstances: he feels consumed by sorrow, his strength failing, his life wasting away. He is scorned by neighbors, forgotten like a dead man, and slandered by those who plot against him. In this context, verse 15 marks a pivotal moment. It shifts from a detailed description of his predicament and despair to a powerful declaration of trust in God's ultimate control, which then undergirds his subsequent plea for deliverance. This declaration of faith provides the foundation for the confident petitions that follow, such as his appeal for God's face to shine upon him in [Psalms 31:16](/psalms/31-16 "Psalms 31:16 - David's Plea for God's Favor").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** While the specific historical backdrop for Psalm 31 is not explicitly stated, it resonates with various periods of David's life marked by intense persecution and existential threat, such as his flight from King Saul (e.g., [1 Samuel 23](/1_samuel/23 "1 Samuel 23 - David Flees Saul")) or the rebellion of Absalom (e.g., [2 Samuel 15](/2_samuel/15 "2 Samuel 15 - Absalom's Rebellion")). In ancient Near Eastern cultures, the "hand" was a powerful symbol of authority, power, and protection. To be "in the hand" of someone meant to be under their complete control or protection. Conversely, to be delivered "from the hand" of enemies meant to be rescued from their power and destructive intent. Persecution in this context was often literal, involving physical threats, military pursuit, political intrigue, and public slander, all aimed at undermining or destroying the psalmist.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within the Psalms and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it highlights **Divine Sovereignty and Providence**, affirming that God is not merely a distant observer but actively orchestrates and oversees all of life's circumstances, even the most challenging ones. David's declaration, "My times [are] in thy hand," is a profound statement of God's ultimate control over destiny and events, echoing the truth found in [Proverbs 16:9](/proverbs/16-9 "Proverbs 16:9 - The Lord Directs Our Steps"). Secondly, it exemplifies **Trust Amidst Adversity**. Despite facing overwhelming opposition and feeling abandoned, David's faith remains anchored in God's character and power, demonstrating a trust that transcends immediate circumstances. This unwavering trust is a recurring motif in Davidic psalms, such as [Psalms 27:1](/psalms/27-1 "Psalms 27:1 - The Lord Is My Light and Salvation"). Thirdly, the verse underscores the **Efficacy and Necessity of Prayer**. David's immediate petition for deliverance, following his declaration of trust, illustrates that acknowledging God's sovereignty does not negate the need for earnest prayer but rather fuels it with confidence that God hears and acts. This models a balanced approach to faith, combining confident surrender with persistent petition, as seen in many of David's prayers for rescue from his enemies, like [Psalms 59:1-2](/psalms/59-1 "Psalms 59:1-2 - David's Prayer for Deliverance").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Times (Hebrew, _‘ittōṯay'_):** This plural noun refers not merely to chronological moments, but to the appointed seasons, occasions, circumstances, and unfolding events that comprise a person's entire life. It encompasses all the various experiences, both good and bad, that one encounters. By declaring his "times" are in God's hand, David acknowledges God's overarching control and providential ordering of his destiny, his past, present, and future.
* **Hand (Hebrew, _yāḏ_):** In this context, "hand" is a powerful anthropomorphic metaphor for God's power, authority, control, protection, and active involvement. To be "in thy hand" signifies being under God's complete dominion and care, implying security, guidance, and ultimate ownership. It contrasts sharply with the "hand" of enemies, which represents their destructive power and hostile intent.
* **Deliver (Hebrew, _nāṣal_):** This verb means "to snatch away," "to pull out," "to rescue," or "to draw out." It conveys a sense of urgent intervention and removal from danger. It implies that David is in a perilous situation from which he cannot extricate himself and requires divine intervention to be set free from the grasp of his adversaries.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"My times [are] in thy hand":** This opening clause is a foundational statement of theological truth and personal faith. David declares his absolute conviction that every moment, every season, every circumstance, and indeed his entire destiny, is under the sovereign control and benevolent care of God. It is an act of profound surrender and trust, acknowledging God's ultimate authority over all the events of his life, whether joyful or sorrowful, prosperous or adverse.
* **"deliver me from the hand of mine enemies":** Following the declaration of God's sovereignty, David immediately transitions to a specific and urgent petition. He asks God to rescue him from the power and control of those who seek his harm. The repetition of "hand" here highlights the contrast: his life is in God's protective hand, but he needs deliverance from the destructive hand of his adversaries.
* **"and from them that persecute me":** This phrase serves as a synonymous parallelism, intensifying and clarifying the nature of the threat. "Persecute" implies active, relentless pursuit, harassment, and malicious intent. David is not merely facing abstract difficulties but concrete, hostile opposition from individuals or groups who are actively seeking to undermine or destroy him. The plea is for divine intervention against these specific, tangible threats.

#### Literary Devices
Psalms 31:15 is rich with literary artistry that enhances its theological impact. The most prominent device is **Metaphor**, specifically the powerful image of "My times [are] in thy hand." God's "hand" serves as a metaphor for His ultimate control, power, and protective care over all aspects of David's life and destiny. This evokes a sense of security and surrender. The verse also employs **Juxtaposition**, contrasting the benevolent, sovereign "hand" of God with the malevolent, threatening "hand" of David's enemies. This highlights the source of ultimate security versus the source of immediate danger. Furthermore, **Parallelism** is evident in the latter part of the verse: "from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me." This is a form of synonymous parallelism, where the second phrase reiterates and reinforces the meaning of the first, emphasizing the relentless and multifaceted nature of the opposition David faces. The direct address to God, "thy hand," is an example of **Apostrophe**, lending a personal and intimate tone to the prayer.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 31:15 offers a profound theological insight into the nature of God's sovereignty and human dependence. It teaches that God is not a passive observer but an active, providential ruler over all creation, including the intricate details and broad sweep of human lives. This truth does not negate human responsibility or the reality of suffering, but rather provides a framework for understanding them within God's ultimate, wise plan. David's immediate move from a declaration of trust to a fervent plea for deliverance demonstrates that acknowledging God's sovereignty is not a call to fatalism, but a foundation for confident, persistent prayer. It affirms that God's control is not an impersonal force, but the loving oversight of a Father who hears and responds to the cries of His children. Our "times" are secure in His hand, which empowers us to face adversity with hope and to pray with assurance, knowing that He works all things for His glory and our good.

* [Proverbs 16:9](/proverbs/16-9 "Proverbs 16:9 - The Lord Directs Our Steps")
* [Psalm 139:16](/psalms/139-16 "Psalm 139:16 - God's Foreknowledge of Our Days")
* [Romans 8:28](/romans/8-28 "Romans 8:28 - All Things Work for Good")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
In a world often characterized by uncertainty, anxiety, and unforeseen challenges, Psalms 31:15 offers immense comfort and a vital perspective for the contemporary believer. It calls us to relinquish the illusion of ultimate control over our lives and to embrace the liberating truth that our "times"—our past experiences, present struggles, and future hopes—are securely held in the capable, loving hand of an all-powerful God. This truth encourages us to cultivate a deep, abiding trust that transcends immediate circumstances, finding peace even amidst the storms of life. It empowers us to bring our fears, our needs, and our desperate pleas for deliverance to God with absolute confidence, knowing that He is both able and willing to act on our behalf. Ultimately, living out this verse means surrendering our anxieties, embracing God's perfect timing, and resting in the assurance that our ultimate well-being and destiny are eternally secure in His sovereign care, regardless of the "enemies" or difficulties we may encounter.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does acknowledging God's sovereignty over your "times" impact your daily anxieties and attempts to control every outcome?**
* **In what specific areas of your life—be it career, relationships, health, or future plans—do you need to surrender control more fully to God's hand?**
* **How does David's immediate move from a declaration of trust to a specific prayer for deliverance inform your own prayer life when facing adversity?**

### FAQ
**Does "My times are in thy hand" mean I have no free will or that my choices don't matter?**

Answer: No, this powerful declaration does not negate human free will or responsibility. Instead, it speaks to God's ultimate sovereignty and providential oversight over all of creation and the course of human history. While humans make genuine choices and are accountable for them, God's overarching plan and purposes will ultimately prevail. He works through, and sometimes despite, human decisions to accomplish His divine will. The phrase emphasizes God's ultimate control and the security found in His guidance, rather than suggesting a deterministic system that removes human agency. Believers are called to "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure" ([Philippians 2:12-13](/philippians/2-12 "Philippians 2:12-13 - Work Out Your Salvation")). This verse affirms that even human actions, including the crucifixion of Jesus, occurred according to God's "definite plan and foreknowledge" ([Acts 2:23](/acts/2-23 "Acts 2:23 - God's Sovereign Plan and Human Responsibility")), yet those who carried it out were still held responsible.

**How can I trust God's hand when my "times" are difficult, painful, or seem to contradict His goodness?**

Answer: This verse is precisely for such moments of profound distress. David himself uttered it while facing intense persecution and feeling abandoned. Trusting God's hand in difficult "times" means believing in His character—His goodness, wisdom, and power—even when circumstances are not understandable or immediately favorable. It is a choice to lean on His faithfulness, not just His immediate intervention. The Bible teaches that God often uses trials and suffering for our spiritual growth and to refine our faith, ultimately working "all things together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose" ([Romans 8:28](/romans/8-28 "Romans 8:28 - All Things Work for Good")). This trust allows us to find peace in His ultimate control, knowing that He is sovereign even over our pain and that He will never abandon us ([Hebrews 13:5](/hebrews/13-5 "Hebrews 13:5 - God Will Never Leave You")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 31:15 finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. His entire life, from His miraculous birth to His agonizing death and glorious resurrection, was precisely "in the hand" of the Father, unfolding according to God's perfect "times" and sovereign plan. Jesus perfectly exemplified the surrender of His "times" to God's hand, most poignantly in the Garden of Gethsemane when He prayed, "Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done" ([Luke 22:42](/luke/22-42 "Luke 22:42 - Jesus' Prayer in Gethsemane")). Even His death was not a random event but occurred "according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God" ([Acts 2:23](/acts/2-23 "Acts 2:23 - God's Plan for Jesus' Death")). Furthermore, the "deliverance" from enemies that David sought is perfectly realized in Christ's victory over sin, death, and the devil. Though He was "delivered up" to death, God "raised him up, loosing the pangs of death" ([Acts 2:24](/acts/2-24 "Acts 2:24 - God Raised Jesus From the Dead")), demonstrating that even death was ultimately in God's hand. For believers, this means our "times" are now not only in the Father's hand but also in the hand of the resurrected Christ, who declares, "I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand" ([John 10:28](/john/10-28 "John 10:28 - No One Can Snatch Them Out of My Hand")). Our ultimate security, deliverance from spiritual enemies, and eternal destiny are therefore eternally secured in the sovereign, nail-pierced hands of our Savior.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Acts 1:7

And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.

John 7:6

Then Jesus said unto them, My time is not yet come: but your time is alway ready.

John 17:1

¶ These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:

Psalms 142:6

Attend unto my cry; for I am brought very low: deliver me from my persecutors; for they are stronger than I.

Ecclesiastes 3:1

¶ To every [thing there is] a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

Ecclesiastes 3:8

A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

Job 24:1

¶ Why, seeing times are not hidden from the Almighty, do they that know him not see his days?