Who Has Whose Hand?
When we see an adult, with child of 5 or 6 years old, holding hands as they cross the street – we know who is holding whose hand.
But add 50-55 years to that scene – and now, who has whose hand?
I remember clearly a pastor we had once mentioning during a sermon something about God being at Jesus’ right hand. Now, we all know that Jesus is at God’s right hand, and I know he saw my puzzled look because as we made eye contact, I saw a slight smile come across his face as he continued talking about God at Jesus’ right hand…
Until… he got past the crucifixion, past the resurrection, and to Hebrews 12:2 where he read, “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” And then I understood.
God was on Jesus’ right hand in mission, and Jesus is on God’s right hand in Glory!
That’s been nearly 25 years ago, and I still think of it. (I have notebooks full of notes from his sermons!) I’ve also thought of it several times this year as I’ve studied the Psalms. It’s amazing to me the number of times David has said, “You (God) take my right hand…” (Psalms 16:8; 73:23; 109:31 for example) and then the times he has said, “Let me (David) take Your (God’s) right hand…” (Psalms 17:7; 18:35 for example – actually there are some 35+ Psalms that mention God’s right hand…)
And so we ask, “Who has whose hand?”
Sometimes David has God’s right hand, and sometimes God has David’s right hand… what’s the difference? It’s certainly not that when God has David’s right hand (the hand of strength) that David is “taking care” of God.
It’s the fact that sometimes God is the strength at our right hand (putting us to work) and sometimes He comforts and protects us by keeping us at His right hand (when we’re too weak to work.)
It’s always God’s strength and salvation, it’s just that sometimes He holds our hand, and sometimes, He allows us to hold His…
As Jerry Clower used to say, “Ain’t God Good!”
God, my Father, my Strength, and my Deliverer, take my right hand and lead me into battle… and then, when the battle looms large ahead of me… may I take Your right hand in comfort and protection.
Oh God, this is almost too much for me to understand. I can’t quite wrap my mind around it.
Oh the depths of Your Word – and the heights to which it takes me – it’s dizzying, and at times, gives me cold chills and almost takes my breath.
As I meditate on Your Word, sometimes a warm wash of clarity comes over me, so much so that I scarcely breathe and don’t want to move, afraid that I may lose that understanding that is barely touching my fingertips…
Oh the wondrous joy of Your precious Word! Thank You for the treasure I hold in my hands!
THANK YOU BETTY…..
[…] Who Has Whose Hand […]
Dear Betty , I just found your canning info this morning , then noticed you have a ministry ..I am about 10 minutes into Numbers and enjoying it and learning so much ,!!! even tho our Bible study group has just been going studying the past few weeks in Numbers …I have to ask tho before I go further if you are a ‘fundamentalist” Christian .. so hard to describe , but what ” church” are you affiliated with ? I do not want to go on and then find out I have been sitting under questionable teaching ..I hope you are not offended , and understand this is asked in a friendly way… anyway , hope to hear back , thank you for your time , and really enjoyed your canning video also ! I hope this is understood the way I meant it.
Karen, thank you so much for asking! I really appreciate that. I am about as conservative as they come! I believe the Bible is the inerrant Word of God. I grew up in a small rural Methodist Church and joined the church at 10 years old and have fought against liberalism my whole life. Currently we attend an independant church where I teach and my husband plays the piano. I believe that my husband is the spiritual head of our home. Although I may know more “about” the Bible than he does, still I am under his headship.
I guess you could say that I am a “fundamentalist” but like the word “Christian” that means many different things to different people. I am not at all offended by your questions, and wish others would be as diligent in checking out who they listen to. I asw your FB friend request, but as I didn’t know you, I didn’t accept until I saw this comment. If you would like to talk more, please feel free to e-mail me bnprayerlogue@cs.com
Also, here is a link to the intro to our Women’s Bible study last Spring. In it I share a little about myself. I also have the lessons feom that study on SoundCloud, as well as my lessons/messages from Huckleberry Springs Church. Thank you again.
Intro Spring 2019