The Hands of The Lord
Mr. Henry C. Spence resides in Bournemouth, England. This is his second article to appear in Focus, the first having been published in the Sept.-Oct. ‘75 issue. Mr. Spence is also a frequent contributor of written ministry to Precious Seed magazine, a bi-monthly periodical published by brethren in England.
“I muse on the work of thy hands” (Psalm 143:5), declared the psalmist. And so may we consider the hands of the Lord. What various thoughts in the many portions of Holy Scripture are revealed to our minds as we meditate on the hands of the Lord. First, there is
The Hand of Power
“Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither His ear heavy, that it cannot hear” (Isaiah 59:1). Again, Isaiah has said, “Fear thou not; for I am with thee. Be not dismayed; for I am thy God. I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness” (41:10). And a little further on in the same context he wrote, “for I, the Lord thy God, will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee” (v. 13). How precious to realize that the mighty hand of the God of Jacob will hold our right hand. He is able to strengthen us in our weakness, and to uphold us in our weariness and stumbling.
Then there is
The Fashioning Hand
Job could say, “Thine hands have made me and fashioned me together round about” (10:8). We are reminded in Jerusalem of the hand of the Divine potter. “And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter; so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it. Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the Lord. Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel” (Jeremiah 18:4-6). Our God has His special design for each of us and He desires to mold us that we may be conformed to the image of His Son (see Romans 8:29). So it will be with His ancient people also in His gracious dealings with them.
Consider
The Hand That Plans
With full assurance of faith we can say with the psalmist, “My times are in thy hand” (Psalm 31:15). Times of joy and sorrow, temptation and difficulty, ever proving His unfailing guidance and unceasing care— all planned by Him who knows the end from the beginning. How blessed to know that He silently plans for His redeemed people!
We also remember
His Guiding Hand
“So He fed them according to the integrity of His heart, and guided them by the skillfulness of His hands” (Psalm 78:72). Thus He leads us through the wilderness paths we have not known, yet known to Him in every detail. We can rest assured with the psalmist that “If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me” (Psalm 139:9-10). It was Moses who truly said, “All his saints are in thy hand” (Deuteronomy 33:3).
Further, there is
His Providing Hand
“The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou givest them their food in due season. Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing” (Psalm 145:15-16). How good it is to know we have a God whose hand can and will provide for all men every day of their lives. This is particularly and wonderfully true of the child of God.
Finally, let us rejoice that we are in the safest hands in the world —
The Hand of Security
How good to rest in the assurance of our Saviour’s own precious promise, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, who gave them to me, is greater than all, and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand” (John 10:27-29). A double assurance is given to us here concerning our eternal security.
Our blessed Lord appealed to His disciples after His resurrection, “Why are ye troubled? And why do thoughts arise in your hearts? Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself; handle me and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. And when He had thus spoken, He showed them His hands and His feet” (Luke 24:38-40). It was the sight of those pierced hands that caused Thomas to know that He was the risen Son of God and adoringly declare His deity, “My Lord and my God” (John 20:28). We also see the Lord of Glory as He ascended from earth to heaven pronouncing a blessing with uplifted pierced hands. The day will come when God’s ancient people will look upon Him for it is written: “Behold, He cometh with clouds, and every eye shall see Him, and they also who pierced Him; and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him. Even so, Amen” (Revelation 1:7). Thus we see our living, loving Lord at God’s right hand—the “Minister of the Sanctuary” (see Hebrews 8:1-2). With joyful anticipation we can sing the words of Anne Ross Cousin’s beautiful hymn:
The Bride eyes not her garment
But her dear Bridegroom’s face;
I will not gaze at glory
But on my King of grace.
Not at the crown He giveth
But on His pierced hand:
The Lamb is all the glory
Of Immanuel’s land.