He Will Hold Me Fast

For a long time I have been fascinated with and moved by, the language in the Bible that speaks of God’s right hand.

My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me. (Psalm 63:8, ESV)

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10, ESV)

Big word alert! Anthropomorphism: to give human characteristics to God. The reason we do such a thing is not to misunderstand God, but rather to understand him. God is so infinitely beyond us that we cannot understand him without thinking in human terms. Since God is a spirit, we know that he doesn’t have a right hand. Yet, when God speaks to Isaiah, he describes himself as holding us up with his right hand. God condescends to our level so that we will understand his deep love for us.

But you can’t stop there. In Psalm 73, Asaph describes our side of this sustaining relationship:

Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory. (Psalm 73:23-24, ESV)

Don’t miss this! God hold us with his right hand, but he holds our right hand. In order for this to happen, God cannot be walking alongside us. (If he was, his right hand would hold our left hand.) In order for God’s right hand to hold our right hand, God has to walk in front of us, facing us. In other words, God’s back is to our future (he already knows it anyway!) and his face is toward our face. How should we respond to such a God?

Therefore let everyone who is godly offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found; surely in the rush of great waters, they shall not reach him. You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance. Selah. I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. (Psalm 32:6-8, ESV)

God holds your right hand, with his right hand, his back to your future, his face toward your face, with his eye on you.

Last year I joined more than 10,000 other pastors at the Together for the Gospel conference in Louisville. With them I sang the words of this song. Today, you need to join us. Sing this with faith. God has his eye on you, your hand in his.