The Power Of Your Right Hand

Though I am surrounded by troubles,

you will protect me from the anger of my enemies.

You reach out your hand,

and the power of your right hand saves me.

The LORD will work out his plans for my life. Psalm 138:7-8

WHEN DAVID WROTE IN PSALM 138 about the hand of God that reached out to protect him, surely he was thinking about what the hand of God had done in the past. David knew the hands of God “laid the foundations of the earth, [his] right hand . . . spread out the heavens above” (Isaiah 48:13). Surely the same hands that created something out of nothing could provide what he needed. David remembered the song of praise Moses sang when the Israelites were safely across the Red Sea: “Your right hand, O LORD, smashes the enemy” (Exodus 15:6). Surely the same hands that crushed Pharaoh’s armies could defeat the enemies surrounding him.

David remembered that Moses told God’s people before they entered the Promised Land that “the LORD your God brought you out [of Egypt] with his strong hand” (Deuteronomy 5:15). Surely the same hands that led a whole nation out of slavery could lead him away from the fears that had gripped him and into the rest God provides. David remembered Joshua telling God’s people after they walked across the dried-up Jordan River that the Lord “did this so all the nations of the earth might know that the LORD’s hand is powerful, and so you might fear the LORD your God forever” (Joshua 4:24). David expected the same powerful hand to deal with whatever would try to prevent him from experiencing God’s plans for his life.

What David could not yet see clearly was the greatest work of protection and salvation the Lord’s hands would provide —when God incarnate would give his hands over to evil men to have nails driven into them. Jesus invites all who doubt the power of God’s hands to save to “look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!” (John 20:27).

Lord, how I need to remember your history of reaching out your hand to save to remind me that this is who you are and what you do. I believe that you are working out your plans for ________’s life and that you will protect him from the enemy of his soul. Save ________ by the power of your right hand through the work of your nail-pierced hands.