The right hand of God in the Psalms

“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).

We will take notice of wherethe phrase ‘right hand of God’ tends to

appear in the book of Psalms

These fall in three main places

• Leading to songs of The 2nd Exodus - deliverance from sin Ps 16-21

• In the most asked question of God: ‘How long?’ in between the two

• In the songs of the 1st Exodus delivery from slavery in Egypt Ps 108-118

Put another way: Three main places

• Psalm 16-21 leads into a description of Jesus as suffering servant, shepherd and king (Psalms 22, 23, 24)

• Psalm 73-89 Songs of a crisis of faith, much of which are laments but turning to hope

• Psalm 108-110 and 118 The prelude to the Passover Psalms and the final Passover Psalm

As we do we can also look at what ‘the right hand of God’ might represent

The right hand of God as a symbol of God’s• power Ps 89:13• protection Ps 16:8 See also Ps 63:8; Ps 139:10; Isa 41:13;

La 2:3• presence Ps 16:11 See also Ps 48:10; Ps 73:23; Isa 62:8• saving power Ps 60:5 pp Ps 108:6 See also Ps 17:7;

Ps 20:6; Ps 80:15; Ps 98:1; Ps 138:7• victory Ps 18:35; Ps 44:3; Ps 78:54; Isa 41:10• defeat of His enemies Ex 15:6 See also Ex 15:12;

Ps 21:8; Ps 74:11• mighty works Ps 45:4 See also Ps 77:10; Ps 118:15-16;

Isa 48:13See https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/dictionary-of-bible-themes/1270-right-hand-God

In Book 1Psalms 1-41

Ps 16,17,18,(not 19),20,21

Five Psalms with the right hand of God leading into

Psalms 22 through 24

• The question is raised how long will the wicked triumph?

• What will the righteous do if the foundations are destroyed

• All the world is in sin in Psalm 14• Who is able or worthy ( to bring the ark to

Zion at the time )• The question is then raised:

‘who can ascend the hill of the Lord’?

A question prompted

• Psalm 15 and 24 being similar (and bookends of sort for this section) in asking ‘Who might ascend the hill of the Lord?’ And the emphasis might be a little different in each

• Psalm 15 can describe an individual and their deeds, most fitting of Jesus. His righteousness also emphasized in Psalm 18

• Psalm 24 describes a generation (and says so). Deeds displayed (sanctification) and righteousness is received (justification) and they lift up their hearts to ‘the King of Glory’

The question as bookends of a section of Psalms

Unshakeable, joy, wondrous love and a shield

Psalm 16:8 I have set the Lord always before me; because

he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.Psalm 16:11 You make known to me the path of life; in your

presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Psalm 17:7 Wondrously show your steadfast love, O Savior

of those who seek refuge from their adversaries at your right hand.

Psalm 18:35 You have given me the shield of your salvation,

and your right hand supported me, and your gentleness made me great.

The right hand of God is not in Psalm 19 - the heavens are telling the glory of God

The heavens are made by ‘the fingers’ of God and the law written on the stone

tablets by ‘the finger of God’

Psalm 20:6 Now I know that the Lord saves his anointed; he will answer him from his holy

heaven with the saving might of his right hand.

Psalm 21:8 Your hand will find out all your enemies; your right hand will find out those

who hate you.

Salvation and retribution

The hand of God is seen in Psalm 16, 17, 18, 20, 21. And what does it lead to?

This is the good shepherd who lays down His life for His sheep, the King

– Psalm 22 ‘My God My God why have you forsaken Me?’– Psalm 23 The Lord is My shepherd– Psalm 24 Who is the King of Glory?

Psalm 22– Begins with a scene of suffering– Begins in first person, the one suffering speaking– But interjects ‘You who are enthrones on the praises of Israel’– I can count all my bones, in pain– Surrounded by mocking– Poured out for others but he thirsts– God is His God from the womb ( contrasted with Psalm 51 where David is a fallen

sinner form conception, but consistent with the virgin birth and incarnation)– And yet the second half is triumphant portending resurrection and benefit to

future generations, Abraham’s promise to bless every family will be fulfilled and even the dead will bow

– (generations referred to in Psalm 24 more on that later)– A priestly work: a sacrifice of himself

John 10:11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the

sheep

Psalm 23 – Written in the first person– The shepherd from the perspective of ‘the sheep’– The most comprehensive and intimate picture of the relationship of a

believer and God so far (previous were more distant – like rock, shield or King )

– All the sheep’s needs are satisfied– All the sheep’s problems are not gone but the sheep brought through

the valley of the shadow of death– And the image is stripped away from sheep to self and ‘I will dwell in

the house of the Lord forever’– A prophetic work: leading with the shepherd staff (shepherd crook)

Hebrews 11:20 Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal

covenant, 21 equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us] that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be

glory forever and ever. Amen.

Psalm 24 ( a Psalm to be read on Sunday )– A king so great the gates and doors are told to ‘lift up their heads”– A Psalm to be read on Sunday ( for the 1st day of the week by title

in the Septuagint and appears to be the historical practice, reflecting the mention of creation in the opening)

– In the first half, believers mentioned ‘the generation of those who seek you’ touching on both sanctification (clean hands) and justification (receive blessings and righteousness)

– In the second half, the King of Glory received ( and clearly not David as it is said to be the Lord of Hosts )

– To be read on Sunday is consistent with and portends Jesus entry to Jerusalem on Palm Sunday and His resurrection a week later on Sunday ( and Pentecost 7 on Sunday weeks after that )

1 Peter 5:4 And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

And if we went one more psalm: an application

Gates and doors were told to lift up their heads, now we are told to lift up our hearts

• Psalm 25. An acrostic psalm to be learned and reflect on what was said till now. The Lord is prophet, priest and king– As priest in Psalm 22, He provides forgiveness– As prophet in Psalm 23, the shepherd leads – As king, he protects in Psalm 24

And if we went one more psalm: an application

Gates and doors were told to lift up their heads, now we are told to lift up our hearts

• Psalm 25. An acrostic psalm to be learned and reflect on what was said till now. The Lord is– My protection “Guard my soul and deliver me”– My guide “His secret is for those who fear Him”– My forgiveness “He leads sinners in the way”– God is my salvation in many listed ways– Touches on similar themes in some ways to ‘the song of

Moses and the Lamb’ ( no one in Genesis explicitly said ‘God is my salvation’ until Moses sings it in his songs in Exodus 15, Deut 32 and recounted in Rev 15 )

– In the song of Moses and the Lamb victory was achieved (looking back), here victory is looked forward to and experienced in progress turning to prayers in the present ( looking forward )

The song of Moses and the Lamb being the first and last song mentioned in the Bible

Some other references to the right hand of God in book 2 of the

Psalms

firstPsalm 44

The persecuted church laments

Psalm 44:3 or not by their own sword did they win the land, nor did their own arm save them, but your right hand and your arm, and the light of your face, for you delighted in them.

A lament by the persecuted church

He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake in Psalm 23 Here persecution is also for His name’s sake and quoted in Romans 8.

Moving from lament to celebration

Psalm 45A messianic wedding song

Psalm 45:4 In your majesty ride out victoriously for the cause of truth and meekness and righteousness; let your right hand teach you awesome deeds! Psalm 45:9 daughters of kings are among your ladies of honor; at your right hand stands the queen in gold of Ophir.

A wedding Psalm and a reason given in Hebrews 1 for why Jesus is better than the angels

And then moving to the whole world

Psalm 48 glory reaching to the ends of the earth – the spread of

salvation

Psalm 48:9-10 We have thought on your steadfast love, O God, in the midst of your temple. As your name, O God, so your praise reaches to the ends of the earth. Your right hand is filled with righteousness.

From thoughts in the temple to praise at the ends of the earth

Psalm 60 salvation at your right hand

A psalm a bit like Psalm 108 (where 108, 109 , 110 all will reference the right hand of

God )

Psalm 60:4-6a You have set up a banner for those who fear you, that they may flee to it from the bow. SelahThat your beloved ones may be delivered, give salvation by your right hand and answer us! God has spoken in His holiness

A right hand strong, close and personal

Psalm 63Your hand holds me

My soul clings to you

Psalm 63:5- 8 My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips, when I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night; for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy. My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me..

A song because your love is better than life

Book 3

Psalms of lamentsThe most asked question of

God‘How long?”

Years later even the prophet HabakkukWould quote Psalm 77, a psalm of a crisis of faith, in his own crisis of faith.

Laments toward the start

Psalm 73:23 Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand.

Psalm 74:11 Why do you hold back your hand, your right hand? Take it from the fold of your garment and destroy

them!

Psalm 77:10 Then I said, “I will appeal to this, to the years of the right hand of the Most High.”

Psalm 78:54 And he brought them to his holy land, to the

mountain which his right hand had won.

A plea and a turning point

Psalm 80:15 the stock that your right hand planted, and for the son whom you made

strong for yourself.Psalm 80:17 But let your hand be on the man of your right hand, the son of man whom you

have made strong for yourself!

A more victorious endingAfter Psalm 88, the darkest Psalm in the

book of Psalms

Psalm 89:13 You have a mighty arm; strong is your hand, high your right hand.

Psalm 89:25 I will set his hand on the sea and his right hand on the rivers.

Psalm 89:42 You have exalted the right hand of his foes; you have made all his enemies

rejoice.

Book 4

A reason for Joy to the world

And the Psalm that inspired the song ‘Joy to the world’

Psalm 98:1 [ Make a Joyful Noise to the Lord ] [ A Psalm. ] Oh sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous

things! His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him.

Book 5

Psalms of the PassoverFrom the start and at the

end

A prelude to the Hallal Psalms of Passover deliveranceAnd a promise of help from the right hand of God

Psalm 108:6 That your beloved ones may be delivered, give salvation by your right hand and answer me!

A pageant, starting with Judas and an afflicted poor manPsalm 109:31 For he stands at the right hand of the needy one, to save him from those who condemn his soul to death.

The pageant ending with one made like MelchizedekPsalm 110:1 [ Sit at My Right Hand ] [ A Psalm of David. ] The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.”Psalm 110:5 The Lord is at your right hand; he will shatter kings on the day of his wrath.

The last Hallal, Passover song singing of salvation from God’s right hand three times as well

Psalm 118:15 Glad songs of salvation are in the tents of the righteous: “The right hand of the Lord

does valiantly,Psalm 118:16 the right hand of the Lord exalts, the

right hand of the Lord does valiantly!”

“and they sang a hymn and went to the mount of olives” probably this psalm

And two more, the first like Psalm 23, and the first of the last set of Psalms of David in the Psalms Psalm 138:7Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life; you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and your right hand delivers me.

And one reminding us that Your right hand is everywhere to help me

Psalm 139:10even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.

‘The right hand of God’ appears in special places emphasizing

Salvation

- Leading to the a description of the person and work of Christ in Ps 22, 23, 24 in book 1

- In the prelude and ending of the deliverance, Hallal, Passover Psalms in book 5

- In the prayers, longings and hopes expressed in Book 3, in the in between time waiting for deliverance

fin’