Skip to main content

The Right Hand of God's Righteousness


Last week, I was at home in N.Ireland to help my parents clear out the attic where our belongings had accumulated for several decades. It was a trip down memory lane as I came across school jotters, A-Level files, my beloved Paddington bear, my childhood dolls.... I had kept probably every personal letter I'd ever received, but due to instructions to be ruthless, I allocated them to the 'dispose-of pile' with the exception of one. It happened to be in my own handwriting addressed to my sister when I was a student and the reason I kept it was due to the fact that it contained an excerpt of Spurgeon's commentary on the following verse: 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. Isaiah 41:10.

 Spurgeon writes: Fear of falling is wholesome. To be venturesome is no sign of wisdom. Times come to us when we feel that we must go down unless we have a very special support. Here we have it. God's right hand is a grand thing to lean upon. Mind it is not only His hand, though it keeps heaven and earth in their places, but His right hand: His power united with skill, His power where it is most dexterous. No, this is not all; it is written, "I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." That hand which He uses to maintain His holiness and to execute His royal sentences - this shall be stretched out to hold up His trusting ones. Fearful is our danger, but joyful is our security. The man whom God upholds, devils cannot throw down.

 Weak may be our feet, but almighty is God's right hand. Rough may be the road, but Omnipotence is our upholding. We may boldly go forward. We shall not fall. Let us lean continually where all things lean. God will not withdraw His strength, for His righteousness is there as well. He will be faithful to his promise, and faithful to His Son, and, therefore faithful to us. How happy we ought to be! Are we not so?

 These are beautiful words of encouragement for every descendant of Abraham (which Christians have become through faith, see Romans 4:16) as we witness the darkness and evil of the present days. Many of our precious brothers and sisters have been cruelly attacked and martyred in the Middle East. Why have they not recanted and denounced Christianity to have their lives spared? Because they were upheld by the right hand of God's righteousness. What a 'rich welcome' they will have 'into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ' (2 Peter 1:11)!

 As Spurgeon  urges us: Let us lean continually where all things lean. That is the safest place to be while on earth in light of eternity! There is His presence and light. There we will see His glory, which surpasses everything else. Let us rejoice today in these wonderful words of promise: I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness!

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

"When you get to the top, there's nothing there."

The title of this blog is a quotation from author Jack Higgins, who wrote 'The Eagle has Landed'.  He wished he had known as a small boy that 'when you get to the top, there's nothing there'. The former President of the Republic of Macedonia, Sir Boris Trajkovski, reiterates similar sentiments in this video. The quality is poor, but I think his words can be heard clearly. Even to reach the top position in one's country, " ...as President, in my life I feel that nothing is more important than to know the Lord Jesus Christ. "    What about this feeling of emptiness inside? I agree with Sir Boris Trajkovski. His conclusion is: to have Christ is everything. Forget the religious nonsense which chokes the very soul of the living God. Religion is man-made and is therefore as stifling and narrow-minded as its makers. A real relationship with the God of Heaven fulfills and gives peace. I think that's what we are all looking for, if we a
1 comment
Read more

Of Infinite Importance

The vivid red poinsettias, which stand out against the azure skies of Cyprus, are not without symbolism for the Christmas celebration. The star shape in the centre resembles the star of Bethlehem and the leafy red bracts represent the blood of Christ, a visible reminder of the reason for His coming. While we enjoy the festive ambience and quality family time of the Christmas season, there is infinitely more to the mere outward festivities. A deeper look at the Christmas story reveals a heart-changing message. The Impact of Christ's Birth Christ's birth impacted the course of history like no other because of who He was and why He came. The Bible records the words proclaimed to Joseph by the Angel of the Lord concerning Mary and the Lord's birth: She will give birth to a Son, and you shall name Him Jesus (The LORD is salvation), for He will save His people from their sins. Matthew 1:21 (Amplified Bible) As the angels announced His arrival to the humble shepherds that holy n
Post a Comment
Read more

The Mystery that is Macedonia

When I first came to Macedonia on a visit in 2001, I found this little country so intriguing and breathtakingly beautiful that I happily accepted the invitation to return for a longer period. That ‘longer period’ has now extended itself to several years during which I have had many enriching, memorable experiences. I thought it might be interesting to jot down a few observations about the difference in culture. I appeal to my Macedonian readers not to misunderstand my intentions. What I have observed are customs and habits which are as normal to you as breathing and sleeping, but to someone from an entirely different culture, they are both interesting and noteworthy. It is always thrilling for me to explore how various nations function and it is nothing short of a privilege to experience a foreign culture first-hand. Hospitality Macedonians are a friendly, hospitable people. I do not know how many times they have almost literally killed me with kindness. Indeed, I have often
8 comments
Read more