"For I, YHWH your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, 'Fear not, I am the one who helps you.'"
This was one of the verses used during the message in chapel this morning. Isaiah 41:1-20 is a beautiful section of Scripture in the Old Testament. It's filled with the promise of justice, an assurance of God's sovereignty, and the hope of ultimate deliverance.
There's a word that occurs twice in these verses that's worth highlighting -- יָמִין -- which means, "right hand" in Hebrew.
Verse 10, which is that God will uphold His people with His בִּימִ֥ין צִדְקִֽי "righteous right hand".
And verse 13, which I included at the beginning... A second promise that God will hold the יָמִין "right hand" of His people.
That same word for "right hand" is used 138 times in the Old Testament. At least 36 times it is used in relation to God.
It helps to know that in Hebrew the right hand is the hand of blessing. When the Levites would speak a benediction over the people of Israel, they would raise up their right hand. Or, if a father were blessing one of his sons, he would do so by laying his right hand upon them (Jacob with Ephraim).
It also helps in this Isaiah context to know that the "right hand" is an idiomatic expression that's synonymous of a person or thing's power and strength (and for God this is associated directly with His goodness). So, when God says to His people, I will uphold you with "my righteous right hand" it means the full strength of His righteousness.
The full strength of the Creator God is what sustains us. Amazing thought.
And understanding the significance of that phrase יָמִין gives verse 13 even greater depth. This is not just God taking His people by their hand to lead them, although that's inherently part of the promise. Built into the promise is an invitation. God invites His people to be led by giving of their strength.
As if to say, "Take your right hand, your strength, your power and give it to me." All you need, I've already got.
It's a wonderful reminder to surrender.
Shalom.