I am spending a couple days living in and praying through Psalm 118. When I read the verses God chose for today, my heart soared from this proclamation in the Old Testament to its fulfillment in the New. “Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous: ‘The LORD’s right hand has done mighty things! The LORD’s right hand is lifted high; the LORD’s right hand has done mighty things!’” [ vs15-16]
The “Right Hand of the LORD” stands for Jehovah’s omnipotence, His power and strength. It is the place of authority, the place where intercession is made, and blessings and forgiveness are granted. Seated in that place is our LORD Christ Jesus.
Heb 12:2-3: “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”
Everything in the world at this moment is designed to cause weariness and make us lose heart. The world’s message leads to hopelessness. It makes us dread each day, fear what we might have to face, and generates a desire to just quit. The world’s messages of fear are hard to ignore and difficult to escape.
Believers, however, hear and see a different message. We are told to fix our eyes on Jesus. We are also told why to do that – our Jesus is sitting in that place of authority and power. We are to remind ourselves of what He endured in order to be exalted to that place. He endured the cross with all its pain and shame for us. He took upon His Very Body, Soul and Spirit every sin, every perversion of all mankind and through that brought freedom and salvation for any who come to Him in repentance.
When we keep our eyes on Him, we keep our eyes on the Almighty Power and Glory of God. Then “Shouts of joy and victory [will] resound in the tents of [those made] righteous” through Him. That is where we should be looking right now. That is the message we should be heeding.
That is the message we should be shouting from our tents to this world of gloom and doom. Our God Reigns in Power and Authority. “The LORD’s right hand has done mighty things! The LORD’s right hand is lifted high; the LORD’s right hand has done mighty things!” Thank you, King Jesus. Amen & Amen.
