Psalm 98

Your right hand

Read/pray the psalm. (Full text at bottom.)

• The right hand symbolizes many things, indeed opposite things, at times.¹

  • Like all symbols, its meaning depends both on context and perspective.

    • How his right hand is used

    • Where you stand with respect to his right hand—in alliance, or in opposition

  • Here, it symbolizes power over his enemies.

    • The sword hand

    • The striking hand

• In other words, if you are his enemy, his right hand is striking from your left side.

So…

• Place your hands palm-to-palm.

• Notice how they are nearly identical.

• And yet they are the opposite, the mirror, one of the other—not only visibly, but so different in practical experience, ability, purpose.

• Repent—turn around—of any unconfessed sin in your life, and accept Christ’s forgiveness, on the basis of his once-for-all time sacrifice on the cross for you.²

• In this position, turned around, you are on Christ’s right hand, favored and protected.

• Pray:

"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 16:11]

Psalm 98
Cantate Domino

1	O sing unto the Lord a new song, * 
		for he has done marvelous things.
2	With his own right hand and with his holy arm, * 
		he has won for himself the victory.
3	The Lord declared his salvation; *
		his righteousness has he openly shown in the sight of the nations.
4	He has remembered his mercy and truth toward the house of Israel, *
		and all the ends of the world have seen the salvation of our God.
5	Show yourselves joyful in the Lord, all you lands; *
		sing, rejoice, and give thanks.
6	Praise the Lord with the harp; *
		sing with the harp a psalm of thanksgiving.
7	With trumpets also and horns, *
		O show yourselves joyful before the Lord, the King.
8	Let the sea make a noise, and all that is in it, * 
		the round world, and those who dwell therein.
9	Let the rivers clap their hands, and let the hills be joyful together before the Lord, *
		for he has come to judge the earth.
10	With righteousness shall he judge the world, *
		and the peoples with equity.

New Coverdale Psalter

1. See my posts on Psalm 16 and 1 Samuel 20 and search “right hand” on my home page for much more.

2. Jesus tells Peter: “Get behind me, Satan.” Stop opposing. Follow. He does, and note how “right” and “left” thereby switch for him!