Palm Holding
The steps of a man are established by the Lord; and He delights in his way. When he falls, he shall not be hurled headlong; because the Lord is the One who holds his hand; Psalm 37:23-24 NASB
Holds – The primary meaning of the root word samak is to lean upon or to sustain. But we might be more interested in the word picture. The Hebrew letters paint a picture of supporting water with an open palm. Have you ever tried that? Were you successful? Human beings that I know can’t lift up water with open palms (unless it’s frozen, of course). But the picture reminds me of an event where water was lifted up by an invisible hand – the crossing of the Sea of Reeds. In contrast to the meaning of grasp, this word recalls the laying on of hands that was associated with the sacrificial offerings of the Old Testament. It expresses the identification of self with the offering surrendered to God as an act of consecration. From this background, the Bible teaches that our support must come from God, not from men, for it is by God’s power that we will dwell in a place of safety and righteousness despite those times when we fall.
One of the constant characteristics of children is that they never refuse to hold your hand (except when they are being headstrong!). It is a bond of safety and protection for them, and an assurance of love for us. Lovers hold hands for the same reasons, and the added one of deep intimacy and personal vulnerability. Did you notice that God initiates the palm holding? Did you know that God loves to hold you in His hands? That’s not quite the same as grasping the hand of a child or a lover. It’s much more like carrying a baby. God is your perfect Father and your greatest admirer. His palm-holding is the deepest expression of care and concern.
If we are going to know the true delight of the Lord, we need to offer our hand to His. We can walk through life just like our own children, safe and secure. He is willing and able to carrying us.
Today take a moment to carry some water in your open palms. Let it remind you that God is able to carry all of His creation with open palms. Certainly He can carry you too.
Topical Index: hold, carry, samak, Psalm 37:23-24
Thank you Skip for the message I needed today. My hand is extended for Him to grasp, like the child in Matt. 18:3. Take me through this day O Lord, and do not let go until my head lays down on my pillow tonight.
The Lord always inspires you to release the right “Word” at the right time Skip. I needed this one especially today as my 83-year old father’s cancer seems to be progressing from the CT and MRI scans this week and he will be undergoing a liver biopsy this morning to see if the lesions they found are indeed the plasmacytoma spreading. I have had prayer/devotional time with my dad, who is not a full believer yet, in the mornings. A few days ago, I asked him to close in prayer and from his weakened 145 lb. frame he said, “Can I be creative?” I said, “Say anything you want dad.” He said, “God, I fully trust you can heal me. I have faith you will give me my life back…my quality of life.” I felt at that moment, dad had put his hand in God’s hands like Today’s Word expounds on. I’m praying that after 6 years of chemo, and a tired liver in filtering all the poisons, that Yeshua’s blood will start to flow through my daddy’s veins and that my dad’s heart, mind, soul and spirit will come into full alignment with the LORD who is resurrection LIFE, true health and power.
Christina, i am in agreement with your prayers for your dad too, in Jesus’ Precious Name. jan
Thanks Jan. Your prayers are working as always. Your voice is a familiar one around God’s Throne Room 😀
Christina,
Thank you for sharing about your dad’s health issues. You painted a beautiful picture of the two of you having a devotional time together and then him praying in an open and child like way.. What a gift it is for you to have this time with him to encourage him to completely entrust his life to Yeshua.
My prayers are for your strength, his healing, and most of all, his salvation.
Blessings to you both.
Hi Judi,
Even though I haven’t met you or Jan before (like most of us who read Today’s Word), it’s just wonderful to know that I have “sisters” who are divinely interceding on my dad’s behalf. We shall see what his liver biopsy results turn out to be tomorrow. Regardless, we continually deposit the “Lord’s IV juice into his system” to allow Life and restoration to spring up from within. This morning I introduced him to the book entitled, “Heaven is Real” by Todd Burpo. He was open to reading it on his IPad. Once again, thanks for your prayers. They will make the eternal difference!
and even though I’m walking through the valley of the shadow- I will hold on to the hand of Him whose love will carry me.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSFH6_IiOlw&feature=related
how wonderful! how marvelous!- and my song will ever be.. How wonderful! how marvelous- is my Savior’s love to me. For we may now, together, say.. “ADONAI is my Shepherd, I shall not (ever be in) want..” He will supply- He does supply all our needs according to His riches in our Messiah..”
Friends, – we are (right now) in “good Hands!” Thy tender care, what tongue can recite? It breathes in the air- it shines in the light.. -It streams from the hills, it decends through the plains, and sweetly distills in the dew and the rain. Frail children of dust, and feeble as frail- it Thee do we trust, nor find Thee to fail.
Yes. Praise His Name, underneath are the everlastingly strong and tender arms of our compassionate Savior and never failing Friend.
~ Behold, I have engraved you upon the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me. ~(Isaiah 49.16)
Nail-pierced hands. Wounded side. – this is love.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3k–cy9ZpvM&feature=related
CARL, THOSE ARE BOTH BEAUTIFUL SONGS – I HAVE NOT HEARD “THIS IS LOVE” IN MANY MANY YEARS – SO BEAUTIFUL TO HEAR IT AGAIN & “CARRY ME” IS ALSO ONE OF MY FAVORITES THAT I HAVE NOT HEARD IN MANY YEARS – THANKS FOR BRINGING THEM BACK TO ME THIS MORNING – I SHARED THEM ON FACEBOOK & TWITTER.
THIS SCRIPTURE THAT YOU POSTED “~ Behold, I have engraved you upon the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me. ~(Isaiah 49.16)” IS WHAT THE HOLY SPIRIT BROUGHT TO MIND UPON READING SKIPS PIECE TODAY…
Yes…AMEN…The Author, Sustainer, and Completer of my faith is certainly worthy of all praise and honor.Jude 24 also.
As I read this post I was struck so hard that I’m almost at a loss to define the reasons why. What came to mind was a picture of a parent dragging a child by the hand in a store or down the street, which is of course, a direct contrast to the picture presented here by God.
I have to stop and question, not only my intention, but the process as well. In my interaction with those who have been placed in my influence and under my care, do I come alongside them and hold their hand or am I dragging them along in my rush to “accomplish” all that I set out to do. ( an awful lot of “I’s” and “my”s in there ) Whether it’s family, social, religious or economic circles, it’s all the same.
What does it mean to be upright (yasher) and righteous (tsadaq)? To hold other’s hands as or while God holds ours? I can have all the good intentions (zeal?) in the world, but if the process isn’t right it will only end in failure for them and me, most importantly them.
YHWH Elohi, help me!!
robert, it is wonderful to hear you say this: “I have to stop and question, not only my intention, but the process as well. In my interaction with those who have been placed in my influence and under my care, do I come alongside them and hold their hand or am I dragging them along in my rush to “accomplish” all that I set out to do. ( an awful lot of “I’s” and “my”s in there ) Whether it’s family, social, religious or economic circles, it’s all the same.”
TO GET REVELATION IN REGARD TO YOUR ACTIONS/BEHAVIOR IN THIS INSTANCE (WHICH IS PROBABLY DAILY IN SOME LINES OF WORK/VOCATION) – IS A MIRACLE – A MAJOR STEP MILLSTONE 4 YOU – I AM ELATED THAT YOUR EYES OF UNDERSTANDING HAVE BEEN OPENED TO THESE/THIS TRUTH – PERHAPS IT WILL SET YOU FREE IF YOU LET THE RHEMA WORD SINK DEEP INTO YOUR HEART & PSYCHE – SEEMS IT HAS PERMEATED YOUR SPIRIT – NOW LINE UP MIND & SOUL OR HOWEVER IT GETS FROM HEAD TO HEART FOR CHANGE & IMMEDIATE OBEDIENCE.
I AM SOMETIMES MADE TO FEEL UNWORTHY BECAUSE I AM NOT “DOING” ENOUGH WHILE I SIT IN THIS CHAIR & MINISTER TO PEOPLE OVER SOCIAL MEDIA INSTEAD OF GETTING MY HANDS IN THE DIRT – THAT BECAUSE I “SEEM” TO HAVE NO PHYSICAL ACTION THAT I AM NOT DOING ANYTHING BUT I AM DOING EXACTLY WHAT GOD WANTS ME TO DO AT THIS POINT IN TIME. I HAVE TRIED TO MAKE A MEETING THAT HAS BEEN HELD 4 TIMES OVER THE LAST TWO WEEKS – THINKING I MUST BE “DOING” SOMETHING OTHER THAN WHAT I AM DOING & I DIDN’T MAKE ANY OF THOSE MEETINGS – GOOD INTENTIONS & MADE TO FEEL LIKE I NEED TO BE “DOING” SOMETHING & NOT BY THE ORGANIZATION BUT BECAUSE THIS PARTICULAR ORGANIZATION IS THE ONLY WAY AVAILABLE TO ME IN THE CITY WHERE I LIVE, BUT EACH TIME GOD PROHIBITED ME FROM GOING BECAUSE THAT IS NOT WHERE HE WANTS ME. I KNOW IT BUT I FEEL LIKE I SHOULD BE “DOING” SOMETHING. YES, I AM & SHOULD BE DOING SOMETHING JUST WHERE I AM – THE TIME WILL BE RIGHT FOR THE “DOING” WHEN HE SAYS IT’S RIGHT – I HAVE A JOB DOING WHAT I AM DOING AT THIS MOMENT.
SO I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOU MEAN IN A SENSE IN MY OWN LIFE – IT FEELS THE SAME. LET’S TAKE HIS HAND & LET HIM GUIDE US AS TO WHAT HE WANTS US TO BE DOING & THOSE WHO CHOOSE TO COME ALONG SIDE OF US WE WILL KNOW & WELCOME OPENLY INSTEAD OF DRAGGING THEM BY THE HAND TO BE “DOING” WHAT WE ARE DOING BECAUSE WE FEAR NO ONE WILL BE THERE 4 US TO BE “DOING” THE THINGS WE HAVE BEEN CALLED TO DO – NOT THEM. DOES THAT MAKE SENSE, ROBERT??? I SURE HOPE SO CAUSE IT MAKES PERFECT SENSE TO ME 4 SURE. ♥
I FEEL/THINK I RECEIVED A LIBERATING WORD FROM YOU THIS MORNING ON FREEDOM… ♥
Thanks for your reply Jan, and yes 🙂 it does make sense. There’s an old adage that goes something along the lines of, “even a very good word spoken at the wrong time falls to the ground.”
I suppose one of the things I’m learning is timing, and how to be diserning in regards to it, both in speech and action. It’s not that “my” words have any value, only that as I attempt to walk in His truth that it’s understood as coming from Him, me only being the vessel. I just wonder sometimes if I do damage instead of good in trying to “show” someone what is right, whether it be in the realm of social or buisness life. (like there’s a difference!! :0 !! )
YHWH bless you and keep you Jan, and all of yours as well.
Well that didn’t work so well! ( :0 ) maybe it’s a different 0!?