Get a Grip
Yet I was always with You, You grasped my right hand. Psalm 73:23 (Robert Alter translation)
Grasped – Does Asaph reach out and grab hold of God? No, he doesn’t. When you and I are in the midst of herd mentality, when we are caught in group-think, when we act by addictive instinct, we can’t get a grip on God. Animal behavior isn’t self-consciously intentional. If we are going to survive the envy episode (or something akin to it), we will need rescue from the outside. Therefore, God grips us! “You grasped my right hand,” says Asaph. “I couldn’t do it. I was falling over the edge. You had to grab me.”
The Hebrew verb is ‘ahaz. It means “to take hold of, to seize, to grasp.” You might look at Isaiah 45:1 to see why God takes hold of a pagan king to do His bidding. Interestingly, its derivative ‘ahuzza means “possession,” something you take hold of. Most of the occurrences of ‘ahuzza refer to taking possession of the land. God gives but we must take hold of His gift.
In this verse, the verb ‘ahaz is active perfect. That indicates it is a completed action taken by the subject. God did the work of grasping. Asaph was falling. God grabbed him. By the way, God didn’t just grab him by the neck or the foot. God grabbed his right hand. Why? Because grasping the right hand is a metaphor for providing sure guidance. To take hold of the right hand is a sign of favor. Asaph tells us that even in the midst of his addictive struggle with envy, when there was nothing more that he could do to prevent the slide off the cliff, God rescued him with a favorable sign. God didn’t pull him from the brink in order to scold him. God didn’t show up as the divine policeman or the heavenly judge. God didn’t pass sentencing for Asaph’s flirtation with the edge. God saved him and showed him goodwill.
Living on the edge might be appealing to the world’s view of human excitement, but it is a far cry from shalom. Razors are meant to cut, not heal. Unfortunately, many of us seem to carry open razors in our pockets. When the opportunity arises, we take them out and pretend we are living exciting lives. But we are really bleeding to death. Perhaps we can learn something from Asaph. When God rescues, throw the razor away.
Topical Index: grasped, ‘ahaz, favor, rescue, save, Psalm 73:23
And on how many occasions, have we observed parents, holding onto the hands of their young children when danger is present? Little Johnny, little Susie,- “hold my hand.” Get a grip…- But Who, (dear friend) is holding who?
This,- this, is the grip of grace and His promise behind it.. (O,hallelujah!) ~ 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)
My next question would be- “who” is talking here- and to whom is this addressed? I might even go so far as to have the “nerve” to ask, – “are You talking to me?” Lol!
And the answer is? (O, hallelujah!) Yes, yes and yes. He is. This (covenant) promise is to all of His children. The ninety-nine sheep plus one. All of them. Have we forgotten His Name? (of course we have!) His Name (one of hundreds)- is Emmanu’el. G-d IS with us. ← . I was going to add an exclamation point to the end of this, but opted instead for a more appropriate “period.” Once again, (this time with feeling!)- Dear friends, God IS with us. ← (!)
Now, if only I would remember what His parting words were.. Oh, yes- these are they: ~Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I AM with you always, even to the end of the age ~ (Matthew 28.20). If only I could be sure of this.. (hello?) Is He truly “with us”- always? As in, -right here.. right now? Lol! And the answer is? Go ask Jonah, – He made an attempt to run from God.. But whether in the boat or in the storm or in the belly of a great fish- everywhere that Jonah -found himself- God was there! ~ They called to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! ~ (Revelation 6.16) Friends, that ain’t gonna happen either! There is only one “hiding place!”- and God Himself has (already) provided it. – Have you been to Calvary?- and entered in through the torn veil of His flesh?
Let’s fast forward to a day called today. “Here am I.” -or if you prefer, “here are we..”. May I ask the same question God asked Hagar as she also decided to “get away from it all..”- Hagar, Jonah, Carl.. “Where are you?” Hey.. wait a minute..- isn’t this also the same question God proposed to Adam way back yonder in the garden? “Adam, – where are you?”
O hallelujah!- This, this, is Love that seeks! He sought me, and He bought me- with His redeeming blood! I am under new “ownership” and new management. Once again?- O, hallelujah!
When God calls your name. Adam, Hagar, Jonah, Carl.. -and this list goes on.. as He builds a bride for Himself.. (Once again?..lol!) Shall we? – O, hallelu Yah!- Praise to the G-d whose Name is Yah! Praise to the God whose Name is Salvation/Deliverance!
But wait!.. Is there more? – Friend, there is “always more!..” Unending-unfailing Love, -amazing-assiduous-abundant grace..-
~ My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me: “And I am giving them eternal life, and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them from My hand.” “My Father who gave them to Me is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch anything from My Father’s hand.” ~ (John 10.27-29)
ask again.. – “Who” is holding who?
Savior, like a Shepherd lead us,
much we need Thy tender care;
in Thy pleasant pastures feed us,
for our use Thy folds prepare.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus!
Thou hast bought us, Thine we are.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus!
Thou hast bought us, Thine we are.
We are Thine, Thou dost befriend us,
be the guardian of our way;
keep Thy flock, from sin defend us,
seek us when we go astray.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus!
Hear, O hear us when we pray.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus!
Hear, O hear us when we pray.
Thou hast promised to receive us,
poor and sinful though we be;
Thou hast mercy to relieve us,
grace to cleanse and power to free.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus!
We will early turn to Thee.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus!
We will early turn to Thee.
Early let us seek Thy favor,
early let us do Thy will;
blessed LORD and only Savior,
with Thy love our bosoms fill.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus!
Thou hast loved us, love us still.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus!
Thou hast loved us, love us still.
(Text: Attr. to Dorothy A. Thrupp, 1779-1847)
~ And I have been crucified with The Messiah, and from then on I myself have not been living, but The Messiah is living in me, and this that I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of The Son of God, He who has loved us and has given Himself for us ~ (Galatians 2.20)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvJK5KaQbNM&feature=related