The Free Dictionary says the common definition of “right-hand man” is “their close assistant and the person they trust to help and support them in everything they do.” Wouldn’t everyone want a “right-hand man”? Even you “lefties” out there?
I wanted more about the origin of this term. I found the oldest usage is of a chief assistant or indispensable helper. The superiority of the right hand is cultural, right-handedness being the norm.
It turns out that sitting at the right hand (side) is a position of privilege – and where did they get that description? From allusion to biblical passages – no real surprise there.
Henry Blackaby, in his devotional, had already “schooled’ me on this. And the verse he used was one I decided I needed to commit to memory.
“I keep the Lord in mind always.
Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.”
Psalm 16:8
What does it mean to set the Lord always before you – to keep Him in mind always? It means that you choose to relate everything you encounter to your trust in God. What you choose to focus on becomes the dominant influence in your life.
Let’s think about that. Are you a Christian (and I declare that I am, also)? If your focus is always on your problems, then your problems will determine the direction of your life. (See how this works, Eeyore?)
If your focus is on people, then people will determine what you think and do. Have you checked lately for whom you are dressing, whose ‘opinion’ of you really counts, whose approval you are working to gain? (ouch, getting awfully close to home for me)
In biblical times, the right hand was the most distinguished position, reserved for one’s chief adviser and supporter. So when you choose to focus on Christ, you invite Him to take the most important position in your life – as Counselor and Defender.
We need to ask ourselves, as Blackaby has prompted us, when we face new (aka “scary”) experiences, do we turn to Christ for his “interpretation and strength”? When people insult and mistreat us, do we seek direction from our Counselor? When we are in need, do we consult our Counselor before we react?
I know, as do others around me, that everything we do should be in the context of our relationship to Christ. But what I more often hear when we talk about this is “oh, yeah, I prayed, but I have to DO something – I mean I have to take action NOW – I can’t just sit and twiddle my thumbs”. These are uttered as justification for going the way we think is best – somehow giving us permission to skip consulting, heeding, listening, or waiting for Christ’s guidance and counsel.
If we truly have Christ at our right hand – always — and see him as our Counselor – Blackaby says we would be filled to the brim with confidence. Ooooh, where is that “confidence meter”? What’s my score in trusting God?
Psalm 16 is “of David” – you know, the guy we relate to in the Bible because he messes up so badly, yet his heart is sold out to the Lord, and the Lord rescues him in really cool ways. The word “miktam” is in the title of this Psalm — which is a word not well explained by scholars. But they do agree that it always stands in the superscription of Davidic prayers which are occasioned by great danger. And David had plenty of that in his life. While at times he had an army of helpers, he very often was alone. No humans around, that is – but the Lord is David’s “one and only good thing”
Psalm 73:25 “Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”
Do you find yourself asking, as I do, how did he get to that level of trust or safekeeping with the Lord? I want that – what do I have to do to get it?
I know he started young as he was herding sheep and protecting them by killing predators with no guns. Still in his youth, he used a slingshot to face down the giant Goliath and fell him. Plus there were all those battles and victories throughout his life. Ultimate to me was evading King Saul who was throwing a spear at him in close quarters –Saul continued to hunt David with big armies with the stated purpose of eradicating him from this earth. At every stage I mentioned, David gave the credit and glory to God for the victories (translation: he knew God was the prime mover on his behalf).
Amazingly, David restrained from killing Saul when he had the chance because of God’s anointing of Saul as king. Righteous respect for God holding back every emotional impulse to kill his predator, Saul.
Could I look back on my life and see where I needed to give God credit? Or where I needed to reflect God’s character more accurately to those who insulted or wronged me? Have I regularly recognized God’s work in my life? Isn’t that a big piece of building trust?
Just think of God ALWAYS standing at our right hand, ready to counsel, guide and act – I ask myself if I have given Him my focus, credited Him and trusted Him, or have I followed other paths?
You know I have to put in this plug – if you don’t reflect on your life, especially while you can remember events and situations, how can you identify, give credit and build your trust repository of God’s work in your life. It has been one of the side benefits (a huge one, for sure) of the people doing their Life Story albums. Keep that in mind.
And yes, I memorized Psalm 16:8. I hope you will, too. If you need a few memory helps (as I do), here is what I used to help me – hand movements. Like this
“I will keep the Lord in mind” – Right forefinger tapping right temple 3 times
“always.” — Circle face with right forefinger
“Because He is at my right hand,” – right hand even with right shoulder, palm up
“I will not be shaken.” — flip palm over to be facedown, shake it side to side
(ok, maybe kids can use the hand movements, too – whatever helps!)
