The document discusses how the phrase "the hand of God" is used in scripture to convey God's personal involvement in creation, preservation, care for his people, and provision of security. It explains that while God is spirit, he uses the metaphor of his hand to communicate in a way humans can understand. Some key points made are that God's hand laid the foundations of earth and spread out the heavens, he preserves and satisfies all living things with his hand, and his people are held securely in his hand.
2. “ The Hand of God” Psalm 139:9-11 Sonny Naz/Pastor March 21, 2010
3. The phrase “hold me with your powerful hand” is a great comfort and blessing to God’s people down through the ages.
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5. I. God is Spirit 24” God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.” John 4:24
6. So in order to communicate to us that he is a personal God who acts into space-time history, God uses the image of “the hand of God. ”
7. “ The hand of God” is a familiar phrase, easily understood. But there is nothing primitive about this way of speaking. He uses this term, which we know in order that we might understand exactly what he is saying. Nor does God use this expression in a poetic, romantic way merely so we can feel better when we think of it.
8. Rather he is telling us an overwhelming yet basic truth: that he, without physical hands, can equal and greatly surpass in space-time history all what we men can do with physical hands.
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10. Isaiah 45:12 12 It is I who made the earth and created mankind upon it. My own hands stretched out the heavens; I marshaled their starry hosts.
11. Psalm 102:25 25 In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands.
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13. Psalm 145:15-16 15 The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time. 16 You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing.
14. Psalm 136:1-4 1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good. His love endures forever . 2 Give thanks to the God of gods. His love endures forever . 3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords: His love endures forever . 4 to him who alone does great wonders, His love endures forever .
15. Psalm 136:11-12 11 and brought Israel out from among them His love endures forever . 12 with a mighty hand and outstretched arm; His love endures forever .
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17. Psalm 37:24-25 24 though he stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand. 25 I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread.
18. The Psalmist declares in Psalm 73:21-26; 21 When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered, 22 I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you. 23 Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. 24 You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory. 25 Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. 26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
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20. Psalm 95:1-7a 1 Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. 2 Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song. 3 For the LORD is the great God, the great King above all gods. 4 In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him. 5 The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land. 6 Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker; 7 for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care.
21. John 10:27-28; 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.
22. The “hand of God” that creates, preserves, cares and provides security is also inviting us by spreading out his hand. He is inviting all of us first to experience him personally and after that to keep inviting us to enjoy Him on a daily and even moment by moment experience. FINAL THOUGHT
23. As we end here is another assurance of God’s Word for followers of Christ in Jude 1:24-25: “ Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to God our Savior, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen.”