There are over 100 instances throughout the bible where the words “Right Hand” are mentioned. Often times, it is used as an instruction to a person to do something, using their literal right hand.
Genesis 48:17 “When Joseph saw his father placing his right hand on Ephraim’s head he was displeased; so he took hold of his father’s hand to move it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head.”
Other times, the use of the words “Right Hand” are used to describe which hand God or man is using to perform a powerful action.
Exodus 15:6 “Your right hand, Lord, was majestic in power. Your right hand, Lord, shattered the enemy.”
And then there are times when the words are used as a reference to how one man is positioned to another or in the case of David, how the Lord is positioned to David.
In Psalm 16:8 David says, “I have set the Lord always before me; Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.”
How can David say that he has set the Lord before him, but at the same time, the Lord is at his right hand?
On nearly every occasion, the words “right hand” is used differently from each other, yet share a common description, Strength! For most, the right hand is dominant. In the bible, references to the right hand are because it is symbolic of power and strength. When Jesus ascended back to Heaven, God exalted him to His right hand. Notice it specifically says that God exalted Jesus to his Right. That means, God placed his son to a position of great power. He gave Jesus that power for a purpose.
So, how do we seek His strength?
The Holy Spirit
When I say that I thirst, only those that are seeking will know what I mean. It means that I desire, I need, I thirst for His strength and His Spirit. We can go to church to receive instruction, or a message, or fellowship, and even His Spirit. But our strength comes when we make a personal relationship with Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, by accepting the sacrifice that God and His Son made for us. His Holy Spirit is our personal connection between us and Him.
Acts 2:32-33 32 “This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses. 33 Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear.”
But long before that He made this promise.
Isaiah 41:10 “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
You see? God promised to make His strength available to us by offering us his Spirit, His right hand.
There is a little place I spend Friday mornings, where I read and gain inspiration for writing or just knowledge to dwell on for the next week. When I need strength, I bring those thoughts to God. I turn on some music, open my Bible and read His words, and ask for His Spirit to fill me with Strength and rejuvenate me. It’s time I can spend building my relationship with Jesus. It fills me, and it empowers me.
We all need to find ways to spend time with Jesus. We need it in order to quench our thirst for strength though His Spirit, and to build our relationship with Him. It’s our way of placing God at our right hand and using his strength.