THE HAND OF THE ALMIGHTY (9)

“With a STRONG HAND, and with an OUTSTRETCHED ARM, for HIS MERCY endures forever” – Psalm 136:12

The HAND of the ALMIGHTY GOD is forever active, dynamic, strong, and OUTSTRETCHED with MERCY: “With a STRONG HAND, and with an OUTSTRETCHED ARM, for HIS MERCY endures forever” (Psa.136:12). God’s STRONG HAND deals with His enemies; while His OUTSTRETCHED ARM delivers His people: “I will bring you out from the peoples and gather you out of the countries where you are scattered, with a MIGHTY HAND, with an OUTSTRETCHED ARM, and with fury poured out” (Eze.20:34). This was the same powerful, Outstretched Arm that brought creation into manifestation: “Ah, Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your Great POWER and OUTSTRETCHED ARM. There is nothing too hard for You” (Jer.32:17). The Hand of the Lord knows no impossibility!

The Book of Psalms is not just Israel’s hymnbook or a collection of random songs, but the catechism of Israel. It also teaches the New Testament Believer how to pray and praise into Blessedness. It is a guidebook to blessed holiness, an exploration of God’s way of life, and a reminder to not forget the works of God. In particular, Psalm 136 emphasizes on the Mercy or lovingkindness of God. Twenty-six times, we read: “For His Mercy endures forever,” that is, “The merciful lovingkindness of the Lord has no end”!

Verses 4-25 list the works of God: He does wonders (v. 4); made the heavens (v. 5); spread out the earth (v. 6); and made the great lights – the sun, moon and stars (vv.5-9). He smote Egypt, bought out Israel, flexed His Strong Hand and Outstretched Arm, divided the Red Sea, made Israel to pass, vanquished Pharaoh, led His people, and smote great kings (vv.10-22). God remembers His promises, delivers His people, and feeds all flesh (vv.23-25). In essence, God creates, governs, and redeems, all by His Outstretched Hand of Mercy – His merciful lovingkindness; patient love, goodness, favour, and compassion. Thankfully, God’s Mercy and Love have no limits!

God has no limits of time: He existed before creation, is unbounded by the present, and will be the centre of eternity. God has no limits to His reach and no limits of geography: He made the heavens and the earth, and controls the lands and seas. And there are no limits on His activity: He creates, redeems, and restores. He assured Israel: ‘I am the Lord; I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, I will rescue you from their bondage, and I will redeem you with an OUTSTRETCHED ARM and with great judgments” (Exo.6:6b).

In the final analysis, JESUS is the ARM of GOD: “Awake, awake, put on strength, O ARM of the Lord! Awake as in the ancient days, in the generations of old. Are You not the arm that cut Rahab apart, and wounded the serpent? Are You not the One who dried up the sea, the waters of the great deep; that made the depths of the sea a road for the redeemed to cross over?” (Isa. 51:9-10). The Arm of the Lord refers to the Lord’s Strength and ability to accomplish whatever He chooses to do, as seen in Him dividing the Red Sea (Psa.93:1-4). Jesus is The Arm of The Lord; the One who gets things done: “If you ask anything in My name, I will do it” (Jh.14:13).

Jesus, the Arm of God, controls, fixes and perfects all things: “All things were made by Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made” (Jh.1:3). Jesus is the Executor of the Father’s Will; the Holy Spirit, the Power that makes completion of the determinate Plan of God possible. Acts 10:38 testifies to the Trinity in Action: “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, who went about doing good and healing”! As we come boldly to the Throne of Grace, giving attention to the Lord Jesus Christ, our Shepherd and the mighty Arm of God, He will provide for us, protect us, and meet us with Mercy at the very point of our need (Heb.4:16).