Right hand of God

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God Inviting Christ to Sit on the Throne at His Right Hand, painting by Pieter de Grebber (1645). The Holy Spirit is visible as a dove at the top of the image. De Grebber-God Inviting Christ to Sit on the Throne at His Right Hand.jpg
God Inviting Christ to Sit on the Throne at His Right Hand, painting by Pieter de Grebber (1645). The Holy Spirit is visible as a dove at the top of the image.

The right hand of God is a phrase used in the Bible and common speech as a metaphor for the omnipotence of God and as a motif in art. In the Bible, to be at the right side "is to be identified as being in the special place of honor". [1] In "The Sheep and the Goats", one of the parables of Jesus, the sheep and goats are separated with the sheep on the right hand of God and the goats on the left hand.

It is also a placement next to God in Heaven, in the traditional place of honor, mentioned in the New Testament as the place of Christ at Mark 16:19, [2] Luke 22:69, [3] Matthew 22:44 [4] and 26:64, Acts 2:34 and 7:55, 1 Peter 3:22 and elsewhere. These uses reflect use of the phrase in the Old Testament, for example in Psalms 63:8 and 110:1. [5] The implications of this anthropomorphic phrasing have been discussed at length by theologians, including Saint Thomas Aquinas. [6]

In Jewish and Christian iconography, especially of the Late Antique and Early Medieval periods, the "Hand of God" or the "Right Hand of God" is a motif used to indicate the intervention in or approval of affairs on Earth by God. It was used when artistic depictions of the God of Israel or God the Father as a full human figure were considered unacceptable.

In Isaiah, the motif of God's arm, which is closely associated with His right hand, represents divine action and revelation. Isaiah 52:10 states, "The Lord has bared His holy arm in the sight of all the nations," suggesting God's manifestation of salvation. This is closely followed by the profound question in Isaiah 53:1, "To whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?" implying a revelation of divine authority and mercy toward humanity.

The book of Psalms have various occurrence of 'Right Hand of God'. Psalm 80 in Book 3 of the Psalter speaks of the man at God's right hand. Specifically, Psalm 80:17 refers to this figure, saying, "Let your hand rest on the man at your right hand, the son of man you have raised up for yourself." This verse is part of a plea for restoration and blessing, commonly interpreted as a reference to the people of Israel or a messianic figure. This is a point of hope in book 3, sometimes called 'The Dark Book of the Psalms' where both the northern and southern kingdoms fell. O Palmer Robertson says Psalm 80 is strategically placed in the midpoint of the book. [7]

Within the Book of Psalms, there are distinct clusters of references to the "arm of the Lord" or the "right hand of God," indicating various aspects of God's interaction with the world and His people.

In Psalms 108 through 110, references to God's arm or hand include:

The progression of the "right hand" motif in Psalms 108 to 110 may represent the opening half of an inclusio, a literary structure that serves as a bookend. The corresponding closure to this inclusio can be found in Psalm 118, where the "right hand of the LORD" is emphasized with three consecutive mentions in verses 15–16. This repetition in Psalm 118 highlights God's power and victory, providing a thematic resonance that connects these psalms while framing them with a unified focus on divine strength and deliverance.

Another cluster related to 'right hand of God" is in Psalms 16 through Psalms 21, the references to God's hand or arm are dispersed throughout the psalms, highlighting divine support and protection:

The Psalms 20 and 21 which relate to saving the King are discordantly followed by "My God My God why have you forsaken Me" in Psalm 22 vs.1. The progression psalms with 'right hand of God" in them leads into Psalms 22, Psalms 23 and Psalms 24 which are part of a thematic cluster known as the "Cross, Crook, and Crown" Psalms, where God's hand or arm imagery supports themes of affliction, pastoral care, and sovereignty:


See also

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References

  1. ↑ Leland Ryken, James Wilhoit and Tremper Longman III, ed. (1998). "Right, Right Hand". Dictionary of Biblical Imagery. InterVarsity Press. pp. 727–728.
  2. ↑ "Mark 16:19". Bible Gateway . Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  3. ↑ "Luke 22:69". Bible Gateway . Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  4. ↑ "Matthew 22:41-46". Bible Gateway . Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  5. ↑ Psalm 110:1 in parallel translations: http://bible.cc/psalms/110-1.htm
  6. ↑ Aquinas, Thomas. "Question 58. Christ's sitting at the right hand of the Father". Summa Theologica . Retrieved 17 January 2011.
  7. ↑ { The Flow of the Psalms, O Palmer Robertson, pp 130-131}
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