The Hand

The human hand, an incredibly intricate part of the body. Consisting of twenty-seven bones and movable joints. With the bones, there are thirty-four muscles and over one hundred ligaments and tendons. Pause. Look at your hand. Wiggle your fingers. Magnificent design!

The hand is known to be one of the most utilized parts of our anatomy. The gentle brush against the cheek of a peacefully sleeping infant. The confident grip of a firm handshake. The welcoming wave to a friend across the aisle at the store. The hand resting on a shoulder as to comfort. It is a valuable moving part of our daily lives.

The hand.

King David wrote “Because Your loving devotion is better than life, my lips will glorify You. So, I will bless You as long as I live; in Your name I will lift my hands” (Psalm 63:3-4, BSB).  Worship is reaching beyond us, beyond our circumstances—to Him.

Most often when scripture speaks of the hand in worship, it is the open hand—the palm.  Not a fisted hand.  Not closed, holding the stuff of this world. Closed as to withhold from God.  It is open, conveying surrender. Allegiance. Honor. Awe.

The lifting of the hand is not just reserved for the Pentecostals; it is our response to being overwhelmed with Who He is. Surrender. Honor and awe.

The hand.

In Him, DeDe (“Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love & good deeds” – Hebrews 10:24).