05.05 David's Delight
David’s Delight
"Thy right hand upholdeth me." This is closely connected with the other experience, for why do we cleave to the Lord? Because the Lord cleaves to us, and holds us We have the same word in Gen 2:24. "For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave unto his wife." The comment of the Holy Spirit on this is in Eph 5:32. "This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the Church." It is not, then, we who cleave to Christ, but it is Christ who cleaves to us. "Thy right hand upholdeth me." This is the secret of David’s determination to cleave unto the Lord. Were it not for the unseen hand of Jehovah, there would be no following hard.
Now it is all explained. David’s desire is now understood. The world does not understand these blessed spiritual realities. The world represents the poor seeker who would follow after and find God, as a weak woman struggling in the water, and trying to get hold of a cold lifeless rock, and in danger of being washed away by the very next wave. The Holy Spirit of God here represents her as a poor, weak vessel indeed, but held fast in the loving embrace of the living God Himself! Oh what a distance between man’s imagination and God’s revelation! This is David’s delight here. Not Satan’s subtlety, nor Saul’s cruelty, nor his own infirmities, nor all of them together are of sufficient force to cut asunder this anion with Christ! The cleaving of David’s spirit was the work of the Friend that sticketh closer than a brother, it was the cleaving of the Heavenly One Himself. A union of the Lord’s making is altogether incapable of the devil’s breaking. But there’s more in this "right hand of the Lord." It is a beautiful figure. "The right hand of the Lord is exalted... doeth valiantly" (Psa 118:16). This is the Lord who, having saved His people from their sins, now lives ever lives to make intercession for them, and at God’s right hand is pledged to deliver them from all trial, tribulation, and temptation. David knew this. Hence his prayer, "That Thy beloved may be delivered, save with Thy right hand, and hear me" (Psa 60:5). As salvation was accomplished by the Lord Jesus, so it is applied by the Holy Spirit; and what a mercy it is to know that all our wants, all our joys, are in the right hand of our risen and exalted Saviour! Blessed with the knowledge of this, the redeemed of the Lord can say, "O sing unto the Lord a new song, for He hath done marvellous things. His right hand and His holy arm hath gotten Him the victory" (Psa 98:1).
He who triumphed over all our foes will protect and defend us from them until our life’s end. But he will teach us to bless and praise Him for His grace, His goodness, and His gentleness, as did the sweet singers of Israel: "Thou hast also given me the shield of Thy salvation, and Thy right hand hath holden me up, and Thy gentleness hath made me great" (Psa 18:35). Well may we, poor doubting, fearing, trembling ones, whose daily cry is, "Hold Thou me up, and I shall be safe" (Psa 119:117), apply and feed on this precious promise for our spiritual comfort and refreshment. "Fear thou not, for I am with thee, be not dismayed, for I am thy God. I will strengthen thee, yea, I will help thee, yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness" (Isa 41:10).