February 4 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Devotional

We just read about a particularly peculiar celebration of the Passover. King Hezekiah invites all of Israel, from both the Southern kingdom of Judah and the Northern kingdom of Israel, to come join this celebration.

This Passover takes place after the majority of the people from the Northern kingdom have already been taken into exile. This does not deter Hezekiah from sending couriers throughout the land with a strong message, “Children of Israel, return to the LORD...do not be like your fathers and your brethren, who trespassed against the Lord God of their fathers, so that He gave them up to desolation, as you see. Now, do not be stiff-necked as your fathers were, but yield yourselves to the LORD.”

A more literal rendition of the expression “yield yourselves to the Lord” is “join hands with the Lord.” Joining our hand to the Lord’s hand defines how the people of God, both then and now, are to live. Two friends, or brothers and sisters in the Lord, shake hands when they meet. In the society of the Ancient Near East, one would join hands when a covenant was established, just as today a couple is asked to join right hands when exchanging the vows of the marriage covenant.

Hezekiah says, “Yield yourselves to the Lord,” that is, “Join right hands with the Lord as you renew the covenant with God. The hand of the Lord came down heavy on you and your fathers. He gave you into the hand of oppressors who took away your food and drink, your riches and your security. Therefore, renew the covenant and it will go well with you.”

The people of God were called to place their hand in the Lord’s hand by acknowledging His direction in their lives. Our calling is to do the same. We live in covenant communion with the Lord by trusting in His faithfulness and believing He directs our steps. How do we join right hands with the LORD? We keep covenant by serving Him; we trust and believe His hand will not let go of us.

Those who join right hands with God can only do so when their hands have been washed by the blood of Christ. God has entered into a relationship with us. He promises to give us what we need. You are held by the tender hands of the Lord your God. Respond to His Word in faith and join right hands with your faithful God and Saviour.