Our Father's Hands

“Our Father’s Hands”

Psalm 32:1-11

David P. Nolte

Daddy’s hands. What nice things to remember about a dad. Particularly when those memories include dad’s hands folded in prayer, calloused from hard work, soothing and caressing to show love, chastening when necessary, gentle but firm, and always to help.

On this Father’s Day, let’s consider the hands of our Heavenly Father and apply the truths in our own lives – father or not.

First to God’s Word: “How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered! How blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no deceit! When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away Through my groaning all day long. For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; My vitality was drained away as with the fever heat of summer. I acknowledged my sin to You, And my iniquity I did not hide; I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the LORD’; And You forgave the guilt of my sin. Therefore, let everyone who is godly pray to You in a time when You may be found; Surely in a flood of great waters they will not reach him. You are my hiding place; You preserve me from trouble; You surround me with songs of deliverance. ‘I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you. Do not be as the horse or as the mule which have no understanding, Whose trappings include bit and bridle to hold them in check, Otherwise they will not come near to you. Many are the sorrows of the wicked, But he who trusts in the LORD, lovingkindness shall surround him.’ Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous ones; And shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart.” Psalm 32:1-11 (NASB).

On Father’s Day and every day, be submitted to the hand of God our Father. There are benefits when we do..

I. HIS HANDS DISCIPLINE US:

A. “When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away Through my groaning all day long. For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; My vitality was drained away as with the fever heat of summer.”

1. A truly loving God is not like a doting grandpa who finds no fault with his grandkids and even encourages them in outrageous behavior and speech because it is “So cute!”

2. We are informed, “You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin; and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons, ‘My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor faint when you are reproved by Him;’” Hebrews 12:4-5 (NASB).

B. Instead of ignoring sin, or leaving us in our ignorance, on the contrary His love for us results in the chastening and discipline of His children. He may have to spank or ground or rebuke us for our good. Some Bible examples of discipline:

1. After his sin with Bathsheba and her husband Uriah, David wrote, “When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away Through my groaning all day long. For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; My vitality was drained away as with the fever heat of summer.” Psalm 32:3-4 (NASB).

2. When Elymas the sorcerer interfere with Paul sharing the gospel with Governor Sergius Paulus Paul told him, “You bag of wind, you parody of a devil — why, you stay up nights inventing schemes to cheat people out of God. But now you’ve come up against God himself, and your game is up. You’re about to go blind — no sunlight for you for a good long stretch.” He was plunged immediately into a shadowy mist and stumbled around, begging people to take his hand and show him the way. Acts 13:10-11 (MSG)

C. Please do not adopt the one-sided understanding that discipline equals punishment. Discipline is teaching, training, forming and developing us for godliness.

1. It might come in the form of chastening or punishment as in David’s situation.

2. Discipline might come in the form of natural consequences. Bad choices bring bad consequences. We learn not to touch a hot stove by the consequence of burned fingers.

3. Discipline or teaching might come in the form of positive reinforcement, that is, a blessing. When we do good things, God blesses us. Do good, enjoy good consequences.

4. It might come in the form of a loving rebuke from a caring brother or sister in Christ. Nathan the prophet rebuked David for his adultery and murder and David was disciplined.

D. God will use whatever means necessary to teach and train us.