His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him. (Ps. 98:1)
Expanded Passage: Psalms 98:1-2
Our human mind cannot fully understand everything about God. To bring us closer to a better understanding of God’s person, the biblical authors, under inspiration, used anthropomorphic (human form) images. These images contain human traits, behaviors, and feelings that help us better understand God’s identity, behaviors, and actions.
Comparably, the writer of Psalms 98 used the hand and arm to talk about God. These pictorial expressions lead its recipients to a much better understanding of God and his miraculous work in connection with salvation. Correspondingly, “right hand” refers to God’s authority and victory, while “holy arm” highlights the divine and sacred character of his power. Combined, they symbolize God’s strength and holiness in our salvation. Furthermore, God proclaimed his saving deed and declared his righteousness to the world. His salvation is evidenced through public deeds, whether through the deliverance of its people from Egypt, Assyria, Babylonia, and so on, or our salvation through the sacrificial death of Jesus.
Our God is praiseworthy for his mighty acts of salvation. He deserves much more than that; his right hand and holy arm bring us salvation in a lost world. He eagerly expects us to comply. As we reflect on the work of redemption offered in Jesus Christ, we are summoned to let our hearts burst with praise and new songs and make God’s salvation known to the nations.
Praise the Lord for his right hand and holy arm.
Handy Calixte is the national director of Christian education for L’Église Wesleyenne d’Haïti. He is pursuing a master of divinity at Wesley Seminary (IN). He is married to Johane and has three children.
© 2025 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
