Yahweh, Show Whose Side You’re On

Show Your marvelous lovingkindness by Your right hand,
O You who save those who trust in You

(Psalm 17:7)

David, the psalm writer, is here asking God for a marvelous display of His hesed, His covenant love and mercy. He wants God to set it apart and make it distinct, to put on a wonderful show of it that may be seen and experienced by all. “Distinguish Your favors,” would be a literal translation here. We might even paraphrase it, “Show whose side You’re on.”

David is invoking the right hand of God, calling on the power of God to deliver him from his present distress. For the right hand represents power, the ability to do things. It is not haphazard, there is an intentionality inherent in it. In the New Testament, we see that the Lord Jesus Christ is seated at the right hand of the Father (Ephesians 1:19-20). He is the highest expression of God’s covenant love and salvation.

“O you who save.” This is addressed to Yahweh, the covenant name of God. The word for “save” here is yasha. This is the salvation that comes from Yahweh, and again points to Jesus. The Hebrew name of Jesus is Yeshua, which means “Yahweh saves.”

There are times when we cannot discern the hand of God in our affairs, and we just go on and trust the revelation of His heart toward us. But it is more the norm for us that we should run to Him for refuge and protection, to watch for and expect the strength of His arm, His right hand, to come forth on our behalf.

“Show us Your love, O Lord, by Your right hand.”

Trust in the heart of the Father, and expect His love to be shown by the manifestation of His hand.