PSALM 80:17- Let thy hand be upon the man of thy right hand, upon the son of man whom thou madest strong for thyself.
In this verse, the psalmist asks God the Father to strengthen the One whom He has selected for a special task. This Man of God’s Right Hand refers to Jesus, the Messiah and the agent of God’s redemption in the world.
A person who sat at the right side of a king in Bible times was the most important official in the royal court. He was often the second in command, who acted as the chief administrator of the king’s affairs. Even today, a leader’s most important and trusted aide is often referred to as his “right-hand man.”
As the Man of God’s Right Hand, Jesus came into the world as the dispenser of divine justice and forgiveness. God the Father delegated to Him the task of restoring sinful humankind to fellowship with Him through His death on the cross. When this task was accomplished, the Father summoned His Son back to heaven, where He is seated in the place of authority at His Father’s right hand (see Ephesians 1:20).
You’ve probably heard the old saying, “Don’t send a boy to do a man’s job.” Aren’t you glad that Jesus was man enough and faithful enough and determined enough and prayful enough to accomplish the task that His Father sent Him to do? No person has ever been sent on a more important mission, and He handled it perfectly as the Man of God’s Right Hand.
JESUS AT HIS FATHER’S RIGHT HAND
- “It is Christ. . . who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us” (Rom 8:34)
- “Seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God” (Col 3:1).
- “This man, after he had offered sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God” (Heb 10:12).
- “Who is. . .on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject to him” (1 Pet 3:22).