Letting God Hold Your Hand

Introduction

isa 41:8

The hand of God speaks of several ideas

Victory

Success

Power

Righteousness

Help

Battle

In our reading tonight - God is talking to Israel (Isa 41:8)

He assures them of His continued presence and help in the precious and beautiful promise of

Isaiah 41:10 KJV 1900

10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: Be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; Yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

He talks about the victory by declaring “They that war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought.” (Isa 41:12)

Then he promises this type of victory comes about because God is holding their right hand.

They were under threat and attack by many people

But God promises that they don’t need to fear - He had their hand.

Ira Stanphill wrote that beautiful song:

Many things about tomorrow, I don't seem to understand; But I know who holds tomorrow, And I know who holds my hand.

When we know who has our hand - we don’t need to fear the unknown

When we know who holds our hand - we can rest assured of victory

When we know who holds our hand - we can walk in confidence

When we know who holds our hand - we can know that all will be well.

The problem isn’t always Him having our hand - but keeping our hand in His -

Don’t be grabbing for the latest thought that comes from Satan - keep your hand in His

Don’t be reaching for something God doesn’t want you to have - keep your hand in His

Don’t let go of HIs hand for anything - Keep your hand in His

Remember our text Isa 41:13 “13 For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, Saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.”

One has observed that if God is holding our right hand then he would have to be holding our right hand by his left hand if he is walking beside us.

That would leave His right hand, his dominate one - to protect us with.

Exo 15:6 “6 Thy right hand, O Lord, is become glorious in power: Thy right hand, O Lord, hath dashed in pieces the enemy.”

Thomas Dorsey (1899-1993 - not the famous ball player) has an honored title of 'The Father of Gospel Music', and his music is loved around the world. The journey to this title and fame was a very difficult one.

Thomas loved music. At a very early age, long before his music education at the Chicago College of Composition and Arranging, he was playing piano in a Vaudeville act. After college, he frequented the jazz clubs, gaining quite a reputation as the very talented 'Georgia Tom'.

In 1921, at the age of 22, Thomas gave his life to Jesus. Almost immediately he left the jazz clubs and began writing Gospel music. He took great effort to circulate his musical scores, but it was three long years before anyone started to notice. Little by little his reputation grew, not only as a songwriter but as a church music director.

In 1932 while the now Reverend Dorsey was leading a church service, a man came on to the platform to hand him a telegram - his wife had just died in childbirth. Within 24 hours his newborn baby died also. Thomas quickly spiraled downward into the depths of despair, doubting the goodness of God and determining never to write another hymn.

A week after that horrible, life changing day, Thomas was deep into his grief, sitting alone at a piano, in a friend's music room. Into the room came a heavy peace such as he had never known before. As that peace enveloped him, Thomas felt the urge to play the piano. His fingers found a familiar melody and the words to Precious Lord, Take My Hand began to well up from his heart and to spill out of his mouth. God had given him a song that would not only lift him from despair, but would also change the course of his music career.

Precious Lord, Take My Hand has been translated into more than 40 languages, has been sung by some of the biggest names in Gospel music, including Mahalia Jackson and Elvis Presley, and it was Dr. Martin Luther King's favorite hymn. Reverend Thomas Dorsey went on to write many more hymns, including the famous Peace in the Valley, which when recorded by the Sunshine Boys in 1951, became the first Gospel song recording in history to sell more than one million copies.

Precious Lord, take my hand,

Lead me on, let me stand,

I am tired, I am weak, I am worn;

Through the storm, through the night,

Lead me on to the light:

Take my hand, precious Lord,

Lead me home.

When my way grows drear,

Precious Lord, linger near,

When my life is almost gone,

Hear my cry, hear my call,

Hold my hand lest I fall:

When the darkness appears

And the night draws near,

And the day is past and gone,

At the river I stand,

Guide my feet, hold my hand: