Holding Hands

Psalm twenty-three presents us with a picture of God’s love and care for us in the image of a Good Shepherd. David says, “Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever” (Ps 23:5-6).

We get the impression that David has been fleeing his enemies and just arrived at the encampment of friends. Now half-starved, he finds a table bountifully set before him. His host’s hospitality is reflected in the act of pouring oil upon his head to refresh him. It is a scene of relief and security.

When I was a teenager, my father, brother, and I had been working in the fields well before dawn when my mother showed up and set the table before us on the hood of one of the trucks. She served us grape juice and boiled eyes. It was a feast to behold for us.

Instead of being chased by enemies, David is pursued by goodness and kindness. What a beautiful pursuit to have goodness and kindness following you everywhere you go. David concludes this psalm with: “And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever,” emphasizing that this relationship with his shepherd is eternal and will never end.

In John chapter 10, Jesus used the illustration of the Good Shepherd to help us understand how safe we are in his care: “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” (John 10:27-30).

Did you notice the part about “no one will snatch them out of my hand? Small children delight in the parent holding their hand. Recently, my granddaughter Madelyn was in my office playing store. She sold me everything in sight. I think her price index must have been connected to the national inflation rate because she charged me $60 for a hamburger and coke. I told her that was kind of high, but she responded, “It is a really good burger.” Later, she said we just got a shipment of new books in if you would like one. She then showed me one of my books on Responsive Parenting with the picture of a dad holding his little son’s hand. I asked her, “What is the book about?” She replied, “It’s about learning to hold hands.” I have been thinking about it, and that is not bad. For some families learning how to hold hands would be a giant step toward improving their family relationships.

This is what Psalm 23 is speaking to us. It’s about Jesus holding our hand and walking with us through the dark places of our life. Jesus’s hand is wrapped around ours, and the Father’s hand is wrapped around both hands to be doubly safe. Our safety depends not on our immature, futile grip upon him but on his hold on us.

Order the “Responsive Parenting” book at boydbrooks.com