The Gracious Strength of God
Wondrously show Your steadfast love, O Savior of those who seek refuge from their adversaries at Your right hand.
PSALM 17:7
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The Gracious Strength of God
The right hand is Christ, the Son of God, as Psalm 118:16 says: "The right hand of the Lord has made strength," for the Son of God is the strength, power, and wisdom of God, 1 Corinthians 1:24, 30. Second, the right hand of God is the grace or faithfulness or work of God. Thus blessed Augustine correctly says by way of explanation that the right hand means God's propitiation and favor, according to Psalm 45:4:"The right hand shall conduct Thee wonderfully." The left hand, however, is God's rule or freely given grace, which is common to all. Third, the right hand is the awarding of glory in the future, as Matthew 25:33-34 says, "He will place these on His right hand and those on His left, and then He will say, etc." Therefore the right hand is, first, Christ; second, it is the merit of Christians; and third, it is their reward. . .. Therefore the right hand of God is the gracious strength of God with which He helps the elect.
From First Lectures on the Psalms, on Psalm 17 (Luther's Works 10:111)
March 2
PSALM 17:7
+
The Gracious Strength of God
The right hand is Christ, the Son of God, as Psalm 118:16 says: "The right hand of the Lord has made strength," for the Son of God is the strength, power, and wisdom of God, 1 Corinthians 1:24, 30. Second, the right hand of God is the grace or faithfulness or work of God. Thus blessed Augustine correctly says by way of explanation that the right hand means God's propitiation and favor, according to Psalm 45:4:"The right hand shall conduct Thee wonderfully." The left hand, however, is God's rule or freely given grace, which is common to all. Third, the right hand is the awarding of glory in the future, as Matthew 25:33-34 says, "He will place these on His right hand and those on His left, and then He will say, etc." Therefore the right hand is, first, Christ; second, it is the merit of Christians; and third, it is their reward. . .. Therefore the right hand of God is the gracious strength of God with which He helps the elect.
From First Lectures on the Psalms, on Psalm 17 (Luther's Works 10:111)
March 2
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