The word 'inscribed' here is 'chaqaq' (pronounced 'khaw-kak') in Hebrew, which means 'prescribed, appointed, imprinted, decreed, or written (your name)'. Therefore, the expression 'I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands' can mean 'He has written your name on the palms of His hands'. You can also say 'He holds your future (or your 'world') on the palms of His hands'.
Not only that, the Lord also assures continuous protection if you give your future (or your 'world') to Him and leave it on the palms of His hands. 'Walls' speaks of 'protection', and Isaiah 49:16 says 'your walls are continually before Me'.
During a prayer meeting on a recent Sunday morning, my wife Sharon received these reassuring words from the Lord as she was praying for the congregation: "In gentleness, I will touch My people." Indeed, His hands are gentle towards you, His children. He is both the Lion and the Lamb. He may be 'fierce' towards the 'enemy', but He is also gentle towards you, His own beloved children.
In cross reference, Mark 10:13-16 says, 'Then they brought little children to Him (Jesus), that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them. But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. Assuredly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it." And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands (palms) on them and blessed them.
‘Children’ usually implies 'naivety'. According to the Oxford Dictionary, 'being naive' means 'showing lack of experience, wisdom or judgment; being too ready to believe what is being told'.
‘Children’ usually implies 'naivety'. According to the Oxford Dictionary, 'being naive' means 'showing lack of experience, wisdom or judgment; being too ready to believe what is being told'.
People of God, if you have made a mistake in life recently (and still feeling bad about it), condemn yourself no more. Look to Him, and return to Him. Come back to His safe and loving hands. He is here to receive you and touch you today, as He did the little children. Is there anyone who has never made a mistake in life before? No one. Simply because we are all just humans, and not God.
A mistake may be a sin (or a wrongdoing) committed, or a wrong decision made (that leads to some repercussions). More often than not, mistakes happen when one does not heed Proverbs 3:5-8 that says, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the lord and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, and strength to your bones."
But God is saying to you today that He is not here to condemn you. Instead, He is here to restore you and give you another chance, if you would return to His way (see Psalm 51). David did exactly that (i.e. returning to His way) after Nathan the prophet came to him (see 2 Samuel 11 and 12). To repent is to change one's way back to God's way. Psalm 51:17 says, "A broken spirit and a contrite heart, these, O God, You will not despise." A contrite heart is a repentant heart (a sincere heart that returns to God's way when one realizes his/her wrong).
Repentance leads to restoration and even renewal. In Psalm 51:12, David prayed, "Restore to me the joy of Your salvation ('Yeshuwah'), and uphold me by Your generous (merciful) Spirit." No doubt he did face some immediate consequences due to the mistakes he had committed, but he was eventually restored and renewed in his walk with God.
And just as He saw David (literally meaning 'beloved') as His beloved, God sees you as His beloved too, in spite of your mistakes. He is indeed rich in His mercy towards us, and no matter what had happened, I believe it's never too late to return to Him and let Him become central in your life again.
Indeed, the palms of His hands have been nailed on the cross, so that you can be set free today. These very same gentle hands that touch you and bless you (as He did with the children those days) have also carried all your sins, your shame, your guilt, your condemnation, your bondages, even your addictions, when He died for you on the cross some 2,000 years ago.
Isaiah 49:17-18 then says, "Your sons (fruits, offspring) shall make haste; your destroyers and those who laid you waste shall go away from you. Lift up your eyes, look around and see; all these gather together and come to you. As I live, you shall surely clothe yourselves with them all as an ornament (of beauty), and bind them on you as a bride does."
In returning and in rest (on the palms of His hands), the Lord promises that your fruits (and all that you put your hands on) shall grow, flourish, and be gathered unto you. You shall also be like a beautiful 'bride' who is clothed with the glory of the Lord as you continue to look to Him, till the day when you see the glorious coming of the Bridegroom. Amen.
