Lift Up the Hands which Hang Down Hebrews 12:12

The Hebrew writer shared how “no chastening for the present seems to be joyous, but grievous:” and he declared “afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby”. In chapter twelve and verse twelve of Hebrews, the writer shared how his readers should “lift up the hands which hang down” where we read:

Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;

The verse begins, “Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down,...”. The writer began with the word, “Wherefore” which is a conclusion word that means “for which cause and therefore” “lift up” or “set up, make erect, rear again and build anew” “the hands” which means “the agents by which a person helps another” “which hang down” or “are passed by, neglected, disregarded, omitted, loose, relaxed, let go, unstrung, weakened and exhausted”. Because the “chastening” of the Lord is a benefit to God's children, they should “rear again” or present and lift again their “helping hands” which are “weak and exhausted”.

The verse continues, “...and the feeble knees;”. The writer added the words, “and the feeble” or “loose on one side or from the side, dissolved, weakened, unstrung and tottering” “knees” which means “the joints in the legs that connect the lower part to the upper which are employed in supplications and prayers”. Those who were “chastised” and bore the “fruit of righteousness” were to “unbend” their “weak” knees and be about the Heavenly Father's business.

When we consider these words in Hebrews, we see the results of understanding the value and importance of the “chastening” of the Lord. Once the readers of Hebrews have “endured” their “training and instruction”, they were to “lift their hands”, straighten their “weak knees”, and be about their lives. Jesus Christ came into the world “not to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved” (John 3:17), and as His children we are going to be corrected. We are not to stay in a spirit of mourning over our conditions or errors, but we are to receive the Lord's “chastening” and give praise and adoration to Him. May all who read these words know, appreciate and move into obedience toward God's “training and instruction”.

Next time the writer shares how his readers should “make straight paths for your feet”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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