Bulletins
"Hold to God’s Unchanging Hand"
The hymn Hold to God’s Unchanging Hand contrasts the fleeting and uncertain nature of temporal things with the constancy and dependability of God.
The hymn begins with the words, “Time is filled with swift transition.” These words bring to mind the ever-evolving morals of society. Thankfully, God gives us a steady, reliable guide to direct us. Instead of being tossed to and fro by society’s shaky standards, the faithful Christian holds steadfastly to “the Lord’s word,” which “endures forever” (1 Pet. 1:25).
The opening words of the song might also bring to mind the brevity and uncertainty of our time on earth. The “swift transition” of one’s physical life could be likened to “a vapor that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away” (Jas. 4:14b). The Spirit tells us, “you don’t know what your life will be like tomorrow” (Jas. 4:14a).
The brevity and uncertainty of our physical lives stands in contrast to what our spiritual lives can be if we lean on God’s steady hand, even when life on earth is at its shakiest.
The hymn continues, “Naught of earth unmoved can stand.” 2 Peter 3:10 teaches that “the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fervent heat, and the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.”
The contrast between God’s eternal power and what 2 Peter 3:10 says about the earth shows the foolishness of building our hope on temporal things and the wisdom of basing our hope on eternal things (Matt. 6:19-20). This principle is expressed in the final words of the hymn’s first verse: “Build your hope on things eternal, Hold to God’s unchanging hand.”
The second verse of the hymn continues this thought, beginning, “Trust in Him who will not leave you, Whatsoever years may bring…” Though future temporal things are unsure, God’s people know that He will never leave us nor forsake us (Heb. 13:5).
God’s children can depend on His awareness of all we face (Rev. 2:9), His care and concern for us (1 Pet 5:7), and His faithfulness to ensure we always have what’s needed to fulfill our purpose of pleasing Him (1 Cor. 10:13).
A particular trial that highlights God’s trustworthy hand is alluded to in the latter part of the hymn’s second verse. There the song says, “If by earthly friends forsaken, Still more closely to Him cling.” While behavior of others can be unpredictable, God’s character is constant. God’s steadiness is especially precious to consider when forsaken by others (cf. 2 Tim. 4:16-17).
The third verse of the song (omitted in Hymns for Worship) says, “Covet not this world’s vain riches, That so rapidly decay, Seek to gain the heav’nly treasures, They will never pass away!” This compares the value of fleeting earthly riches with lasting spiritual riches (cf. Luke 12:13-21).
The hymn’s final verse digs deeper into the lasting value of being spiritually rich. The verse says, “When your journey is completed, If to God you have been true, Fair and bright the home in glory Your enraptured soul will view.”
This home is a guarantee for those who choose the path of righteousness, because God can be trusted to fulfill His promises (Titus 1:2). God’s faithfulness thus gives a sure foundation on which to build a hope that anchors the soul.
This gets at the underlying theme of this thoughtful hymn. While life on earth has much uncertainty, God is ever-reliable.
May we hold steadfastly to His unchanging hand.
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