Tattoos

The ancient practice of tattooing, or inking, or skin art, is very much in vogue. It’s very popular today, with both men and women.

Now the point of my devotional today is not to debate the rights or wrongs of tattooing, but to let you into a secret – God has got a tattoo. And He’s proud to wear it. The intriguing thing about God’s tattoo is that it’s very simple, yet very profound. It is your name. Isaiah 49:16 - “See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; your walls are continually before me.”

Lovers often inscribe the name of their sweetheart on their arm, or elsewhere, to declare their undying love. I was happy to carve a heart with D & S in the middle, on a beech tree, when my wife and I were courting. 

You see in ancient times Jews would draw on their hands the outline of the City of Jerusalem, and its walls, to remind themselves of their devotion to their beloved city. But now they are going through very testing and difficult times, and they are accusing God of forgetting them in their hour of need. 

Read Isaiah Ch.49:14-23.

God is reassuring His people He has not forgotten them.  Yes, in the first instance this applies to Israel. But it also applies to God’s children everywhere at all times. We are inscribed on the palms of His hands. God loves you so much that He has (metaphorically) tattooed you on the palms of His hands.  

So, what does all this say to us today? What encouragement can it give us? It means God holds you in the palm of His hand.

When a child walks alongside its parents and it sees a big dog come bounding along, or if it goes into a room full of strangers, it instinctively reaches out for its parent’s hand, or wants lifted up in their arms. There is something reassuring about their hand being held in their parent’s hand, feeling their hand wrapped around by a bigger stronger hand. 

When we are going through a tough time, we need the reassurance of being in the Father’s hands. That He hasn’t forgotten us, that our walls are continually before Him. Right now, you may feel you’re at the mercy of men, or you’re in the snare of the fowler. Circumstances may feel overwhelming, sometimes you may even wonder, ‘Does God care?’ ‘Where is He right now in my situation? ‘Has He forgotten me?’ But listen to this, “See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands…your walls are continually before Me.” It means God knows everything about you.

We might say, “Oh I know that like the palm of my hand” or “I know that like the back of my hand.” It means the same thing. You are very familiar with that subject. Isn’t it a comfort for us that He knows every detail of our lives? He knows the longing of our hearts, our dreams and desires, our weaknesses and our strengths, our failures and our victories. 

Psalm 139:17-18 “How precious are Your thoughts to Me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; when I awake, I am still with You.”

Matthew 6:8 “Our Heavenly Father knows the things we have need of.”

2 Timothy 2:19 “…the Lord knows those who are His…”

Isaiah 49:16 “See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands…” 

- Pastor David Goudy