The Thigh

What is the significance of the thigh? In Psalm 45, a Psalm of the Sons of Korah, these words are dedicated to one who is the most excellent of men, one whose lips have been anointed with grace, one of whom it has been said, God has blessed you forever. Here is the advice to such a person. Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O most mighty, with thy glory and thy majesty. Psalm 45: 3 KJV

The thigh is the symbol of - strength, courage, appointing, daring - for that is the place on the human body where the sword is hung. We are told that the wise and astute warrior always travels with his sword on his thigh. He is always ready and prepared to defend and to attack, for the enemy is always on the prowl, looking to gain victory over the children of God. 

Before proceeding any further, I need to apprise those of us who have seen the word SCAD, spelt out in these words, strength, courage, appointing, daring, but do not know that it is a real word, with meanings. The meaning that catches at us is the one which means, a very large number or quantity. It is true that it is mostly used in its, plural form, for example, you speak of scads of fish, or scads of money. Nevertheless, the symbolism is alive, active, real and to be lived out in our daily lives. Do you really believe that God’s Holy Spirit, given to believers, is an unlimited source of all God’s attributes? Do you believe that God is generous and He gives in no small measure? Do you believe that vast quantities and amounts, too numerous to even reckon or quantify, are ours, if faith will have us believe and accept?

May we all forget about ourselves and our human limitations and be humble enough to put ourselves aside and simply believe, and accept all that our Lord has given us, in His Holy Spirit: -

• Strength unquantifiable

• Courage unmatched

• Appointing unlimited

• Daring unstoppable 

As believers, we have each been given a sword for attacking and defending and our wise advice is that we should always be armed with this sword. We are admonished, in the Epistle to the Ephesians, to be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Ephesians 6: 10b. How is this accomplished by mere mortals, ordinary human beings like you and me? Paul tells us how. This is victoriously accomplished when we wear the full armour of God. Note, the admonishment caters for no kind of compromising whatsoever. We are to put on the entire armour of God, which includes, the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesians 6: 17b. Don’t ever forget that the sword with which we are clad, is for attacking and defending. Both uses are equally necessary, important and life-saving. 

Let’s be reminded of our text. So the servant put his hand under the thigh of his master Abraham and swore an oath to him concerning this matter. Genesis 24: 9. If indeed, we take the thigh in this setting, to be the symbol of strength, courage, appointing and daring, then what we are witnessing is a faithful servant, taking an oath on his master’s attributes, not his own. As servants of our Lord and Master Jesus Christ, is it folly, utter foolishness to believe, accept or even think that when we take oaths or make promises to God, we are doing so on His merits and none of our own?  Regardless of the oath or promise, be it big or small in our own eyes, it all has to do with God’s trustworthiness and faithfulness.

Holy Father, make me a servant like the servant of Abraham, who knew his master inside out and who was confident in making that life-binding promise, to him. Lord, I see how that servant’s faith, trust and confidence in his master’s desire – that of swearing an oath to him - was not a heavy burden or oppressive yoke to bear. Forgive me Master, that I so often see Your desires as weighing me down and causing me needless anxiety. Grant me the confidence and peace of mind in all things, knowing without fail, that You are my Strength and My good Reward. Amen!