The picture this song paints gave hope and energy to the first people who sang it. It still inspires confidence in us who sing it today. Have you ever carried something precious in your hands? A puppy? A baby? The joy shared by someone who just had an amazing victory? The sorrow of someone who has just suffered an unbearable loss? What has your presence, love and care meant in those moments? You and I were created in the image of God so we are able to taste for ourselves from our own little corner of the world what the Father God does for the WHOLE world. Give this song a joyful, thankful sing-along listen, then come back for more on how amazingly good, acceptable and perfect it is for us to be in our Father’s hands.

The whole world in His hands

A young child might hear this song and picture something like a person lovingly holding a pumpkin in his cupped hands. We get a little older and realize we are singing about God’s able attention and care for the people and things of this world we live in. The Bible helps us see this idea more clearly from God’s point of view.

The eyes of the Lord are in every place,
Watching the evil and the good.
(Proverbs 15:3)

This verse teaches God is actively paying attention all the time to both evil and good done in every place. Knowing this certainly encourages caring people to move toward good and away from evil.

The Bible does not teach that good works always are immediately rewarded or evil works always immediately punished. It teaches both are always NOTICED when they are done and will receive their just deserts in due time.

In Psalm 73 the Psalmist describes his frustration when he saw wicked people prosper. “They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walks through the earth.” “And they say, How does God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?”

Such people do NOT think God Almighty has the whole world in His hands. Our Psalmist sees and hears evil people taunting God and prospering in the world and his thoughts become miserable. Miserable his thoughts remain UNTIL, as he says, “I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end. Surely you did set them in slippery places: you cast them down into destruction. How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.” Notice the Psalmist overcame his misery NOT by seeing their end in real time, but by learning from God what their end would be when the right time came.

Just like the Psalmist, we avoid having miserable thoughts when we understand God’s justice will occur in due time. Some rewards for good and some consequences of evil are seen immediately, but we can be sure ALL will be recognized in God’s good time.

The whole world’s in His hands. We rejoice and rest knowing the Lord is holy, righteous, loving and just.

Engaging with our ever-present Lord

The Lord is near to all who call upon Him,
To all who call upon Him in truth.
(Psalm 145:18)

He’s got the whole world in His hands. He is watching good and evil in every place. Does that mean He is too busy to take on one more thing? Of course not!

Notice how Psalm 145 describes inviting the Lord into our situations: “Call upon Him”. We already know God is watching. We already know He promises to settle up for good and evil done in this world. Here in Psalm 145 is a wonderful promise that we can call upon Him.

This verse does not say God will NOT help us UNLESS we call on Him. God is able. But the verse extends His invitation to us to call on Him. Isn’t that a wonderful blessing?

The whole world’s in His hands. We rejoice and rest knowing the Lord is holy, righteous, loving and hears us when we call on Him.

Part of the world is in OUR hands

I have set the Lord continually before me;
Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
(Psalm 16:8)

When we think “He’s got the whole world in His hands”, we might be tempted to become passive — after all, the Lord’s “got this”. The Bible does not encourage us to be passive in this life, living like sticks floating down the river and letting the whim of its currents navigate for us. Look how Psalm 16 directs us to be active — not passive:

“I have set the Lord continually before me.”

The Psalmist actively places Him at his own right hand — the hand of blessing. God declares He is engaged with this world we live in. It is ours to place God at the center of the part of the world we are responsible for. He gave us hearts and we hand them right back to Him.

Do we just sit around and do nothing other than glow in the warmth of this relationship? No, there is too much life and kingdom work to do in our short days. Consider this verse:

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
And through the rivers, they will not overflow you.
You walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, Nor will the flame burn you.
(Isaiah 43:2)

Pass through waters and rivers and fire? It sounds like we can expect life to have its challenges and adventures — and God is watching and will not fail us or be late.

The Lord is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.
(Deuteronomy 31:8)

We rejoice God is watching everywhere, all the time. Here is one more:

… but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.
(Daniel 11:32b)

The whole world’s in His hands. We rejoice and rest knowing the Lord is holy, righteous, loving, hears us when we call on Him AND He enables us to be strong and do exploits.

Here is a challenge: Let’s forget any misery caused by watching evil people badmouth God and prosper and instead let’s outdistance them with God’s help and guidance by doing EXPLOITS! After all, He’s got the whole world in His hands!

God bless you lots!
Dale R.

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Download this music sheet

LYRICS: He’s Got The Whole World In His Hands

1 He’s got the whole world in His hands.
He’s got the whole wide world in His hands.
He’s got the whole world in His hands.
He’s got the whole world in His hands.

2 He’s got the wind and the rain in His hands.
He’s got the sun and the moon in His hands
He’s got the wind and the rain in His hands.
He’s got the whole world in His hands.

3 He’s got the little bitty baby in His hands.
He’s got the little bitty baby in His hands.
He’s got the little bitty baby in His hands.
He’s got the whole world in His hands.

4 He’s got you and me, brother, in His hands.
He’s got you and me, sister, in His hands.
He’s got ev’rybody in His hands.
He’s got the whole world in His hands.

5. He’s got the whole world in His hands.
He’s got the whole wide world in His hands.
He’s got the whole world in His hands.
He’s got the whole world in His hands.

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Dale R.

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