GOD OUR HELPER

GOD OUR HELPER

“O Israel, trust thou in the LORD: he is their help and their shield. O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD: he is their help and their shield. Ye that fear the LORD, trust in the LORD: he is their help and their shield. The LORD hath been mindful of us: he will bless us; he will bless the house of Israel; he will bless the house of Aaron” Psalms 115:9-12

David's boast is in Jehovah, the only living and true God [1 Chron. 14: 1, 17-18, 21]. Others trusting gods or self, do vaunt their impregnable castles, placed on inaccessible rocks and secured with gates of iron like the Jebusites in Jerusalem; but God is a far better refuge from distress than all these: and when the time comes to carry the war into the enemy's territories, the Lord stands his people in better stead than all the valor of legion soldiers or the boasted strength of chariot and horse.

Saints of God, remember this, and count yourselves safe, and make yourselves strong in God. Forget not the personal possessive word “our;” make sure each one of your portion in God, that you may say, “He is my refuge and strength.” Neither forget the fact that God is our refuge just now, in the immediate present, as truly as when David penned the word. God alone is our all in all. All other refuges are refuges of lies, all other strength is weakness, for all power belong unto God: but as God is all-sufficient, our defense and might are equal to all emergencies or needs.

“Our soul wait for the LORD: he is our help and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name. Let thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in thee” Psalms 33:20-22 

 “A very present help in trouble,” or in distresses God has so been found, He has been tried and proved by his people. He never withdraws himself from his afflicted. He is our help, truly, effectually, and constantly; he is present or near us, close at our side and ready for our succor, and this is emphasized by the word “very” in our version, he is more present than friend or relative can be, yea, more nearly present than even the trouble itself. To all this comfortable truth is added the consideration that his assistance comes at the needed time, never late! He is not as some parent or friends that forsake us in the time of need; he is a friend in need and a friend indeed who hides us in His pavilion and covers us under His everlasting wings when the enemy swoops in for a kill.  

“Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help… Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God” Psalms 146:3, 5 

Art you weak? God will strengthen you. Art you destitute of friends? God will help thee in the time of need. Art you ready to sink, ready to fall? God will uphold you with the right hand of my righteousness. You will not drown in the storms of life nor will the fire of affliction burn you. God will arrive right early to help you. Do not go down to Egypt for help! The help of man is vain. Hope in the divine ability of God to save, heal and deliver you.

“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness…For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee. Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the LORD, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel” Isa. 41:10, 13-14 

We must continually set our focus on Jesus Christ the author and the finisher of our faith. He dwells on Mount Zion where there is deliverance and where we will possess our possessions. He will do as He had promised to help us!

“will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth” Psalms 121:1-2 

Whatever you do in life, vocation or even in ministry, learn to trust in the Lord who alone is able to be your every present help in the time of need.

Faith is the currency that is able to pay for our escape from evil in the day of trouble. We must believe strongly in the ability of God to get us out of life problems and do great and mighty things in our lives. “Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled.” When all things are excited to fury, and reveal their utmost power to disturb or cause havoc, but faith in God smiles calmly knowing the ability of God to deliver in the time of trouble. Faith is not afraid of noise, nor even of real force. Faith is convinced that the Lord will still the raging of the sea, and holds the waves in the hollow of his hand. 

“Though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof.” Alps and Himalayas may tremble, but faith rests on a firmer basis, and is not to be moved by swelling seas. Evil may ferment, wrath may boil, and pride may foam, but the brave heart of holy confidence in God trembles not, he is immovable trusting in the Lord. Great men who are like mountains may quake for fear in times of great calamity, but the man whose trust is in God needs never be dismayed. Hope thou in God, He will sustain and bring you out of life problems.

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early” Psalms 46:1-5 

Latch on the grace or unmerited favor of God that believers enjoy so that you will be guaranteed to obtain mercy from the throne room of grace in the time of need.

“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” Hebrews 4:16 

“The throne of grace!” What a beautiful expression. A throne is the seat of a sovereign; a throne of grace is designed to represent a sovereign seated to dispense mercy and pardon. God is seated on a throne of mercy. The great High Priest of the Christian calling, having shed his own blood to make expiation, is represented as approaching, God and pleading for the pardon of people. To a God willing to show mercy he comes with the merits of a sacrifice sufficient for all, and pleads for their salvation. We may, therefore, come with boldness and look for pardon. We come not depending on our own merits, but we come where a sufficient sacrifice has been offered for human guilt; and where we are assured that God is merciful. We may, therefore, come without hesitancy, or trembling, and ask for all the mercy that we need.

Grace is the unmerited favor, strength, help, counsel, direction, support, for the various duties and trials of life. This is all that we need. Even when pardoned, we need grace to keep us from sin, to aid us in duty, to preserve us in the day of temptation. And feeling our need of this, we may come and ask of God “all” that we want for this purpose. Such is the assurance given us; and to this bold approach to the throne of grace all are freely invited.