Thursday, January 29, 2015
Last Thursday I wrote about a line from a worship song we sing in church; here is another one, taken from Psalm 121: “I lift up my eyes to the hills/ Where does my help come from?” The author of this psalm is David and many bible scholars refer to it as “the soldier’s psalm.” It came to my mind while at the altar in Tuesday’s prayer meeting in church. Like most people who come before God in prayer, I had many things on my mind. I suppose just about everybody, especially adults, thinks of such things as health, finances, family, and very pressing burdens when they draw near to God, just like I did yesterday. I was thinking “How is God going to help me with all my issues? How will my help come and by whom or what means will He send it?
Then I remembered that David lifted up this same type of prayer to God when he penned this psalm. His words were: “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.” Although it appears the last part of the verse is not a question, most bible translations show it as such. I take it as a question too because its not that we doubt God’s help, we are just curious about where our help will come from. Most bible readers are aware that God has sent help to His people in the past in many ways and through many different sources. Here are but a few: Angels, lepers, weather, hornets, noises, ravens, and plagues upon their enemies. If you find it curious that David lifted up his eyes unto the hills and not unto Heaven, it is because he was referring to the hills where Jerusalem and the Temple lay. (Mount Moriah) He associated the Temple to the place where God’s presence was, much like people who visit a departed loved one’s grave although they know Heaven is where they really are. Whether it was a question or not, David was quick to declare, “My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.” (verse 2)
Child of God, it is the same for you and me. If you are going through a rough time in your life and today are more than worried about your health, finances, family, or even the day of tomorrow, remember that our God is faithful. He has promised never to leave us nor forsake us. David also wrote these words about his faith in his faithful God: “In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou wilt answer me.” (Psalm 86:7) You can do the same. Call upon Him today if you need Him. He will answer you too because He has no favorites. Where will your help come from? I have no idea what source the Lord will use, but in the end all the help you need will come from Him. I am reminded of the chorus of this favorite Christian song of mine: “Many things about tomorrow / I don’t seem to understand / But I know Who holds tomorrow / and I know Who holds my hand.” And that’s where our help comes from!
Memory verse for the week (Hebrews 3:7-8 KJV) “Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith , To day if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness.”
Note: I hope you enjoyed yesterday’s quiz. I know of one who aced it but very few reported their scores. How did you do?
