I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. [2] My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. [3] He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. [4] Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.
Psalm 121:1-4 KJV
One of the greatest consolation and advantages of having God as a Father is that He is a Father indeed. We do not have to go through life without His help. God created man to depend on Him for his protection, provision, guidance, nurturing and life. Paul said in Acts 17:28 that “In Him we live, move and have our existence”. In Genesis 2:25 it was said that God created man and he was naked and not ashamed. Man could move around without fear or shame, because He had God as His covering and protection. However, the situation flipped when man sinned and began to look to himself for help and protection. The tragedy here was that man’s eyes was open and he saw he was helpless and yet blind because could no longer see the one who has His hand stretched out to him at all times.
The phrase “Rock of help” or Eben-ezer, was by Samuel in 1 Samuel 7:12. Samuel was the last judge of Israel. In his days, the Word of the Lord was scarce because the people had forsaken God who had been their strength and help and began to have confidence in other gods and idols. As a result, the philistines came upon them and oppressed them to the point that even the ark of the covenant which Israel saw as a symbol of the presence of God, was taken away from them. It was at this point that they realized the uselessness of their gods to save them and they cried unto the Lord in repentance. The people realized, at least to some degree, that there was no other rock than their Rock, who was Jehovah and so Samuel set up this rock to remind the people that they have a help who has been there for ages and will always be there when they turn to Him and cry out for help.
David, realizing this truth said in Psalm 147:11 that God delighted alway in them that cried out to Him for help and hoped in His Mercy. God loves to help man. He never gets tired of it, even when man strays away. All God’s withdrawing and chastising is often to make man realize after he has strayed away that He was not created to live without God. David took God as His personal help. In Hebrews 11, all who were in these class of mighty men, were not mighty because they had a superior mind or superior strength or a special anointing. These were all men and women who had learned to receive help from God. Because of this realization, these people were confident to go through impossible feats. An example of this was the Man Abraham. In Genesis 14, Abraham, a man of over 75, took three hundred and eighteen men he had trained in his house and fought against three kings. In 1 Samuel 14:1-26, Jonathan and his armour bearer (not another trained warrior), went against a camp of the philistines and defeated them. Time will not be enough to speak about Hezekiah, Esther, David, and many other saints of old. Each had one thing in common, they in essence cried out to God and knew that if the Lord delighted in them, He would save. Their emphasis therefore, was not in training to fight, but ensuring that they were in right standing with God, revered and feared God.
Beloved, these are stories you know and have heard time again. Yet it is of necessity that you not only hear, but believe it. God is an ever present help in time of need. The major issue with most is that they do not recognize that man is always in need of God, not just when he is at a tight corner. David never waited till he was in a tight spot with the Kings he went to fight before he cried to God. He cried to God and sought His face on all matters first, so he never had to be in the trouble in the first place. This is the secret of all who will overcome. Save yourself the heart ache and seek your Rock first before you go to other rocks for help. In your work place, school, when you do not feel strong and even when you are feeling strong, where are your eyes focused on? The hill of God, or other hills (money, education, government, etc).
Prayer for today: I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; From where shall my help come? My help comes from You LORD, Who made heaven and earth. You will not allow my foot to slip; You who keeps me will not slumber. You will neither slumber nor sleep. You, LORD are my keeper; You are my shade on my right hand. The sun will not smite me by day, Nor the moon by night. You will protect me from all evil; You will keep my soul. You will gaurd my going out and my coming in from this time forth and forever. Amen (Psalm 121)
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