Psalms 124:8 (ESV Strong's)
Our help is in the name of the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.
Where Does Your Help Come From?
In 2010 I wrote this about this verse: Where does your help come from? How sure of your help? If we turn to our families, jobs, savings or talent for help in time of trouble we can be let down. Not because those can't help but they can't help to the extent that we may need help. In Psalm 124 we see that our help is from God …. who made heaven and earth. To trust in help that has the creative power of the universe is to be sure of the help we can and will get. We need to remember that who we pray to created all this. We are to make sure we have full faith in the one who can help.
In 2019 I would not change a thing. When we “need” family and friends to make us “whole” we miss entirely what God desires from us. Here is what Jesus told us when asked to sum up all of what the Bible says:
Matthew 22:37 (ESV Strong's)
And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.
When we look to our mothers, fathers, children and others to give us peace, pleasure, safety and security, we fail to realize the truth of these principles. God wants out complete devotion. He does not want us to turn to mankind for companionship, camaraderie, or comfort. When we do, we give him half our heart. He does not want half our heart. He wants all of our heart. Mankind will always fail. We can use them as a crutch to hold us up. Psychologist have long said that until we can live alone, we can’t really live with in harmony with others. I would change that. I would say until we can live alone with God as our ONLY friend, companion and champion, we will always be leaning on the mistrusted and misguided notion that others can fill His spot in our lives. If we attempt to all them to fill the hole in our heart instead of God we will never really be completely whole.
Now in 2022 I would not change anything, as well. Since I last wrote on these two verses we have had a world-wide pandemic that killed millions. God made the heavens. God made the earth. It is His to do with it has He pleases. Our help comes from Him, no matter the situation in the world around us.
It is now 2025. Days ago a terrorist group released Israeli hostages that had been in captivity for two years. The deal was bartered by the US President and his cabinet. There were many seeking the praise and accolades. The human effort to make this happen was extraordinary. The willingness of previous foes to come together was precedent. The giving of thanks by the Israeli people to these world leaders was also unprecedented. Never has another nation sang the praises of men and women from another county with such profound enthusiasm and glee. Everyone involved in this work deserves to take a bow. In fact, they should bow. All of us. The above verse tells us who to bow to, however. In Israel’s history they have had many leaders and conquers offer them help and praise. They often gave that praise to these leaders. However, what the song writer writes in the above refrain is the elemental principle that everyone (no matter their thoughts about Israel) needs to know: God is the ultimate helper to save His people. God puts leaders in the position He wants to make things happen for His plan. He puts directs the hearts of mankind to accomplish His plans. Praise God that He is the HELPER for His people. Praise God that He puts people where He wants and directs all their hearts.
Psalms 75:6-7 (ESV)
For not from the east or from the west
and not from the wilderness comes lifting up,
but it is God who executes judgment,
putting down one and lifting up another.
Proverbs 21:1 (ESV)
The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD;
he turns it wherever he will.
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