“I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.” Psalm 121:1,2
If ever there was a Psalm which revealed how the Lord “helps” those who truly seek Him, it is Psalm 34. In the early days of David’s flight from King Saul, who sought to kill him out of jealousy and pride, David was taught by God how to trust Him, deliver him, and provide for him, even though he was surrounded by enemies, with no “help” other than God. David, and others through the centuries have learned what the Psalmist wrote in Psalm 46: “God IS our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (46;1)
One of the clearest, and most simple declarations of God being the “present help” of the believer, is found in Isaiah 41:10 when He said to Israel: “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.” Why does God through the Scriptures, reveal to us the proven experiences of those who have gone before us, when they have sought the ever-present help of God, and found it as a solid foundation for their feet in times of great upheaval. They have also proved His saving, helping presence when heart and mind are tempted to fail in the face of opposition, difficulty, and limitations. The reason for these testimonies, as well as God’s clear declarations of His help, is for the believer TODAY to take his stand on the promises of God, believe God to intervene, and live expectantly while waiting to see the glory of God. In every circumstance, whether favorable or not, the call of God is to seek, and find Him, proving Him to be all that He declares and more, “a very present help in time of trouble.” How then does one seek Him, and find Him, and come to know Him in times of great blessing, and times of deep distress? There is a way, God’s proven way. Scripture calls them, “the old, or ancient paths,” those ways that God has put at our disposition so that by their use, and coming to God HIS way, one may certainly find Him, know Him, and prove Him.
When David was anointed king of Israel, and this as a young man, he did not realize what was before him. When the Spirit came upon him the day of his anointing, he stepped into a greater sphere of trusting God, for God would lay out before him a path upon which he had not yet travelled. It was unknown territory. However, God would build upon David’s experiences as one being strengthened and led by the Spirit. In the care of his father’s flock, David would prove God by the slaying of a bear and a lion who sought to kill the sheep. The day that he faced Goliath, the sphere of his trust was enlarged. Faith would need to reach deeper, and farther, in the appropriation of God, if he would conquer this foe. When David was forced to flee into hiding, becoming a fugitive from family, friends, and familiar, welcome circumstances, the sphere of trust wherein God was calling him to go, would be enlarged again. Not only would he need to trust God to be his help for himself, and his survival in the face of his enemies, both domestic and foreign, but he had those who had joined him to consider. God was enlarging his capacity to know Him, by increasing his dependence upon Him to fill that sphere of present provision. The very present help in the face of a lion, though at the time was a necessity, was now greatly increased. A rebellious king, and his army were after him to destroy him. The principle of proving God as one’s help by seeking and finding Him, would be that of faith, a faith born out of worship.
Dear Father, Make us true worshippers. In Jesus’ name, Amen.