Tag: help
Make Haste, O God!
Scripture reading for September 9: Psalm 70:1, 4-5 “Make haste, O God, to deliver me! O Lord, make haste to help me!. . .”May all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You! May those who love Your salvation say evermore, “God is great!” But I am poor and needy; hasten to me, O God! Your are my Help and my Deliverer; O Lord, do not delay!”
John 11:5-6 “Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So, when He heard that Lazarus was ill, He stayed two days longer in the place where He was.”
All people who are caught in a crisis of disease and pain want quick answers. Those who seek God for help soon learn that God hears and answers prayers, but that His timing is not always our timing or our expectation. King David wrote Psalm 70 for the memorial offering and it was given to the choirmaster. This prayer and praise song seeks to entreat God to make haste to bring deliverance and help. David confessed his own need of God, that before God he was poor and needy. He stated that God was his Help and Deliverer. He appealed to God to end the delay and bring the help needed immediately! I have been there and am there now as our family is going through a difficult illness.
John, the apostle, records an incident he witnessed where Jesus was told about a friend’s illness and asked to respond. The family had requested that Jesus come and they were hoping for immediate results. But Jesus knew and loved His friend and delayed coming for two more days. In the mean time, Lazarus had died and his body was placed in a tomb. Mary and Martha were concerned that Jesus had delayed, but still trusted that God would answer their prayers. Jesus wept over the death of His friend, and stood at the tomb and called him to come out. Lazarus got up and came out, decked in the grave wrappings and God was glorified. God’s timing fulfills His purposes.
Prayer: Father God, we ask you to make haste and not delay to help us and deliver us from our current situation. But we trust You as our Healer and Deliverer to be on time! Help me to wait in faith and patience. Amen.
There is a River!
Scripture reading for June 11: Psalms 42-49
America has one of the finest and best equipped armies in the entire world. We have a great air force which has a wide variety of weapons to strike the enemy from afar and soften the opposition before ground troops go into harms way. We have a military intelligence system that gathers information about the enemy and battlefield for the air force and ground forces. But in spite of our great army and ability to protect our nation and people, there is yet a much more fearful and powerful force of protection!
“God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1
God’s ability to protect His people and help them in trouble is well documented. He delivered David as a shepherd boy from the lion and the bear and then from the giant, Goliath. He delivered an entire nation from slavery in Egypt and then saved them from the most powerful army on earth as they were being pursued. He caused the Red Sea to close over the enemy army after His people walked through this sea on a dry bed! Bring on those powerful armies! Our God is our refuge and strength!
“There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. God is within her, she will not fall’ God will help her at the break of day. Nations are in an uproar, kingdoms fall; He lifts His voice, the earth melts. The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah Psalm 46:4-7
God’s presence is likened to a river of refreshing and life-giving water. All who were inside the city and belonged to God would have this source of water and life available to them. In the midst of confusion of the nations, God’s voice melts the earth, causing kingdoms to fall. God is in charge and present with His people. He Himself is their Fortress during judgment and war!
“He makes wars to cease to the ends of the earth, He breaks the bow and shatters the spear, He burns the shields with fire. Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:9-10
God will ultimately bring peace to this troubled world. We must silence our lips from fretting and fear and unbelief! God is in control! He alone is our refuge and strength!
Our Great High Priest
Scripture reading for October 17th: Hebrews 4, Psalm 58, Proverbs 23
Key Scriptures: Hebrews 4:14-16 “Since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
The writer of Hebrews saw Jesus Christ as our great High Priest. He was able to come to our aid, because He had been tempted in all ways like other human beings. Unlike other humans, Jesus Christ was without sin. Because of this, death and the grave could not hold Him and He was resurrected to the right hand of God. We can have confidence to draw near to Him on the throne of grace and find help and mercy anytime we need it.
Faith confession: I have a great High Priest, Jesus Christ, who understands my weakness and is able to come to my aid. I can go to Him anytime and have confidence in His wisdom, instruction, mercy and help.
Proverbs 23:22-23 “Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old. Buy truth, and do not sell it; by wisdom, instruction, and understanding.”