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Help!
by Stephen Leonard
Scriptural Basis:
"I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come?" Psalm 121:1
Anderson's Applications:
Barack Obama was sworn in as America's new President on Tuesday, and millions
of people in this country and around the world are looking to him for HELP; for
"change" they believe will somehow make their life "better." At least that is
their hope. Such hope resonated in the air Tuesday with the shouts of record
crowds literally filling the huge capitol mall and lining Pennsylvania Avenue
to a depth never before witnessed.
Thousands of years ago the Psalm writer posed a similar question not unlike the
one millions asked who voted for "change" because they yearn for help, and
passionately believe they will find it in Mr. Obama. If you listened to the
many critics of the previous President (how could you avoid it) you may think
they were quoting from Psalm 120, the Psalm leading up to this question in
Psalm 121:1; except possibly the part about calling on the Lord and asking for
His deliverance. The Psalm reads: "Deliver me from lying lips, from a deceitful
tongue. What shall be given to you, and what more shall be done to you, you
deceitful tongue? Woe to me that I sojourn in Meshach (America?), that I dwell
among the tents of Kedar (Republicans or Conservatives?)! "Too long have I had
my dwelling among those who hate peace. I am for peace, but when I speak, they
are for war!" Sound familiar?
Actually, Psalm 120 and 121 are the first of fifteen brief Psalms called the
Songs of Ascent. They were sung for memory by Jewish pilgrims (men, women, and
children) of Jesus' day as they walked the road eventually ascending up into
the hills from Jericho to Jerusalem. Jesus sang these songs as he journeyed
with them. We know from the Bible this was His custom three times a year from
early age into adult life. From the streets of ancient Jericho you cannot see
the city of Jerusalem though it is 3000 feet higher and only 12 miles distant.
You can only see the great forbidding mass of the hills, which is your view
especially for these last miles of the journey. Jerusalem itself sits in a
hollow at the top of the hills, and you have no idea it is there until you make
a final turn at the crest, and suddenly the Holy City is spread before your
eyes. In this setting the words of Psalm 121:1, "I lift up my eyes to the
hills. From where does my help come?" are perfectly appropriate to the
ascending, singing pilgrim. For somewhere up there in those hills is the
spiritual home of the weary traveler. Somewhere up there is his church.
Somewhere up there he will enjoy his friends, their company, and their
corporate worship. Somewhere up there he will find help. Up there he will meet
God in His house!
While I write this I am looking up into the grand Rocky Mountains of Colorado
where I grew up. The sight never grows old. I draw strength from the beauty and
awe in the view of these incredible, snow-capped peaks; as I am sure many have
through the centuries gazing on the diverse wonders of nature. Nature declares
His glory; the creation gives abundant evidence of the hand of a designer and
maker. We sense and feel His presence as we walk in "His garden." Yet can we
truly say that nature gives us the help we most need? Do people, leaders, and,
yes, even Presidents provide lasting help? What about the temple, or the
church; or your own heart and conscience? Where do you look for help, if not to
these? Yet, in the final analysis, they all let us down! The Psalmist could not
be more adamant in his immediate answer: "My help comes from the Lord who made
heaven and earth!"
Neither Bush, nor Obama, nor any other, certainly not yourself, offers help
that will ultimately prevail. All will fail you in the end; and may even
precipitate your corruption, rather than direct your steps in the way of
salvation. It is worth your personal self-examination at such a time. Where
does your help come from? Where do you seek it? What is revealed about your
source of help in your thoughts, words, and actions? "Blessed are those whose
strength is in You, in whose heart are the highways to Zion." (Psalm 84:5) We
are all on a pilgrimage which began at birth and reaches its goal at death.
What is your goal, and who is your help even now in your journey?
Encouragement:
"Father in Heaven, may I too sing the Songs of Ascent as Jesus did from my
heart, and know that He alone is my true helper in life's journey. Keep me from
all evil, and guard my going out, and my coming in from this time forth and
forevermore, because I place my trust in Him! Amen."
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