DEPEND ON GOD FOR HELP, FOR VAIN IS THE HELP OF MAN

 ANCHOR OF LIFE DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE for THURSDAY, 15TH  DECEMBER, 2022.

Author: PASTOR DR. SAMUEL AYORINDE – General Overseer

Topic: DEPEND ON GOD FOR HELP, FOR VAIN IS THE HELP OF MAN

MEMORIZE: “Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man.”. Psalm 60:11.

SCRIPTURE READING: Psalm 121:1-8

"I will lift up my eyes to the hills-From whence comes my help? My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel Shall neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD is your keeper; The LORD is your shade at your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, Nor the moon by night. The LORD shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul. The LORD shall preserve your going out and your coming in From this time forth, and even forevermore."

EXPOSITION:

Some call this the soldier's psalm, and think it was penned in the camp, when David was hazarding his life in the high places of the field, and thus trusted God to cover his head in the day of battle. Others call it the traveller's psalm (for there is nothing in it of military dangers) and think David penned it when he was going abroad, and designed it pro vehiculo--for the carriage, for a good man's convoy and companion in a journey or voyage. But we need not thus appropriate it; wherever we are, at home or abroad, we are exposed to danger more than we are aware of; and this psalm directs and encourages us to repose ourselves and our confidence in God, and by faith to put ourselves under his protection and commit ourselves to his care, which we must do, with an entire resignation and satisfaction, in singing this psalm. 

From the ancient time, people have been looking unto men for their help, because they are the ones they can see around. Many people found it difficult to trust or rely on God just because they cannot see Him. But the truth is that, on many occasions people have been let down by men whom they have trusted. The word of God says, “Give us help from trouble, For the help of man is useless. Through God we will do valiantly, For it is He who shall tread down our enemies.” Psalm 108:12-13. The Psalmist in our today’s scriptural reading says, "I will lift up my eyes to the hills. From whence comes my help? My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth.”

This psalm teaches us to stay ourselves upon God as a God of power and a God all- sufficient for us. David did so and found the benefit of it. We must not rely upon creatures, upon men and means, instruments and second causes, nor make flesh our arm: "Shall I lift up my eyes to the hills?" -- so some read it. 

"Does my help come thence?  Shall I depend upon the powers of the earth, upon the strength of the hills, upon princes and great men, who, like hills, fill the earth, and hold up their heads towards heaven? No; in vain is salvation hoped for from hills and mountains, Jer 3:23. I never expect help to come from them; my confidence is in God only." We must lift up our eyes above the hills (so some read it); we must look beyond instruments to God, who makes them that to us which they are. 

PRAYER POINTS:

Lord, I dissociate myself from putting my hope and trust in men. I turn to you for your unfailing help henceforth in Jesus name.

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DAILY BIBLE READING IN A YEAR –  Hebrews 8-10.