Where does my help come from?

"I will lift up my eyes to the hills - from whence comes my help?"  Psalm 121:1 

This Psalm is noted to be "A song of ascents." These songs were sung by groups of pilgrims, as they came up (ascended the hills at Jerusalem from the surrounding lowlands) to observe the various annual feasts.

I will lift up my eyes - To lift the gaze from the ground to a higher plain. Have you ever climbed a mountain? As you start the climb, you look up at the mountain and think of the challenges you will face on the way up. You contemplate the view from the summit. There's something solid and timeless about a mountain - it beckons the climber to stand on the summit!

It seems fitting, then, as the pilgrim travelers would sing this psalm, that they would lift their eyes to the hills of Jerusalem, looking forward to reaching the top of the range, knowing that the blessing of God's presence awaited them at the feast to which they were journeying.

Psalm 123 gives further reference to the lifting up of the eyes: "Unto You I lift up my eyes, O You who dwell in the heavens. Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their masters, as the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the LORD our God, until He has mercy on us." Ps 123:1 & 2.

to the hills - Does the writer look to the hills, themselves a symbol of strength and longevity, to see God in this way, symbolically? I believe he does. And yet, there is more to it - the hills were places of sacrifice to God, as we notice in the story of Abraham, who journeyed to Mount Moriah to sacrifice his son Isaac, in obedience to God's command; and the prophet Elijah on Mount Carmel.

From whence comes my help? - This is a question, rather than a statement that the writer looks to the hills from whence his help comes. The question is asked, and the answer is given in verse 2: "My help comes from the LORD". There is no other source of help.

Be certain, friend, your help comes God, from the One who made heaven and Earth. Today, as you realize your need, go to Him - there's where your help is found!

Check your balance

"Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers." 3 John 2

The apostle John is writing to his friend, Gaius. This is not just a casual acquaintance of his, but he addresses him as beloved. Gaius is John's special friend.

It's John's prayer that his friend Gaius may prosper in all things. We usually see the word 'prosper' on cards bearing New Year's wishes, such as "We wish you a prosperous New Year."

What does the word Prosper mean? The Old Testament has four dozen references for the word prosper, but it appears only once in the New Testament, in today's verse. The Greek renders it 'to help on the road', as in 'to make progress', or 'to succeed in reaching'. The suggestion is that one moves ahead with success, helping others on life's road and reaching one's destination or goal.

Prosper in all things - this suggests balanced prosperity; success in the material, mental, social and spiritual realms of life. I omitted one (on purpose). John adds 'and be in health'. Healthy living is essential to being successful (prosperous) in the other realms. It appears that Gaius was doing well in the spiritual realm (from the words 'just as your soul prospers'), but John noticed that he needed a balance, with special attention needed in the physical realm.

Sometimes we get caught up in the race of life, and we exert all our energies and attentions in one direction, to the neglect of the other spheres. John reminds us that balance is important. Today, check your balance.

I wish you a balanced prosperity today and every day!

Run life's race with patient endurance

"If you have run with the footmen, and they have wearied you, then how can
you contend with horses?" Jeremiah 12:5a

The footmen - these are symbolic of the little issues, the little trials and challenges we face each day. Sometimes it's hard to keep up with the footmen - they wear you out. Solomon says 'The little foxes spoil the vines.' We all know that the little dogs, biting at one's heels, are a constant nuisance. Isaiah tells us, "Those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength…they shall run and not be weary." (Is. 40:31)

The horses - these are the larger issues of life, the "artillery" in the battle.
So Jeremiah is likening life to a battle, and asks the question: If the little issues in this battle are wearing you out, how are you going to cope with the big issues, when they come?

So be patient in your run with the footmen this day; then when the horses arrive, you'll be muscle-toned to cope.

Blessings to you in the battle.

God has saved us from our enemies

"For I will not trust in my bow, nor shall my sword save me. But You have saved us from our enemies, and have put to shame those that hated us. In God we boast all day long, and praise Your name forever." Psalm 44:6-8.

I will not trust in my bow - The word 'trust' in the Hebrew means to be bold, confident, secure or sure. The warrior was familiar with his weapons. He had practiced with the bow, until his arrow could hit the mark every time. When he rode into battle he was confident that his skill with the bow could save his life. The psalmist, though skilled in the use of the bow, says he cannot trust in this weapon.

Nor shall my sword save me - The warrior had trained tirelessly in sword-fighting. The sword was used in close one-on-one combat. When the archers had shot the arrows, and the opposing forces drew closer together, the battle shifted to hand combat with the sword. When I was little I believed a sword was so sharp it could cut through the trunk of a tree with one swipe. Reality sets in and I learned that swords were not used to fell trees. Though very sharp, swords were limited in their ability to cut. The psalmist states that his sword will not save him.

But You have saved us - The psalmist acknowledges that the bow and sword, his own life-saving devices, cannot save him. No matter how skilled he may be in their use, he states that his weapons cannot save him in battle. It is God who saves. The writer uses the words "have saved" to indicate that the battle is over and God has won the victory on his behalf.

from our enemies - Enemies are not only those we face on the battlefield in a real-war situation. Enemies can be of the spiritual kind also - after all, we fight in a spiritual battle on a day-to-day basis, don't we? Our enemy, the devil, assails us with doubt, discouragement, fear, unbelief. These are our enemies. In this battle we cannot trust our own life-saving devices. It takes faith to throw down our weapons and trust in a higher Power than ourselves.

and have put to shame those that hated us - Consider the following picture: you are engaged in battle and find yourself cornered, and your enemies closing in. You have your back to the rock face of the canyon. The situation looks hopeless. Then God's hand reaches down and draws you up, away from those who seek your life. They are powerless to harm you; they have been put to shame - and you are now safe. This is what it means to be saved from our enemies.

May you experience God's hand of rescue today. May you boast of God's goodness both during the battle and at the battle's end.