Monday, March 20, 2006
Psalm 124 If it had not been the LORD who was on our side -- Let Israel now say: "If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, when men rose up against us, then they would have swallowed us alive, when their wrath was kindled against us; Then the waters would have overwhelmed us, the stream would have gone over our soul; Then the swollen waters would have gone over our soul." Blessed be the LORD, Who has not given us as prey to their teeth. Our soul has escaped as a bird from the snare of the fowlers; The snare is broken, and we have escaped. Our help is in the name of the LORD, Who made heaven and earth.
PERFECT HELP . . . PERFECTLY WILLING TO HELP!
Sometimes we feel overwhelmed. Sickness. Loneliness. Guilt over some sin. All of these things and more can leave us feeling confused or even in despair. Help, we cry!
But where do we turn for help? Psalm 124 gives the answer: "Our help is in the name of the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth."
Think of the billions of stars in the universe. Think of all the wonders of this earth. Doesn't it all show that God has more than enough power to help us in every need!
But how do we know the Maker of Heaven and earth is WILLING to help us? Certainly He CAN help us with our problems. There's nothing He can't do. But we're sinners. We've broken the Creator's holy law. Time and time again we have shown ourselves to be sinful and unclean. How can we be at all sure that the Almighty and Holy One WILL help us?
The season of Lent gives the answer. It reveals the merciful heart of God, Who put our sin on His own Son. The Father condemned Jesus in our place. The result, according to our Psalm, is that "we have escaped like a bird." Our sins entrapped us. But God is love. He set us free by allowing His Son to be caught in the trap of sin in our place. On His part, the Son did not try to escape, but submitted to His Father will. Jesus let Himself be crushed by the steel teeth of God's justice.
Our Savior God made the ultimate sacrifice for us. Love like that simply will not fail to help us in every need. What peace! A God who can give perfect help! A God who is perfectly willing to help!
