Happy, indeed, is the man who has the Lord for his help. And that is the good fortune of those who have trusted His Son for their salvation and eternal destiny. Nevertheless, laying claim to this high privilege it behooves us to reflect on its significance.
Consider the Person: “My help cometh from the Lord.” Remember His position, “Lord.” The prophet said, “I saw…the Lord…high and lifted up…” and “Mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts [Isa. 6:1-5].” The encounter left him exposed and humbled before Him, yet susceptible to His gracious cleansing, ever essential to fellowship with God. “Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time [I Pet. 5:6].” To be sure, we are invited to “come boldly to the throne of grace,” because it is a throne of grace, but we are not authorized to approach flippantly or brazenly. As we seek His face, let us be ever mindful of Who it is “with Whom we have to do.”
Consider the Power: If a proper approach to the Lord proves humbling, it also proves supremely encouraging. He it is Who “made heaven and earth,” and thus we can be assured that our problems, many or few, great or small can never be beyond His power to address and deal with them. The resources that “hung the world in space” have become available to meet our needs. When promised a son in her old age, childless Sarah laughed in her incredulity and was gently rebuked, “Is anything too hard for the Lord [Gen. 18:14]?” And this Lord is ours!
Consider the Protection: Not only are we assured of power sufficient, but we have also the promise of His protection. “He will not suffer thy foot to be moved.” Among the great doctrines of the Christian faith is the security of the believer. It is most wonderfully and concisely expressed in the promise of the Saviour, “I will never leave thee nor forsake thee [Heb. 13:5].” And the apostle expressed it this way, ”For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord [Rom. 8:38-39].”
The glorious promise of our text is, “He will not suffer thy foot to be moved;” the margin reads, “to slip.” We walk a slippery road through this “present evil world,” and if left to our own resources would not only be in danger of falling, but of perishing in the process. The Lord sustains His own. How wonderful to make the journey leaning hard upon the One who knows all the pitfalls, Who “was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin [Heb. 4:15],” and who has the wisdom, experience and power to see us safely to our ‘expected end.’ How wonderful to have God for our guide and guardian!
Finally, Consider the Performance of His care: “He that keepeth thee will not slumber.” Our creator and redeemer never takes a vacation or even a day off. He is never distracted, will never be “off guard.” Our watchfulness is subject to moments of failure or even seasons of carelessness; His is unbroken.
This was the ground upon which the apostle rested when he wrote to Timothy. ”I…am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day [II Tim. 2:12b].” With that in mind, it behooves us to commit everything to His care.
Strong in the Lord of hosts,
And in His mighty power;
Who in the strength of Jesus trusts,
Is more than conqueror.
Leave no unguarded place
No weakness of the soul.
Take every virtue, every grace,
And fortify the whole.
—Wesley
“Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God” —Ps. 146:5
For resting assured,
"Pastor" Frasier
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