The Truth In Print, Volume 11 Issue 10, Nov. 2005.

A Publication of the Valley church of Christ, 

2375 W. 8th Street, Yuma, AZ 85364 (928) 539-7089.

 

 

How Will God Feel About You When You Ask Him For Help?

 

By Bob W. Lovelace

 

   In this brief study we will consider three important questions relating to those times when we need, desire, and ask for God’s help. I have used the liberty of some bold facing and parenthetical remarks for emphasis and application.

 

When you want God’s help how fast do you want Him there?

  

   God’s children today are no different than in ages past, thus this plea: “But I am poor and needy: make haste unto me, O God: thou art my help and my deliverer; O Lord, make no tarrying” (Psalm 70:5). The word “haste” carries with it the ideas of being ready and to hurry, and to do so with eagerness, “with excitement or joy” (Strong’s Help, Hebrew 2363, chuwsh). When we ask for His help we do not want God to be a procrastinator! Moreover, this is in full accord with what we are taught about God’s nature and deliverance. Jeremiahs says we should glory in this, that we understand and know God, that the Lord exercises lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth: ”for in these things I delight, saith the Lord” (Jer. 9:23-24; Compare Lam. 3:55-57and Jer. 38:6ff).

   Question: Is your own diligence in serving and obeying God comparable with what you desire from Him when you ask for His help and goodness?

   Concurrent with one’s desire for help is the “why”. Why do you seek His help? Always first is that I need forgiveness of my sins in order to have eternal salvation. My responsibility is to “call” upon God: “For Thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive, And abundant in lovingkindness to all who call upon Thee” (Ps. 36:5). In general all want God’s help, even agnostics, when they are in deep trouble; the thought of seeking “forgiveness” in order to be saved from Sin is sadly missing in the vast majority who “try” in some way to call upon God for deliverance. Some give ten percent thinking God’s help is like Voodoo. To them it is something mysterious that “might” serve their own desires – it might help one be successful, hit the lottery, gain material respect from others, obtain a rich husband or wife, save one humiliation, pain, etc. Few, however, have learned to connect their requests for God’s goodness with their continued service in the faith that they might rejoice in His salvation in Christ. (Cf. Ps. 9:13-14; 2 Th. 1:11; Act 26:22-23).        

   The Hebrew writer spoke of a boldness or confidence manifested as we approach God’s throne in times of need (read Heb. 4:16). Here “boldly” simply means “all out-spokenness, i.e. frankness, bluntness...by implication assurance…” (Strong’s Help parrhesia, Gk. 3954). Also, here, the word “help” means “supporting cables” (Strong’s boetheia, Gk. 996; from Greek 998 (boethos); aid; specially a rope or chain for frapping a vessel :- help.) See Acts 27:17, they used supporting cables. Christ is our High Priest and being Lord He is certainly qualified to help: Heb. 4:15, Matt. 28:18-20; Eph. 1:22.

   We must remember that what is according to His will and pleasing in His sight is the important thing (Eph. 1:11). Facing the day of trouble Habakkuk said, “Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: [18] Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. [19] The Lord God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.” (Habakkuk 3:17-19). What is always going on when we  cannot state our needs frankly to God and speak with confidence of salvation?    

 

When we need Him to deliver us how far do we want Him from us?

 

   Consider this plea: “O God, be not far from me: O my God, make haste for my help” (Ps. 71:12). One important aspect from the context of Ps. 71 is the Psalmist’s confidence that his hope in and praise of God would be a continually increasing thing, and that even in old age (Cf. Ps. 71:9, 14-18). Concerned reader, When is God said to be “far” from one? Hear Jeremiah, “Thus saith the Lord, What iniquity have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain? (Jer. 2:5). Answer: When one has gone far from Him! Who leaves first, man or God? Notice they got so far from God that they never thought about Him and what He had done for them in the past (Jer. 2:6-19). You are far from God when you forsake Him when  He leads you in the right way, when you find your own wickedness correcting you while you possess no fear of God! (Jer. 2:17-19). They brought this upon themselves, but notice what those who turn their backs on God will do in a time of great trouble — “But in the time of their trouble they will say, ‘Arise and save us’” (Jer. 2:26-29). Ezekiel taught when you turn your back on God you turn your face to what is an abomination (Cf. Ezk. 8:16). Question: Do you think that God knows how to handle this? God returns to His place until we acknowledge our sins and seek His face (Cf. Hosea 5:15). Just “saying” ourselves that God is near is not enough: In their time of material prosperity God was near in their mouth, but far from their minds! (read Jer. 12:1-2. It’s OK to talk about such like we know today!). Concurrent with just “saying God is near” is that their fear of God in this situation was what their false teachers told them it should be and what they wanted it to be – “Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:” (Isa. 29:13). Hear Ezekiel, “And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness” (Ezk. 33:31). It is our sin that “makes” God go far away (Cf. Ezk. 8:6).

   The value of understanding these things saves lives for some of these tests involve issues of physical death. The Psalmist said, “Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah. [20] He that is our God is the God of salvation; and unto God the Lord belong the issues (escapes) from death” (Ps. 68:19-20).

 

How do you want God to feel about you when you ask Him to help you?

 

   David cried out and said, “Lord, I cry unto thee: make haste unto me; give ear unto my voice, when I cry unto thee. [2] Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice” (Ps. 141:1-2). Both the incense on the altar and the evening sacrifice were daily. Moreover they were not to offer what was adulterated or something “new” that God did not prescribe (Cf. Ex. 30:1-10, 34-38; Lev. 10:1-3, this was not the Lord’s pattern). The evening sacrifice was “pleasing” to God (Nu. 28). We want God to be pleased to deliver us: “Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me: O Lord, make haste to help me” (Ps. 40:13). Compare the unpleasing thought in I Tim. 2:8 where men in the local church are constantly in strife with each other.

   As we study we want to examine the things that must be acknowledged and stated to Him when there has been sin and a divided heart. Consider the following from Psalm 119:57-67, “Thou art my portion (one whom you associate with), O Lord: I have said (promised, and He has heard the promises) that I would keep thy words. [58] I intreated thy favour with my whole (no longer divided) heart: be merciful unto me according to thy word (read Ezk. 33:14-16). [59] I thought on my ways (read Lk. 15:17-20), and turned (read Joel 2:13-14, tearing things up is not repentance) my feet (get back in church and be faithful in attendance) unto thy testimonies (God listens to these promises to see if they are sincere and in accord with His word, read Jer. 8:6, 4-6). [60] I made haste (same word we have been studying “chuwsh” #2363 to be eager with excitement and joy), and delayed ( “to question, hesitate, be reluctant” ) not (the excitement and not delaying is on OUR feet) to keep thy commandments. [61] The bands of the wicked have robbed me (things hadn’t gone well when he was delaying): but I have not forgotten thy law (he recognized this pattern is in God’s law) . [62] At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee because of thy righteous judgments. [63] I am a companion (“knit together, associate”) of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts. [64] The earth, O Lord, is full of thy mercy: teach me thy statutes (he recognized the need for instruction). [65] Thou hast dealt well with thy servant, O Lord, according unto thy word (Cf. Ezk. 33:14-16) . [66] Teach me good judgment and knowledge: for I have believed thy commandments. [67] Before I was afflicted (it was humbling)I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.”

    We are taught that God’s faithfulness is to all generations, thus we must not read such scriptures as these and think that He only did this “back then” (read Ps. 100:5). His goodness will always be to those who wait for Him, to the person who “seeks” Him (Cf. Lament. 3:25). The word “seeks” is a short word with a big meaning. This requires worship on a regular basis, means to ask of Him, to pray, to practice, to study, to follow, seek with application having studied, to do so with care and truly caring for His things that delight our souls.

   Our calls for help must be “with thanksgivings” for the blessings we have each day (Ps. 107:8-9; Eph. 5:20). We will be thanking Him long after deliverances and often never quit recalling and thanking Him for major deliverances and helps in our lifetime.

   There is great fear of God as we come before Him and to His goodness. Hosea said, “Afterward the sons of Israel will return and seek the Lord their God and David their king; and they will come trembling to the Lord and to His goodness in the last days” (Hosea 3:5). Paul said, “Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?” (Rom. 2:4). Thinking lightly of His goodness and forbearance keeps one from repentance!

   We must know that God can and will defeat those who refuse His call. When God’s wisdom called what did fools do in Prov. 1:20-33? They had no problem with their feet making “haste” to do mischief! How then will they defend against His wrath? One’s own “haste” to defend against God’s wrath is like Nineveh preparing when God came against her, Nahum said (Cf. Nah. 2:1-13). Here is God’s blessing: “But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil”  (Prov. 1:33).

 

 

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