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The Creator Is There

“My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth” (Psalm 121:2)

The psalmist understands God does not guarantee an untroubled journey in life; He only guarantees His presence along that journey. The psalmist is conscious that God will “help” him and that “help” could only come from Him.

His “help” wouldn’t come from bodyguards who accompanied him; it wouldn’t come from the other pilgrims; it wouldn’t come from the multitudes of citizens living in Jerusalem; it wouldn’t come from the national army waiting on the steps of the Temple. True “help” would only come from One who created all these – God Himself.

The point is that if God has power to create the “heavens and earth”, He certainly has the power to protect the pilgrim on any journey – no matter how dangerous. If He made all, He has the power to control all.

Derek Kidner writes in his commentary, “The thought of this verse leaps beyond the hills to the universe; beyond the universe to its Maker. Here is living help: primary, personal, wise, immeasurable.” (pg. 431)

What a God we serve! The psalmist confirms God is watching us, waiting to help us … when we call upon him. God watches His children.

Bless How Others Want to Be Blessed

“Whoever blesses his neighbor with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, will be counted as cursing.” (Prov 27:14)

With a good sense of humor, my wife will reference this verse to me in the morning when I am all “fired up” for the day and she is still trying to get coffee in her system. And when she references the verse, I get it.

A loud, boisterous voice is annoying any time of day, but especially in the morning to those who are waking up and need the quiet. People are not ready to receive a loud voice when they are still trying to wake up. Even if the loud voice is coming from a place of humor, it is – as Solomon said – more like a curse than a blessing.

But this verse is not just about loud voices. It is a figure of speech about people who intend to be helpful but don’t think about the delivery or medium by which they seek to be helpful.

This verse is a reminder that if we want to bless people, we should do it the way God instructs and not the way we think we should. This is a reason that Paul tells us to think not about ourselves but the interests of other (Phil 2:3-4). Other’s interests should determine how we bless them.

Thus, if your spouse is not a morning person, and they are drinking their coffee, let them. Be quiet; be solemn. Let them guide the conversation.

When wanting to bless someone, consider how they would like to be blessed and do that.

Happy 10th BD, Worldly Saints Blog!

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