Bible Reading: Psalm 60, Revelation: 13:10-18.
“Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man” – Psalm 60:11(KJV).
Trusting in the strength of your fellow man to deliver you when you are in trouble is considered as help from man. When you put your trust in the military might of any Nation to help you out in the cause of invasion by another country, you are said to be trusting, and seeking the help of man. In those days nations form alliances for the purpose of defending their nation. Putting confidence in such alliance for your deliverance is regarded as the help of man. No matter how strong the agreement is, man can fail you and woefully disappoint you. David described this trust vividly in Psalm 20:7(KJV): “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.”
God’s name is a defense. Egypt trusted in their well-trained military squad that was gathered to pursue after the children of Israel, but without shooting an arrow the whole army of pharaoh perished. Pharaoh trusted in man (his army), Moses trusted in the LORD God. That resulted in the collapse of Egypt as a world power, losing its military might at the Red Sea. The help of man is truly in vain. The bible says “Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help. His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thought perish” – Psalm 146:3-4(KJV). What happens when you seek the help of a man whose breath ceases on the day he was expected to come to your help? That is the limitation of man’s help. This is why the Psalmist said: “I will lift up my eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth”– Psalm 121: 1-2(KJV).
The vainness in the help of man lies in the instability and uncertainty of the human nature. The man you discussed with today and agreed on issues may be lying dead the next morning. Man remain practically unpredictable. Our trust and help must be from God that keeps truth forever (Psalm 146:6b). “Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for help, whose hope is in the LORD his God” – Psalm 146:5(KJV). God is ever ready to deliver his own. God is jealous over his children. His promise abounds throughout the scriptures and because of his impeccable integrity we are confident and hopeful to seek his help in the times of trouble. One of such great promises is in Isaiah 41:10, 13(KJV): “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, fear not; I will help thee.” When God says He will help you He will surely help you, He is not a man that he should lie, he is totally committed to your deliverance because He is God whose word must surely come to pass.
Prayer: Father give me the grace to trust you all the days of my sojourn on earth.
Bro. Joel Ezeugo
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