Surely, God is my help. King David’s enemies wanted him to fall so they could rejoice over him with gloating. His enemies wanted to cause Him to become greatly discouraged. They wanted to bring him to a place of resignation, or more simply put, a place where he would sit down and just simply give up. However, David drew His strength from God and kept on going to become an over-comer.

There is an old gospel song written by Margaret Pleasant Douroux, and sung by Helen Baylor, with these wonderful lyrics from Psalm 124:1 (NIV) ‘If the LORD had not been on our side.’

If it had not been for the Lord on my side,

Tell me, where would I be? Where would I be?

He kept my enemies away
He let the sun shine though a cloudy day
Oh, He wrapped me in the cradle of His arms
When He knew I’d been battered and torn.

In times when you feel as if the battle is too much, when you feel as though you cannot go on, then go to the Lord, who, as our text for today says in Psalm 54:4 (NIV), will help us and strengthen us, “Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me.” Listen how loving and caring God is towards you in Isaiah 46:4 (NIV), “I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.”

The word “sustain” in Hebrew is samak, meaning to “hold up, to lean upon, rely upon, to lay one’s hand upon and strengthen”. It is the Lord who sustains me. He is whom I rely upon for my every need, and it is He, who lays His hand upon me, to uphold me and strengthen me.

A few years ago, during a difficult time in my life, I became aware of some people who were hoping to see me fail and fall flat on my face, so they could gloat over my shortcomings. I knew that the enemy wanted to destroy my testimony and my faith in God, but like David, from Psalm 54:4, I too could say this, my confession of faith, as a testimony of God’s grace, provision, protection, and goodness, “Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me.” And praise God, to this day, I am still standing strong in the LORD and in the power of His might!

My friend, when you go through times of difficulty that may reveal your shortcomings and that is just what they are, shortcomings, you can still come through victorious if you keep your eyes on Jesus, and draw your strength from Him. Take heart, for what you go through today, you will not go through tomorrow, because they will not last forever. God can, and will, turn things around for you. The Bible says Psalm 46:1 (KJV), “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in times of trouble.” He is the One who will help and sustain you every second of the day. He is the One who will carry you through and rescue you; He is the One who keeps you going, He is the One who will give you the strength that you need to be an over-comer in Him, in every area of your life.

God bless you my friend, Matthew.

What a beautiful term of endearment to use, “set his affection on.” Oh, the romance of such words speaks volumes of His endless love towards His people. Not only does God, in out text for today, set his affections on His people, but the verse brings home a more intimate meaning by saying, “He chose you.” He chose you to set His affection on you. You are the Father’s desire; you are the apple of His eye. You are His treasured possession and thinks about you all the time. His affection is set upon you and His amazing love is a banner over you. Everything He does He does for you, so you can know how much He loves you. His affection is for you; His desire is set on you to bless you and uplift you.

 

To set your affection on someone is to love with everything you have. This love is one that is pure, giving and forgiving. This love is kind and gentle yet, strong, and it is a love that will not let you go. He has set you as a seal upon his heart, a seal upon His arm, and your name is written in the palm of His hand. Oh, how beautifully and sweetly do the words from Jeremiah 31:3 (NIV) sing to your soul, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness.”

 

The Hebrew word for affection is hasaq, meaning to set one’s affection on, desire, love attached to, kept in love. Now, you can see how much He loves you, because He has drawn you to Himself with loving-kindness, He has kept you with His love, and attached Himself to you in a loving covenant relationship, where He has set His affection on you, the one whom He loves with an everlasting love. God wants to bless you with His best and He wants to fill your life with His Life.

 

My friend, this verse for today surely speaks to you of His love for you. God has loved you, God has chosen you to set His affection upon you, and He not only loves you but, God in is love with you.

 

God bless you my friend, Matthew.