Psalm 121:2 My help comes from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. This, indeed, is turning creation to account. It is thought a great thing to have a patron who is distinguished by his rank or his deeds. The man is envied who can look up for help to kings, or princes, or nobles; but the meanest believer may say of the Lord who 'made heaven and earth that He is engaged for his succour and protection. This, we say, is turning creation to account. This is pressing the forests, the mountains and stars into our service; and making them minister to our comfort and assurance. There is not an impress of power on the visible universe but is a message to the Christian, telling him not to be afraid. Every glorious demonstration of Almightiness which is set forth in the processes of nature, or in the revolutions of systems, does but announce to him what a guardian and upholder he has. Yea, and it is not only when God is revealed as a God of providence — a God who is "about our path and about our bed" — that it is comforting and elevating to think of Him as the Lord who "made heaven and earth." I like to remember that it is said of the Redeemer, even of our Lord Jesus Christ — "By Him were all things created, that are in heaven and that are in earth, visible and invisible." If He was crucified in weakness, he was nevertheless the Being at whose word arose all the magnificence of the material universe, and the "thrones, dominions, principalities and powers "of the spiritual creation. And, therefore, when it is even the hill of Calvary to which I look up, where there seems presented no spectacle but one of ignominy and death, I can gain confidence from the fact with which the psalmist was encouraged. Yes, blessed Saviour, our help is indeed from Thee! We must lift up our eyes to Thee — to Thee extended on the cross — if we would be enabled to escape Divine wrath, and obtain an inheritance in the kingdom of heaven. But we recognize in Thee more than the persecuted man, borne down by the malice and fury of the powers of darkness; we behold in Thee, even when we see Thee on Calvary, "the brightness of the Father's glory and the express image of His person." And the proud and the unbelieving may wonder at, or even ridicule, our expecting assistance from one who died the death of a malefactor; but we bow before Thee on the cross; we look towards Thee on the cross; and owning the ever-living God in the suffering man, we exclaim in holy confidence, our "help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth." (H. Melvill, B. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. |
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