Those who are helpless cry for help. They need what they do not have and what they cannot get by their own strength. One of the Hebrew words in Scripture translated as "help" means "guard," or "encircle to protect and keep the enemy away."
In that sense we must understand the word help in Psalm 79:9 , where we read, "Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name: and deliver us, and purge away our sins, for thy name's sake." Surely, because we are encircled by Satan and a host of his servants, both men and angels, we need help. We need to have God encircle us, so that the enemies of His church cannot turn us from Him as our God. The enemy comes from the left and right, front and back at the same time with such subtle attacks, trying to turn us away from God and His promises.
There is here a very important and very instructive truth for us. We need to realize our helplessness, in fact, our total lack of right to be protected by God. As the psalmist reveals, we have so much sin and guilt that we deserve no protection, or the smallest part of our salvation. We most assuredly need help, to be encircled by the almighty God, Who in His holy wrath attacks sinners. We need to know Christ, Who came into our flesh and died to remove our guilt. We need to be encircled by His Spirit, so that the faith He brought into us will keep us united to Him and spiritually alive. Satan is trying hard to kill us spiritually and to establish his own godless, wicked kingdom on this earth.
Make this prayer of the psalmist your daily prayer. Pray for more zeal to live to the glory of God's name. Pray for assurance of the forgiveness of your sins. Such prayer will reveal that you are His child and that He has promised you full salvation when Christ returns.
He is the God of our salvation. Every bit of it comes from Him in His grace. We need His help and should pray for what we need to continue to put our trust in Him.
Read: Psalm 79
Meditations on the Heidelberg Catechism
Through the Bible in One Year
Read today:
2 Samuel 23:24-39
2 Samuel 24:1-25
Acts 3:1-26
Psalm 123:1-4
Proverbs 16:21-23
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Quote for Reflection:
"...It is certain that he did not suffer that punishment on his own account. It follows, therefore, either that he was crucified in vain, or that our curse was laid upon him, in order that we might be delivered from it." – John Calvin
