AN EVER PRESENT HELPER

Before He left this earth the Lord Jesus said to His disciples, “In the world ye shall have tribulation.” Immediately thereafter, however, he uttered these significant words, “But be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” My disciples, in these tribulations, while ye are in this world, ye may have many fears, much distress and trouble; but fear not, My disciples, be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world and all that is in the world; I am the mighty, victorious Head of My Church; I will help, protect, and deliver you. “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.” Isa. 41:10. He knows what insignificant, weak worms they are in self, and therefore He says, “Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the Lord, and thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.” And what will the Almighty Lord make this worm, and cause it to do? Be attentive to these words, O worm Jacob. He says: “I will make thee a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth: thou shalt thresh the mountains, and beat them small, and shalt make the hills as chaff.”

Many spiritual mountains shall confront the pilgrim as he travels forth through the wilderness of this world. He may look up against them and fear; often he cannot go forward. But, calling to the Lord in his distress, the Lord will appear, and the mountains and hills shall disappear. In the strength of His Redeemer, and faith in Him, he shall thresh the mountains and beat them small. Thus the worm is enabled to continue forth in the strength of the Lord. Fear not, worm Jacob, hear My voice, I have appeared to help you, to deliver you; and the worm is gladdened and exclaims: “The voice of my Beloved! behold, He cometh leaping upon the mountains, skipping upon the hills.” Song of Solomon 2:8.

David was often in distress in his life and on his way heavenward: in convictions and being led into the depth of his soul misery (Psalm 116); in ways of bitter chastisement and trial; yea, often in bitter distress and in spiritual depths and prisons, and at times inwardly and outwardly compassed with cruel and powerful enemies. Oh, how often did he see his soul surrounded by these enemies, who would have rejoiced at his destruction.

God’s exercised people will understand David’s bitter experience. A pilgrim, when he was lying upon his bed one dark Sunday morning, also found his soul surrounded on all sides by bitter, mocking enemies. It seemed as though the Lord had forsaken him. He was in distress. Oh, how shall he be delivered? how shall he preach and go forward? He called to the Almighty God above in heaven. In his calling the words entered his soul, “And He (Jesus) being in agony, prayed more earnestly.” Oh, what a clear sight this pilgrim received of the wrestling Jesus in Geth-semane, sweating blood in His great agony, his soul as a stormy and boisterous sea which cannot rest. Jesus prayed even more earnestly, crying to His Father, Who sent an angel to encourage Him. In His great strength He went forward till He had won the eternal victory and finished the great work of meriting salvation. Gladness filled the pilgrim’s soul. In Jesus lies the victory; the enemies are afraid of this Captain of salvation. It was a lesson to pray more earnestly to Him, when in distress and agony. He sighed, he cried, till a wonderful deliverance came and his soul was set in a large place. Oh, what great liberty he now enjoyed! Now there was nothing to hinder him from traveling forth; now with gladness he could speak. and preach of Him, Whom the Father has given as a Redeemer and Helper of the worm Jacob. His soul’s experience was, “I called upon the Lord in distress: the Lord answered me, and set me in a large place.” This large place is a portal of heaven; it leads the pilgrim to the large place of heaven and paradise where there are no boundaries. At such times the pilgrim, like David, is full of courage, and says, “They compassed me about like bees; they are quenched as the fire of thorns: for in the name of the Lord I will destroy them.” The song of David’s victory also contains these words, “I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord. The Lord hath chastened me sore: but He hath not given me over unto death. Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the Lord.”

How often, in the lives of God’s tried people, their experience is: misery, redemption, and gratitude. David says, “I called upon the Lord in distress: the Lord answered me, and set me in a large place.” Blessed are they who know by experience what this calling to the Lord is. Only in distress and need shall they cry to the Lord, knowing that He is the only One who can help and deliver them. All of God’s dear people learn to know their outward troubles and inward soul troubles. The Lord hears the cries of the needy; He delivers their soul when death draws nigh. He has promised to do so. We read in Psalm 34: “This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.”

The weeping prophet Jeremiah says in his lamentations: “I called upon Thy name, O Lord, out of the low dungeon. Thou hast heard my voice: hide not Thine ear at my breathing, at my cry. Thou drewest near in the day that I called upon Thee: Thou saidst, Fear not. O Lord, Thou hast pleaded the causes of my soul: Thou hast redeemed my life.”

At all times the mighty God is a refuge for His people. Also in this present evil time, when the dark clouds of war continually hover above us and it seems as though the enemies rule supreme … but nay, it is not so. “He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh; the Lord shall have them in derision… Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; Thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel. Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling.”

O traveling pilgrims through the howling wilderness of this world, hear the words of Psalm 62: “Trust in Him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before Him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.”

“I am a stranger here alone;
Earth no true comforts can afford:
Yet, absent from my dearest One,
My soul delights to cry, My Lord!
Jesus, my Lord, my only Love,
Possess my soul, nor thence depart:
Grant me kind visits, heavenly Dove;
My God shall then have all my heart.”

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