How God Helps

"Give us help from trouble, for the help of man is useless. ¹² Through God we will do valiantly, for it is He who shall tread down our enemies."

Psalm 60:11-12

David knew from experience the help of man is vain, and it is not comparable to the help given by God who makes His people valiant.  These verses demonstrate how the help of God is different than help from people.  When my dad asked for my help to hold a light, retrieve a tool or lift an object, it was assistance he was looking for.  He already knew what needed to be done and possessed the materials and tools to perform the work.  Having help would make doing the job more convenient and less time consuming.  If he had a third hand, likely my assistance would have been unnecessary.

It is vital we understand God's "help" is not like a kid holding a torch so we can see the nut to turn on the engine with a spanner or lifting the other side of a table.  God did not assist David by augmenting his abilities but by doing the work Himself.  By faith and reliance upon God David was involved in the process, of course, but his valiance and ability to overcome troubles was all from God.  2 Chronicles 20:15 makes it clear the battle itself is God's:  "And he said, "Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat! Thus says the LORD to you: 'Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God's."  The help God gives is not a little extra boost to get us over the line, for without Him we can do nothing.

After Jesus ascended to the Father, the Holy Spirit was sent to fill believers, to teach, comfort and help them.  With the example of me "helping" my dad, he directed me to do something that would provide the assistance and result he wanted.  I believe many people think God should help them in like manner.  Having been told God can help them, they assume that means He will assist them by giving them what they want when they believe they need it.  That is the way man helps, not how God helps.  It would not even be appropriate to say we are like the son in the example helping his dad, for God does not need us at all.  He can do everything by just saying the word, for He created the heavens, earth and all living things by speaking them into existence.

Praise the LORD He helps us in ways beyond our capacity to fully understand and appreciate!  David was valiant because He knew God would tread down his enemies, not just to assist him with a boost of courage or skill when David felt overwhelmed.  God's strength is made perfect in our weakness, when we begin to realise we are incapable of doing God's work or will at all and start actually trusting Him to do what we cannot.  The lame man at the pool of Bethesda in John 5 lamented the lack of help of people to place him in the pool first.  He imagined a lack of people helping hindered his healing.  Jesus sought out this man and asked him, "Do you want to be made well?"  When he responded to the command of Jesus with obedience, he was immediately healed and strengthened to rise, carry his bed and walk.  Like David said, God helps like no man can.