Apprentice or Master?

Psalm 54:4 (KJV) Behold, God is mine helper: the Lord is  with them that uphold my soul.

It would be very easy to take the first part of this verse and put God in the position of being the hod carrier in building my life.  In case you’ve never been around construction, the hod carrier is the guy who carries the mortar up the ladder and dumps it in a place where the mason can use it.  He is the mason’s helper.  Too many people put God in that category.

Instead, you should look at this as the concept of the therapeutic nurse helping you get out of bed because it’s time for you to go to your exercises.  You are helpless or almost helpless.  You’re not going to be able to function at the level to which you need to function unless someone helps you.

That’s where God comes in.

So?  Are you guilty of looking at God is your servant?  It’s a serious question and a serious issue. Make sure you can give us a serious answer.

Group Effort

(Psa 54:4 KJV)  Behold, God is mine helper: the Lord is with them that uphold my soul.

(Proverbs 19 also read)

Several of the translations I looked at phrase the second half of this as “the Lord upholds my soul”.  Both the KJV and the NASB have this idea.  The KJV and a few others translate it as a group effort.

I know we look to God as the source of our salvation.  He is the ultimate source.  He is what we might call the Prime Mover.  And yet this points out that He uses other people in lifting us up and making us strong.

It is a group effort to “uphold” us.  This is partly why we are involved in the church.  This is why we have family and friends.  This is why we reach out to others.  They reach out to us.  We support them.  They support us.

So?  If you are not involved, at least on weekly worship in the church, then you need to look to your priorities, and seriously ask yourself how you’re doing.  Remember it’s not a crutch if you really need it.  It is a source of strength and mobility.