God Helps the Helpless

STORY: Won’t You be my Helper?

“I could use a little help here!” How many times have we felt that, or even said it aloud? I remember when I was collaborating on a book project with Stuart Migdon. He is a Jewish Christ-follower who wrote Jesus Take the Wheel. I especially liked how Stuart talked about the Holy Spirit being named “Helper” by Jesus. I had never thought about that before. That was in the New American Standard Bible. Other Bible versions for those verses say he is counselor, advocate, or comforter. I like all those descriptions. When I need a little help, I need a lot of the Spirit operating in my life!

We’ll look at those Bible passages regarding the Holy Spirit as Helper in the STEPS below. For now, let’s turn to the Psalms and continue our word study on the word “help.”

STUDY: The Helpless Have a Helper

But you see the trouble and grief they cause. You take note of it and punish them. The helpless put their trust in you. You defend the orphans. (Psalm 10:14 NLT)

• God sees. He takes note. He defends. He cares.
• When was the last time you felt helpless? What happens to that feeling when you put your trust in God?

I will boast only in the Lord; let all who are helpless take heart. (Psalm 34:2 NLT)

• Have you bragged about the Lord lately? What has he done in your life?
• How does thinking of God’s accomplishments pave the way for the helpless to take heart?

As for me, since I am poor and needy, let the Lord keep me in his thoughts. You are my helper and my savior. O my God, do not delay. (Psalm 40:17 NLT)

But as for me, I am poor and needy; please hurry to my aid, O God. You are my helper and my savior; O Lord, do not delay. (Psalm 70:5 NLT)

• Has anyone told you they would keep you in their thoughts? Usually that means they will pray for you. What does it do, when you are poor and needy to think about the Lord keeping you in his thoughts?
• How does that create the image in your mind of God as your helper? Your savior?
• Here we see the psalmist begging God (his God) not to delay. It seems human nature is always in a hurry for answers!

Come with great power, O God, and rescue me! Defend me with your might. Listen to my prayer, O God. Pay attention to my plea. For strangers are attacking me; violent people are trying to kill me. They care nothing for God. Interlude But God is my helper. The Lord keeps me alive! (Psalm 54:1-4 NLT)

• Look at David’s prayer. He lays it out. He shows his desperate situation. But then there is an interlude. Some versions use the word “Selah.” What do you think that signifies here?
• What are the two words right after the interlude? Often, to remind myself everything is going to turn out okay in the end, all I have to do is say these two words.
• What comes after those two words? How does that sentence negate the power of everything mentioned before the interlude? How does it turn around anything negative going on in your life today?

Because you are my helper, I sing for joy in the shadow of your wings. (Psalm 63:7 NLT)

• Why can the psalmist feel like singing?
• Where is the psalmist positioned?

Give me a helping hand, for I have chosen to follow your commandments. (Psalm 119:173 NLT)

• Often we feel like we have to do something to get God’s help. He is pleased when we follow his commandments. It honors him. Do you think he requires it to give us a helping hand?
• How can you use a helping hand right now from God?

STEPS: Reap the Spirit’s Help

1. Recognize the trinity as your helper. Father. Jesus as the one speaking. And the Holy Spirit. “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever;” (John 14:16 NASB). “When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify about Me,” (John 15:26 NASB).
2. Receive teaching from the Helper. “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you” (John 14:26 NASB).
3. Realize the gift of the Helper. “But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you” (John 16:7 NASB).

For He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,” so that we confidently say, “The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What will man do to me?” (Hebrews 13:5b-6 NASB)

Copyright © 2020 Kathy Carlton Willis, used with permission.