Psalm 108:12 Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man. I. A VERY COMMON EXPERIENCE. "Trouble." 1. Bodily. 2. Family. 3. Church. 4. Heath. II. A VERY CERTAIN RESOURCE. Betaking ourselves to God in prayer. 1. The resource itself. God. He knows all our troubles. He is ever graciously disposed to help and comfort His people. 2. How the resource is available. By prayer. It may be very short — a mere fragment. But it must be the prayer of conscious need, and of believing supplication. III. A VERY EVIDENT TRUTH. "For vain is the help of man." Good men may give us wise counsel, and they may sympathize sincerely and tenderly, and they may pray for us, and thus be instrumental of good to our souls; but they can neither sustain us in trouble, nor sanctify our sorrows, nor deliver us out of our afflictions. 1. They cannot control our circumstances. But God can; He alone disposes of the conditions of men — raiseth up, or casteth down — enriches, or impoverishes — sends prosperity, or adversity — joy, or grief. 2. They cannot drive back our enemies. Either those in the world, or our spiritual ones; but God can; He can enable us effectually to resist both, and to triumph over them. 3. They cannot turn our afflictions into a blessing. But God can; He is able "out of the eater to bring forth meat, and out of the strong to bring forth sweetness." 4. They cannot deliver us from our troubles. Look at Abraham on the mount with Isaac! Jacob meeting Esau! Israelites on way to Red Seal Daniel in den of lions! Hebrews in the fiery furnace! Peter in prison — Paul in the stocks! In all these cases vain would have been the skill and power of man; but God did deliver each and all of them; and He will deliver those who pub their trust in Him. (J. Burns, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man.WEB: Give us help against the enemy, for the help of man is vain. |
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