“The Upholding Hand of a Loving God”

Posted on Jan 20, 2016 in Devotions |

 
He upholds
 
by Dona Hake
 
 
God desires that we stay in His presence, and speak with Him about anything that concerns or is bothering you. When we neglect communing with our Lord during hardships our soul will be weighted down. We have all done it…something bothers us, it troubles our heart, and we just think about it over and over. Praise God for those times in which we come to our spiritual senses and whisper within ourselves, “What is going on here?….Why is this bothering me so badly?” It is during these wake up calls that we are reminded that our hope must be in God. In the Psalms many times it is written were David speaks these words…
 
 
 

Psalm 42:5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.

Psalm 42:6 O “my God, my soul is cast down within me…”
 
 
 

I picture in my mind David writing the Psalms in the quietness of the night while his eyes were watchful over his flock of sheep. I am sure that his days were long days, and some were more challenging than others. There are a handful of Psalms where David used the term “cast down.” This is a term used for a sheep that has turned over on its back and cannot get up again by itself. Sheep have a way of getting themselves in trouble, and they can be helpless as well. A good shepherd seeks to understand every aspect of the care of his sheep.

 

I want to make emphasis on the fact that a sheep cannot get up again by itself. A “cast” sheep is a sad sight. It lays on its back, and as its feet are in the air, it struggles frantically to get back up again. Sometimes it will make little bleating cries for help and just lays there frustrated. If the shepherd does not arrive on time, the sheep will die. Since a sheep that is cast is in such a helpless state, it is also vulnerable to attack by predators.
 
Psalm 37:24 Amplified Bible

“Though he falls, he shall not be utterly cast down,

for the Lord grasps his hand in support and upholds him.”
 
 

I encourage you that in those times of being down and feeling helpless that you would look up for His hand. It is there for you to grasp! He will lift you up and put you on your feet again. Our Lord is a good Shepherd!