Hope In God

As a deer longs for flowing streams, so my soul longs for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and behold the face of God? My tears have been my food day and night, while people say to me continually, “Where is your God?”

These things I remember, as I pour out my soul: how I went with the throng, and led them in procession to the house of God, with glad shouts and songs of thanksgiving, a multitude keeping festival. Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my help 6 and my God.

Psalm 42:1-5

It’s getting close to Christmas. Many of us will go see Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, and be reminded of Ebenezer Scrooge. However in ancient times following a battle with the Philistines, the Israelites erected a stone as a reminder of the Lord’s help in the battle. They named that stone Ebenezer, which means “Stone of Help.”

What a contrast. A name that we come to associates with man’s selfishness can actually serve as a reminder of the readily available help of God. As we move through life, may we focus on the faithfulness of the Lord and not the selfishness of man. Let’s look to Him as our true Ebenezer – our help in the challenges of life.

Our only hope here below is help from God above.

Our Daily Bread – December 12, 2008