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We are not likely to look to actual "hills", but whenever we are subjected to trouble or
testing, let us be on guard against that natural tendency to turn our eyes unto our bank
balance, our friends, their influence, or the many lesser "helps" that may fail us in our
hour of need. "Our help cometh from the Lord." When this is established in our hearts,
we shall find that His help does not set aside bank balances, friends, influence; in fact He
uses all these, but if we would know stable peace, and walk worthy of the Lord unto all
pleasing, we must learn to see, behind all, the hand of our Father. "Shall I lift up mine
eyes to the hills? (No) My help cometh from the Lord."
#38. Lift up your heads.
"Who will show us any good? Lord, lift Thou up
the light of Thy countenance upon us" (Psa. 4: 6).
pp. 199, 200
When the many said of David in the time of Absalom's rebellion: "There is no help
for him in God", his reply was: "Thou, O Lord . . . . . art the lifter up of mine head"
(Psa. 3: 2, 3).
In Psa. 4: we get the other side of the question. Instead of the statement that there
was no help for David in God, the many now said: "Who will show us any good?"
(Psa. 4: 6). This time David's answer is: "Lord, lift Thou up the light of Thy
countenance upon us" (Psa. 4: 6).
He is the "Lifter up of mine head"--and this is an all-sufficient answer to the gibe
that, for David, there was no help in God. "He will lift up the light of His countenance
upon me"--and who shall then say, "Who will show us any good?"
There is no good outside His favour and His presence:--
"In His favour is life. Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the
morning" (Psa. 30: 5).
"In Thy presence is fullness of joy, at Thy right hand there are pleasures for
evermore" (Psa. 16: 11).
Psa. 80: is the psalm of the Lord's countenance: It is divided into four parts, each
indicated by the words, "Turn again" ("Return" in verse 14 being the same in the
original).