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“Hitherto Hath the Lord Helped Us”, December 24
O give thanks unto the Lord; call upon his name: make known his deeds
among the people. Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him: talk ye of all his
wondrous works.
Psalm 105:1, 2
.
The dealings of God with His people should be often repeated. How fre-
quently were the waymarks set up by the Lord in His dealings with ancient
Israel! Lest they should forget the history of the past, He commanded Moses
to frame these events into song, that parents might teach them to their children.
They were to gather up memorials and to lay them up in sight. Special pains
were taken to preserve them, that when the children should inquire concerning
these things, the whole story might be repeated. Thus the providential dealings
and the marked goodness and mercy of God in His care and deliverance of His
people were kept in mind. We are exhorted to “call to remembrance the former
days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions”
(
Hebrews 10:32
). For His people in this generation the Lord has wrought as a
wonder-working God.... We need often to recount God’s goodness and to praise
Him for His wonderful works
Let us not cast away our confidence, but have firm assurance, firmer than
ever before. “Hitherto hath the Lord helped us,” and He will help us to the end
(
1 Samuel 7:12
). Let us look to the monumental pillars, reminders of what the
Lord has done to comfort us and to save us from the hand of the destroyer. Let
us keep fresh in our memory all the tender mercies that God has shown us—the
tears He has wiped away, the pains He has soothed, the anxieties removed, the
fears dispelled, the wants supplied, the blessings bestowed—thus strengthening
ourselves for all that is before us through the remainder of our pilgrimage.
We cannot but look forward to new perplexities in the coming conflict, but we
may look on what is past as well as on what is to come, and say, “Hitherto hath
the Lord helped us.” “As thy days, so shall thy strength be” (
Deuteronomy 33:25
).
The trial will not exceed the strength that shall be given us to bear it. Then let
us take up our work just where we find it, believing that whatever may come,
strength proportionate to the trial will be given
[365]
40
Testimonies for the Church 6:364, 365
.
41
Steps to Christ, 125
.
379