O God our help in ages past

Help, O Lord, for the godly are fast disappearing!
    The faithful have vanished from the earth!
²Neighbors lie to each other,
    speaking with flattering lips and deceitful hearts.
³May the Lord cut off their flattering lips
    and silence their boastful tongues.
⁴They say, “We will lie to our hearts’ content.
    Our lips are our own—who can stop us?”
⁵The Lord replies, “I have seen violence done to the helpless,
    and I have heard the groans of the poor.
Now I will rise up to rescue them,
    as they have longed for me to do.”
⁶The Lord’s promises are pure,
    like silver refined in a furnace,
    purified seven times over.
⁷Therefore, Lord, we know you will protect the oppressed,
    preserving them forever from this lying generation,
⁸even though the wicked strut about,
    and evil is praised throughout the land.
Psalm 12 NLT

Lord God,

Immortal, invisible, God only wise and the hymn says. And this Psalm starts by lifting us beyond our troubles to our source of help, You Lord.. Help. A good word to start with. No an amazing, all encompassing word to start on. We realise how much we need You. Sometimes Lord my own personal Psalm is just that – HELP! And reassuringly You already know everything. I don’t have to explain it all.

The enemy does not need to send an army to defeat David as he is already beating himself up and feeling isolated. Everybody is lying, boasting and giving false flattery. Everybody? Sometimes it seems the world, our nation is full of people who lie and ignore You God.

But it is not true. Lord break in and remind us as You did David, that You know all this. You are the Lord of history. Your promises have been refined – they are pure. They and righteous. You sent Jesus the perfect source of help even though the ungodly still boasted and strutted around. They do not know their end or they would turn to You. Thank you that You are our very present help in times of trouble (Psalm 46). And our eternal home (Psalm 23:6). Help us as we journey.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Saturday 17th May 2025
I selected this version because it makes this a cheerful, hopeful, helpful hymn.

O God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Our shelter from the stormy blast,
And our eternal home:

Under the shadow of your throne
Your saints have been secure;
All we need is You alone
And our defense is sure.

O God, our help in ages past,
God be our guide
As long as life will last

Before the hills and mountains stood
Or Earth received her frame,
From everlasting you are God,
And forever more the same.

O God, our help in ages past,
God be our guide
As long as life will last

O God our help for years to come
God be our guide
And our eternal home
And our eternal home

Lyrics: Isaac Watts
Arrangement by: The great jungle journey VBS.

“The Israelites did evil in the Lord’s sight. They forgot about the Lord their God, and they served the images of Baal and the Asherah poles. ⁸Then the Lord burned with anger against Israel, and he turned them over to King Cushan-rishathaim of Aram-naharaim. And the Israelites served Cushan-rishathaim for eight years. ⁹But when the people of Israel cried out to the Lord for help, the Lord raised up a rescuer to save them. His name was Othniel, the son of Caleb’s younger brother, Kenaz. ¹⁰The Spirit of the Lord came upon him, and he became Israel’s judge. He went to war against King Cushan-rishathaim of Aram, and the Lord gave Othniel victory over him. ¹¹So there was peace in the land for forty years. Then Othniel son of Kenaz died.”
Judges 3:7-11 NLT

Lord God of all,

Joshua has died (Joshua 24:29) and Eleazar the High Priest died (Joshua 24:3). History is a history of change. But it is in keeping a firm foundation that gives a good future. It is not standing still but keeping those things that give stability. But once again we read the children of Israel forgot God their security. But even here in the midst of their enemies and living in war torn lands You proved faithful. You waited till they realised their need and cried to You, You answered. It was not an easy answer and they had to deal with the trouble it did not just disappear! But then their was 40 years peace.

It is very reassuring Lord to know that we can call on You whether trouble is just life happening, because we have got in a mess, sinned or the enemy trying to get us down. Many of the Psalms speak about being able to call on You in times of trouble (34:17, 50:15) Then Jesus came and said, “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.” (Matthew 7:7)

There is no limit to Your help in all our situations. And there is an eternity of peace. Not dead peace and calm and quiet. But a living, joyful love filled fellowship of peace with You now and in Heaven. Please be our help at all times, O Lord our God.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Friday 4th April 2025
Love this version

Our God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Our shelter from the stormy blast,
And our eternal home:

Under the shadow of your throne
Your saints have dwelt secure;
All we need is You alone,
And our defense is sure.

Our God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
God be our guide
As long as life will last
As long as life will last

Before the hills in order stood
Or Earth received her frame,
From everlasting you are God,
For evermore the same.

Our God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
God be our guide
As long as life will last
As long as life will last

Lyrics: Isaac Watts
Contemporary lyrics: The great Jungle Journey