The LORD is Our Helper

Bible Text: 2 Samuel 8 | Preacher: Alan Conner | Series: 2 Samuel, 2001

August 19, 2001
2 Sam. 8
The Lord is our Helper

INTRO
The people of God have their UPS and DOWNS in life.
David’s experiences in this chapter are on the UPSWING of life. He is winning his battles, defeating his enemies, he is expanding the kingdom of God, massive amounts of wealth are coming into the temple, and David is reigning over all Israel with justice and righteousness.
The thematic center of gravity is found in vv. 6, 14 “The LORD helped David wherever he went.” The word “helped” (NASB) is also translated “gave victory” (NIV) and “preserved” (KJV). The Hebrew word is esy (yasa`) and means that God is saving His people from external evils. These two identical sentences in vv. 6, 14 are like two great pegs or nails upon which hang the wonderful theology and truth of this chapter:
ALL SUCCESSES IN LIFE, ALL VICTORIES, ALL ADVANCEMENTS, ALL ACHIEVEMENTS, YES EVEN EVERY SINGLE BLESSING THAT YOU HAVE EXPERIENCED, ARE NOW EXPERIENCING, OR WILL EXPERIENCE IN THE FUTURE, COMES FROM __________________. David’s military victories, his increase in riches and fame, the expansion of his kingdom were all due to the direct intervention of ALMIGHTY GOD.

I. DAVID NEEDED GOD’S HELP.

A. The best and most talented of people need God’s help. David was a shepherd by training, not a man of war, yet God made him a war hero. He was raised to be a leader of sheep, yet God made him king over a nation. Without God’s help, David never would have left the pasture.

B. We need God’s help too. By nature we, like David, are weak, helpless and unable to succeed in anything we do apart from God’s grace and mercy.

The Scriptures describe human nature as:
1) We are_____________.
Ps. 144:3-4 O Lord, what is man, that Thou dost take knowledge of him? Or the son of man, that Thou dost think of him? Man is like a mere breath; His days are like a passing shadow. See also Ps. 39:4-6
James 4:14 Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.
Our days are determined and we cannot pass these God ordained limits (Job 14:5; Ps. 139:16). Even our very breath is in the hands of God: Job 12:10 In whose hand is the life of every living thing, And the breath of all mankind.

2) We are_______________.
Is. 40:17 All the nations are as nothing before Him, They are regarded by Him as less than nothing and meaningless.

3) We are_______________.
a) Physically – James 1:10-11

b) Spiritually – Rom. 8:26 Matt. 26:41Gal. 5:17

c) Weakness in death. 1 Cor. 15:43.

II. GOD IS OUR HELPER.
From beginning to end, David’s battlefield successes were the Lord’s successes. The honors of David were due to the help of God. He knew the help of God. When he slew the lion and the bear, and then Goliath. He learned to trust in the help of God.

Ps. 54:4 “Behold, God is my helper; the Lord is the sustainer of my soul.”
Ps. 121:1-2 “I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; from whence shall my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.”
Ps. 33:20 Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and our shield.
Is. 41:10 ‘Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’

A. Our help comes from the Triune God, the whole Godhead is committed to helping His people:
1) the helps us: Ps. 124:8 Our help is in the name of the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.
2) the helps us: Heb. 4:15-16 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as without sin. Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need.
3) the helps us: John 14:16 “And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever;
4) the helps us (2 Sam. 8:6, 14). The LORD is the covenant-keeping God who faithfully shows lovingkindness to His people.

B. All blessings come from the Lord.
1) Victories – Ps. 18:34 He trains my hands for battle, So that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
2) Health – Ex. 15:26 “for I, the Lord, am your healer.” Ex. 4:11 And the Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes dumb or deaf, or seeing or blind? Is it not I, the Lord?
3) Prosperity – Deut. 8:18 “But you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who is giving you power to make wealth, that He may confirm His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as this day.
4) Honor – Dan. 2:21 “And it is He who changes the times and the epochs; He removes kings and establishes kings; He gives wisdom to wise men, And knowledge to men of understanding.
5) Salvation and sanctification – Phil. 2:13; Eph. 2:10

III. LIVING WITH THE TRUTH THAT GOD IS OUR HELPER.

A. Walk in . James 4:6

B. Our are specially designed in our life to display the helping grace of God. 2 Cor. 12:9-10

C. Trust in to help you and not your own strength. Prov. 3:4-5; Ps. 115:9-11

D. The church the help of God. Matt. 16:18; Phil. 1:6. The King will not allow His kingdom to be overpowered by the forces of darkness.

REMEMBER YOUR WEAKNESS AND THEN REMEMBER HIS STRENGTH, HE WILL HELP YOU. John 15:5; 1 Cor. 10:12