Weekly Devotional

God is Our Help

December 31, 2011

by Fr. Dr. Derrence Ross Dmitri Th D, New Zealand

Saturday 31 December 2011 (21 Koiahk; 21 Kiahk)

O Come, let us sing unto the Lord, let us make
a joyful noise to the rock of our Salvation.
(Psa. 95:1)

CONSIDER THIS:

Great is the honour, which you are worthy of O Gabriel,
The Messenger Angel, your face beams with joy.
(The Wednesay Theotokia)

Prayer is the adhearance to God in all moments of life
and its circumstances. Life, thus becomes one prayer,
with no interuptions and no disturbances.
(Heguman Pishoy Kamel)

God wants to show that every person had contributed
to something lest he may fall into shame.
(St.John Chrysostom)

Be a watch over us from the highest where you are,
O Lady the Theotokos.
(Final of the Doxologies)

Let us have nothing to do with the wicked and vain talk and
in all things let us with all our might cling to Him.
He certainly is ready to give us His help.
(Macarious the Great)

And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations
shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the
Lord of Hosts.
(Haggai 2:7)

For He has regarded the lowly state of His Handmaiden;
For behold, from henceforth all generations will call
me blessed.
(Luke 1:48)

REFLECTION:

We do not use only our voices and our lips when we sing
a song. We utter an inner song because there is in us
Someone who listens.

Heaveny Father, let us sing Your praises with all that
we think, say, or do. Grant that our whole lives will
reflect Your abiding presence within us to everyone
we encounter.
(St. Augustine of Hippo)

HOMILY:

God is Our Help:

The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in,
from this time, and even for evermore.
(Psa. 121:8)

This song implies a situation of uncertainty, but any possibility of danger is offset by
unquestioning trust in the Lord. The Psalmist may life up his eyes unto Zion, the
goal of pilgrimage and the mount of God, anticipating from Zion's hill and Zion's God
all neccessary aid. He may look with apprehension on sudden attack. Either way,
the God of Creation, God the Almighty is is help.

The God of Israel is no Baal (see 1 Kings 18:27), but one who throughout a long
history has ever preserved, His people. The duplication of the words, neither
slumber or sleep is an ever expression of certainty.

The Keeper of Israel, is Your keeper, shading from Sun and Moon alike. IE From
all adversaries at all times, day and night. Not only all adversaries, but all evil,
every sort of trouble, and in all activities of life, and for all time. This Verse 8 is
quite often used as a Form of Blessing at the end of a Worship Service.

When one looks at the State of Israel today, instead of looking for God's help
they are looking for man's help. They will not get far on that. Maybe they need
another spell in Captivity, which always seemed to work in the old days
and bought them back to God. Maybe the Church today also needs a spell of
captivity to bring them out of Churchianity into Christianity.
To Thee be glory and praise, now and ever, unto Ages of Ages.

AMEN!

Today's Readings:

Evening: Psalm 68:11 & 35; Mark 3:7-21.
Morning: Psalm 145:10-12; Luke 6:12-23.
Liturgy: Rom.10:4-18; 2 Peter 1:12-21; Acts 3:1-16;
Psalm 19:1-4; Gospel Matt. 10:1-15.

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