When we think of a “helper” what comes to our mind? Some one in a more or less inferior position, is it not? We simply cannot help that for we have been trained to think along these lines. In our Western mindsets a helper, though important, is a lesser person to the one being helped.

I would like for us to begin to look at this subject from a scriptural point of view.

In The Old Testament the word for “helper” is the Hebrew word “azar/(ezer)”.This word “azar” appears about eighty times in the biblical text. It always refers to a significant person like God, a king, a prince, or a warrior”. The word “azar” underscores how critical the helper is. It is someone, who is of great importance, who normally will deliver another from an immense problem, and who is a loyal companion. It is not the Hebrew word for a slave, a hireling, or an assistant. We would not say to God’ “God, You are our Assistant, but instead, God is our “Azar”, our Helper.

Let’s look at some of the scripture references, which deal with God as Our Helper.

“ But his bow remained steady, his strong arms stayed supple because of the hand of the mighty One of Jacob, because of the shepherd, the Rock of Israel. Because of your father’s God, who helps you”.

Genesis 49:24-25 (Jacob’s blessing of Joseph)

“ Then the Spirit came upon Amasai, chief of the Thirty, and he said:“We are yours, O David. We are with you, O son of Jesse. Success, success to you, And success to those who help you, For your God will help you.”.

1 Chrionicles 12:18

“ But you, O God, do see trouble and grief; You consider it to take in hand. The victim commits himself to you; You are the helper of the fatherless. ”.

Psalm 10:14

“ Hear, O lord, and be merciful to me; O lord be my help. ”.

Psalm 30:10

“ The salvation of the righteous comes from the Lord; He is their stronghold in time of trouble. The Lord helps them and He delivers them ”.

Psalm 37:39-40

“ Surely God is my help, the Lord is the One who sustains me ”.

Psalm 54:4

“ Unless the Lord had given me help; I would soon have dwelt in the silence of death ”.

Psalm 94:17

“ The Lord is with me; He is my Helper ”.

Psalm 118:7

“ I was pushed back and about to fall, But the Lord helped me ”.

Psalm 118:13

“ So do not fear for I am with you; do not be dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand ”.

Isaiah 41:10

“ Do not be afraid, O worm Jacob, O little Israel, For I myself will help you declares the Lord, Your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel ”.

Isaiah 41:14

“ But now, listen, O Jacob, my servant, Israel whom I have chosen. This is what the Lord says - He who made you, who formed you in the womb. And who will help you. Do not be afraid O, Jacob my servant ”.

Isaiah 44:2

“ This is what the Lord says:“In the time of My favour I will answer you, and in the day of salvation I will help you. ”.

Isaiah 49:8

“ Because the Sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore have I set my face like flint, And I know I will not be put to shame. He who vindicates me is near. Who then will bring charges against me. Let us face each other. Who is my accuser? Let him confront me. It is the sovereign Lord who helps me. ”.

Isaiah 50:7-9

Having looked at these passages what can we learn? I believe, that perhaps contrary to what we understand the word “helper” to mean, scripture indicates that the term “helper” is used for the stronger or superior party to help the weaker or inferior party. Now we may not have too many problems with such an understanding of the word “helper” in the case of God for He is after all the stronger or superior party compared to us. But Scripture does not only talk about God as a Helper.

The Old Testament in various places talks about armies coming to the help of other armies as in

“ Now Ben-Hadad, king of Aram mustered his entire army. Accompanied by thirty-two kings with their horses and chariots he went up and besieged Samaria
and attacked it. ”.

I Kings 20:1

“ At that time king Ahaz sent to the king of Assyria for help ”.

II Chronicles 28:16

or even of one city coming to the help of another city as in

“ Meanwhile, Horam king of Gezer, had come to help Lachish.. ”.

Joshua 10:33

In these cases too the “helpers” are once again the stronger or superior party, and the ones being helped are the weaker or inferior party.

That leads me to my next point...

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