THY MERCY, O LORD, HELD ME UP

 

MARCH 13.
 
Thy mercy, O Lord, held me up.
Psalm 94:18
 

WE are at best poor tottering creatures,
  never fit to be left alone for one moment.
 
And then the road we have to travel is dangerous,
  and the path often slippery.
 
One incautious step involves us in many long
  and severe troubles.
 
Nor are we ever sure,
  but that our foot may next be placed on ice.
 
Circumspection, therefore, is absolutely necessary;
  but circumspection alone is not sufficient to preserve us.
 
The prayer of David is always suitable –
  “Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe; and
    I will have respect unto thy statutes continually.”
 
The moment we take our eyes off the LORD,
  Satan redoubles his efforts to trip us up.
 
The psalmist felt himself going; he cried,
  “My foot slippeth!” and
   mercy stepped forward and caught him
    before he was down.
That mercy can up- hold us.
 
It is our friend.
It is pledged to us in the promise.

But it must be sought.
 
It must be honoured with a place in our minds.
It must also be trusted.
 
We must daily feel that we need to be upheld,
 -- that we have no claim upon God,
 -- that we can look to mercy alone to uphold;
  and live under the convictions,
  we should trust in the mercies of the Lord for ever.
 

Who loves me so well, my Helper has been,

And saved me from hell, and saved me from sin

His gracious protection I joyfully prove,

His strength of affections, his feelings of love.

 
James Smith 1849