Bible Portraits of Christ 01 His Hands — James Booker

A short but a very sweet psalm. I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved, he that keepeth thee will not slumber.

Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is thy keeper, the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil, he shall preserve thy soul.

The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth and even for evermore. The Lord adds his blessings to the public reading of his own precious words. Peter Trust's psalm could be written, the words of the Apostle Peter, by the power of God, through faith, unto salvation ready to be revealed at the last Christ.

Look at that wonderful promise of the prophet Isaiah, Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is paid on thee, because he trusteth in thee. We have in that verse the keeper, the keeping, and the kept.

The keeper, of course, is none other than the glorious Prince of Peace. The kept are those whose minds are paid on him. From Jehovah, hearts are fully blessed as he promised. There are three main thoughts upon my heart tonight in connection with this psalm.

First of all, we'll think of contemplation, then secondly, consideration, and thirdly, preservation. I think, first of all, we have brought before us the truth of contemplation. Stop my eyes, dear friends, what a necessary attitude this is for today.

There's a natural tendency for people to be looking down and looking around, for we are made upright in order that we might look up. We think it's very strange if we saw a horse going along the street, gazing into the heavens, and yet, is it any more strange that people who are made upright to look up should always be found looking down?

Do you remember the words of the Lord Jesus when he said that men's hearts would be failing them for fear, and for looking after the things that are coming on the earth? And well, my saviors, in that statement we have the thought of nearsightedness, and when you get nearsightedness in the spiritual realm, you have heart failure.

Men are too short-sighted today, they are looking at the things that are coming on the earth, and consequently there follows that heart failure. Men's hearts are failing them for fear, and for looking after those things that are coming on the earth.

And when we think of the thought-pulse of nuclear weapons, and when you think of the awful future that awaits this poor old, sin-stricken, sick, sin-stricken world, I tell you, well might they fear.

But then the Lord Jesus went on to say, you remember, and when you see these things begin to come to pass, look up, look up your head for your redemption glorious night. It's what he emphasizes there, when you see these things begin to come to pass, I believe that we are seeing things begin to come to pass, but we won't be here to see them come to pass, because the Lord after all is coming for his people, and he's not going to allow his people to be blasted to pieces by these weapons of hell, these awful weapons of destruction, which will certainly be seen in operation in a coming day.

But as far as we are concerned, we are exhausted by the Lord Jesus when we see the evidences of things coming, the shadow of events before us, to look up and to recognize and glory in the truth that our redemption glorious night.

You remember in Pilgrim's Progress, Bunyan tells us of a man who could only look in one direction, and that was downward. He had a muckrake in his hand, and with that muckrake he was gathering the sticks and the straws and the dust from the floor.

He didn't see by his side a shining one who was offering him a celestial crown in exchange for the muckrake. Now he went on so bitterly engaged with his work, looking downward, and not to behold in that shining being by his side.

And then Bunyan applies the parable, so will it be, he said, when the things of earth are in power upon men's minds as to unite to take their hearts away from God. You would think that Bunyan was living in our day, because you see all around, friends, the evidence of that fact.

Materialism everywhere you go, people are occupied with the things of this life, the things of time and sense, as never before in the history of the world. And all these things are uniting together to carry the hearts of men and women and boys and girls from the things that really matter, the vital matters and issues of eternity.

That is the reason why I say it is a very necessary attitude. I will lift up. In which direction are we looking? Two men looked through prison bars, but one saw mud, the other saw stars. They were both in the same position, in the same circumstances, in the same environment, but their outlook was so vastly different.

One was looking down and he saw the mud, the other was looking up and he saw the stars. There's enough mud in this world today. We think of the mud of lawlessness and the mud of drunk taking, the mud of immorality, and so we could go on, but I'm not going on.

But why should we be occupied with this distressing spate of things, when we can look up and see those wonderful, cheerful stars in the heavens? And on a dark night to look into the heavens and see those parking diamonds everywhere, and to be reminded of one who is beyond the stars, the one who could indeed bind, yes, the sweet influences of Pioedes, and loose the band of Orion, the one who controls all the stars in their courses.

And we can look beyond the stars to that glorious one treated in heavenly splendor at the right hand of his father. That's the reason why I say it is a very, very necessary attitude that we should look up.

There was a firm of opticians in Dublin and they put out a very clever advertisement. It goes something like this, you cannot be optimistic if you've got a misty optic. Unless you've got the clear eye of faith that penetrates the darkest sky, right to the throne and high, we cannot be optimistic.

We shall be pessimistic and downright miserable because of the conditions which exist on every hand. Consider there in the heavens one friend and a friend that's thicker, closer than a brother. And behold a beauty that never fades.

Think of a friend who never changes. Think of a love that is ever new. Think of a righteousness that is never tarnished. Think of a joy that's never diminished. Think of a glory that will never, never fade away.

And I'll tell you the result of this contemplation will be that our hearts will be thrilled and enthused and strengthened and encouraged. Although things are getting extremely dark and dismal at this present time.

I will lift up my eyes unto the hills. Now the mountains and hills of course in the word of God are connected to the purposes of God, are they not? And I'm going to suggest just shall I say three of these hills or mountains.

Let us think of Mount Sinai for instance. I think Mount Sinai would remind us of the holiness of God in a very special way. It was on that mount you remember that the law was given. When God came down in all his majesty and glory there was darkness and tempest upon the mount with the flash of the lightning and the roar of the thunder.

So much so that the people of Israel trembled and so did Moses himself. Because of that awe-inspiring scene I do fear and exceedingly quake. It sounded louder and louder and louder. Quake in a voice.

I think we need to lift up our eyes to that hill or to that mount more than we do. Mark you who are not lingering around Sinai for salvation like many are today. Thank God for this wonderful truth that we're saved by grace.

Free from the law or happy condition Jesus hath bled and there is remission. Let us lay hold when there are so many legalists around us of this wonderful truth that Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law being made a curse for us.

As it is written, curse it is everyone that hangeth on a tree. But the sight as we turn our eyes afresh to Calvary and we see that holy cup on that central cross with thorns upon the tree, silent in his agony, dying crash beneath the load of the wrath and curse of God.

So we're not looking away to Sinai for salvation as many are. But we need to look to that mount to be reminded more and more of the holiness of the God we love. Sometimes I think of a living in days of that's true but with that liberty often comes license and the old saying is sometimes true the familiarity breeds and let us not in this day of liberty for which we thoroughly enjoy those that send us holiness.

I sometimes feel that we should do what Saul of Tarsus did. Claim who art thou? Sit in his presence in his stillness in the cross to Sinai. That manifestation of his majesty glory and holiness. Who art thou Lord?

My God how wonderful thou art. Thy majesty how bright. Beautiful thy mercy seat. Always remember that we approach holy God in the peerless precious name of our Lord Jesus Christ. He was only thinking the other morning how privileged we are in our approach to God.

You remember when Moses turned aside to see that great sight while the bush burned and was not consumed? He heard a voice draw not nigh to them but up thy shoes from up thy feet for the plagues were on those sanders.

Moses hid himself for he was afraid to look upon God. Now by way of contrast how privileged we are in this hour of day and generation. No longer is it divine prohibition draw not nigh to them but divine beseech of God and he will draw nigh.

Thank God that the veil has been done away in Christ. We have boldness to enter into the holiest Father blood of Jesus by a new and living way which he has inaugurated for us through the veil. That is to say his flesh.

And having a high priest over the house of God we draw nigh with a true heart in full assurance of faith. Having our hearts crinkled from an evil conscience but is washed with pure holy then we need to be reminded constantly surely that we are indwelled by a spirit that is emphatically called the holy.

Know ye not that your bodies are a temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you which you have of God and that you are not your own? You are bought with a price. Wherefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit and I am sure of this that if that tremendous truth grips our hearts that the spirit of God dwells within these temples of our bodies we should be very careful as to our walk and our tentative as the spirit of God is.

Lest we should do anything to disturb him and that hinder or quench his gracious operations we should remind ourselves also should we not that we are called by wine told by Peter you remember that as he which hath called you is holy so be ye holy in all manner of living because it is written be ye holy in the sight of the holiness of God.

But let us come to the New Testament and we'll think of another hill you know the hill to which I now refer it's out prior to City Walls and if we see the holiness of God at Mount Sinai surely we see the redemption of God at Mount Calvary.

It's only a little hill mark you but what a hill. He made the forest whence there sprung the tree on which his body hung. He died upon a cross of wood yet made the hill. Now this is the central fact of the world's history.

It's the central fact of eternity. Preceding ages look forward to it. Succeeding ages look back to it. It'll build a very central theme and fact of eternity. It's very very amazing to me that the very thing that God puts into prominence is the very thing that men are seeking to leave out today in their preaching.

How we need to look across to that place called Calvary gaze upon that suffering one. What a load and what a sorrow. Did you all Jesus pass by? See if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow which is done unto me wherewith the Lord hath afflicted me in the day of his.

Two men were wending their way along the dusty road to Gordon's Calvary because General Gordon claimed it was the exact spot where our Lord was crucified. Had the seasoned air of a tourist. Now as he approached that sacred spot he took out his camera.

He took a snap of the place. He made a few notes in his glib notebook and then considered it was just another sight of the ancient world. He passed out. It's a Calvary. How strange. But not so with the other man.

He didn't have a notebook nor a camera but I'll tell you what he did have. A New Testament which he pulled out of his inside pocket. And then standing there with bowed head and re-read the story of the cross.

And with a little prayer his eyes misted with tears. And from an overflowing heart he said thank you Lord for saving my soul. Friends there shouldn't be a day without turning our eyes to that place. It is no longer there.

Now seated in heavenly splendor and glory. A prince and a savior. But we need to turn our eyes to Calvary. Constantly. So that our heart might still be tender with the love of Christ. And that our spirit might indeed be touched with a sense of all that he passed through.

To make us extremely grateful for all that he endured. When I survey the wondrous cross on which the prince of glory died. My wicked gain I count but loss of all my. We need to be reminded too that the principles of the cross have to be applied in our lives.

That's why we need, we need to turn our eyes to the place called Calvary. Tell me who was crucified there? You say three and millions more friends. Because I was crucified there too. And we need to be reminded of this.

I have been crucified with Christ. Never the less I live. Yet not I but Christ lives in me. The life I now live. In the flesh I live by the faith of the son of God who loved me and gave himself for me.

God forbid that I should boast save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ by whom the world is crucified unto me and I unto the world. It is to me that the teaching of the cross for the apostle Paul was applied more to saints.

And sinners. Look away to the cross in order that the principles of his death might be applied in our practical life. We don't look there for power of course. We look up to the throne for power. Because there is seated the risen glorified and looking at him we can explain with Paul I can do all things through Christ who gives me power.

But then we'll go back to the new testament. We'll think of another mount. The Mount of Olives. If at Sinai we see the holiness of God. If at Calvary we see the redemption of God. I'm going to suggest that at the Mount of Olives we see the glory of God.

What a wonderful day that will be as far as this world is concerned when he comes forth in all his power and might and his feet rest upon the Mount of Olives. There is that tremendous earthquake and the mount is parted.

One part goes to the east and the other part goes to the west. And then those two parts move again one to the north and the other to the south. And there's a great valley between and that valley is provided for the escape of his earthly people from the nations who are seeking to exterminate them and grab their land.

The Lord has come to fight for his people as a man of war. Now it will be a wonderful day for Israel, won't it be, when they see the glory of the Lord. What are those wounds in thine hands? Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.

Lord and my God, he was wounded for our transgressions. He was bruised for our iniquities. The chastisement of our priest was upon him. And with his stripes we are healed. Then he will take his rightful place upon his rightful throne.

His hands will slay in sovereignty earth's scepter. His enemies will lift of us. He make it wars to cease unto the ends of the earth. He breaketh the bow of the spear, cutteth the spear, and burneth the chariot into fire.

He'll soon dispose of all these weapons of warfare in his day. He won't need them. He will consume his enemy by the breath of his mouth. Then this day, this world will know a day that it has never known yet in its history.

A day of universal peace and prosperity. When the knowledge of the glory of the Lord shall cover the earth as the waters cover the sea. You'll be reminded of this as we turn our eyes accursed to that mount, the Mount of Olives.

Be caught up, are we not? If we are, we're going to be caught up. Because the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout of the voice of the archangel and with the trump of God. And the dead in Christ shall rise first.

Then be the child alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in this house to meet the Lord in the air. And so shall we ever be. Therefore comfort one another. I suggest that we should lift up our eyes in contemplation to these mountains many more.

Learn the deep lessons which God has taught us in our Christian experience. But now we come to the point of consideration. Lift up mine eyes unto the hills from whence cometh my help. Now I notice in the revised version, not from Mark 9, that there's a difference in the punctuation which seems to alter the sense a little.

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills and instead of a comma you'll have a period. From whence cometh my help, question mark. This is the answer to the question verse 2. My help cometh from the Lord which made heaven and earth.

But Thomas wasn't looking for the hills for help. Of course not. He was looking for the one who made the hills and one who was beyond the hills. It seems to me that the hills and mountains unfortunately were also connected with blatant idolatry.

We read constantly of the high places and the groves. Get and don't vanity set up there in defiance of the living God. It seems to me that the psalmist is thinking of this. I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills from whence cometh my help.

Does it come from such? They have eyes and they see not. They have mouths and they speak not. They have ears and they hear not. They have noses and they smell not. They have hands and they handle not.

They that like make them alike unto them. Does my help come from such? Nay, my help cometh from the Lord who made heaven. I think we have this thought too expressed by Jeremiah when he said in vain is salvation hoped for from the hills and from the multitude of mountains.

That it is again our salvation is in the Lord our God. Here is the lesson to turn away from all preacher's treasons and idols, but there are many idols I'm afraid among the Lord's people even today. Something that may come between their soul and the Lord Jesus and love him of his portion.

It's not for me to say what these idols are. If it's for me to say the dearest idol I have known, my dear, that I will be, help me to carry from his throne and worship only thee. Now see what will be the result.

It will save us from many a sneer and many a headache and many a sin. Speaking about headaches reminds me of a woman who went to the doctor. She complained that she was getting a series of headaches. Well the doctor examined her and didn't find anything seriously wrong because he came to the conclusion it must have been her eyes.

So he advised her to go and see an optician. She went to the optician. He examined her too, and then he asked a very strange question. He said where do you live? She said I live in Suttonford Street. Now how far can you see from your front windows?

Well doctor, she said, the street is rather narrow and we can just see the walls of the houses on the other side of the street. He said in that district isn't there an attic to the houses? Well yes, there is an attic.

We only keep lumber and empty trunks and so on. It's very seldom that we use the room. But he said what I'm getting at is this. How far can you see from the attic window? I said that. He said we can look across the roofs of the houses on the other side of the street and we can see the hills in the distance.

Ah, he said that's what I want to know. And I'm going to prescribe that you sit at your attic window every morning for half an hour and do nothing but look at those hills. She was rather indignant because she didn't see any connection with that prescription and with her trouble.

She said doctor, I'm a busy housewife. I can't afford to spend so much time in idleness. Madam, he said, if you want any help you must carry out my instructions and much more. He said after the first week I want you to increase the time to one hour.

Well it was a very reluctant patient that sat at the attic window the next morning. But she didn't find it quite so hard as she expected. And as she continued she began to notice something. She began to feel that she was not quite at peace.

And then she felt a little more relaxed. Then her eyes seemed to be getting stronger. So finally her headache disappeared and she went back to the optician and said doctor, I'm completely cured. He said I thought so.

Actually he said there's nothing wrong with you at all. Your trouble was that you need to be completely relaxed. You are over tensed. He said I knew that if I could impose that rest upon you day by day it would have the necessary effect.

Feels for him that we suffer unconsciously from many a spiritual headache. And sometimes we carry troubles that perhaps may never exist. I've had many troubles Dr. Motto, most of which have never happened.

And I really believe that we should completely relax in God's presence. And we can relax by lifting up our eyes and going beyond the hills and looking far safe into the lovely face of our Lord and Savior Jesus.

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help will I not. Wonderful to know that we have a friend who's near us all the time. Upon whom we can call in deepest. One who said lo I am with you always even unto the ends of the age.

Brother was visiting his wife in the hospital the other day and the gong went announcing that the visitor's time was over. So he began to take his leave and looking at his wife very tenderly he said well my dear I have to leave you.

But he said I promise I won't forsake you. The Lord never shall leave us. God said I will never leave thee nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say the Lord is my helper. I will not fear and do unto thee.

Further contemplation, consideration, now there's a thought of preservation and this seems to be the theme of all the following verses. It runs right through the psalms at the very end. We might ask these three questions.

Well first of all we'll say what does he keep? What is mentioned here first? In verse three he will not suffer thy foot to be moved. So it's the foot that he. Why this tendency to stray? That's the reason.

Others follow and usually there's a lot of trouble that follows too. I remember when I was visiting the man of wards. He had gone along the sea front one night. I don't know what happened because it really happened so quickly but I slipped and fell and I went headlong on the ground.

Fortunately I didn't hurt myself. I was a little shaken up and what was it? It was just a little pebble under my foot. It was the foot that slipped but the whole man went down with it. That's the point.

How many have taken one false step and the whole testimony has been ruined thereby. Easier things if I'd have had a friend near me at that time I was walking alone and I could have grabbed him. I'd have been safe.

I'm afraid when you get in a backslidden condition we we forget the nearness of our heavenly companion. To see that we're living so near to him that if we do stumble we'll be asked to put our own hand out and put it into his and say like Peter of old.

He shall not suffer thy foot to be moved if we are walking in communion with himself without a thing between. You know in the old country and I don't know whether you have it in this country we have a very serious disease among chapels called foot and mouth disease.

It begins with a foot and it spreads to the mouth. Sometimes thousands of chapels have to be destroyed. I'm going to suggest that there is a foot and mouth disease in the spiritual sense among Christians.

They begin with a foot or they get in a backslidden condition and then watch the mouth. They begin to find fault with this and that and the other things. Begin to criticize their brothers and their sisters only expressing their backslidden condition.

The disease has spread from the foot to the mouth. What in this true of Peter alas alas is recorded that he followed the Lord afar off. He began with a foot and he wasn't very long before he spread to the mouth.

He denied his Lord with oaths and curses. Peter that he began with his foot. He followed the Lord. This is a good shepherd so that if we have a tendency to strain the biped meadow we'll be near enough for him to put around our foot and bring it back into the line of his will in conformity with his word.

Then there'll be no stumbling friends. In the days of the Puritans the father and son arranged to meet in a certain place at a certain time. They lived at a distance and when they did so the son said he was a Christian like his father.

Dad he said I had wonderful traveling mercies all along the way. My horse stumbled three times and I was thrown to the ground. He said yes here I am on earth. Very good my boy and I also have traveling mercies all along the way he said because my horse never stumbled once.

Definitely was teaching his boy was this to be saved in stumbling but it's far better to be saved from. That's what Jude said. Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling or from stumbling and to prevent you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy for the wise God our savior of the glory and majesty though living on power both now and forever more.

Succor thy foot and be moved if we're in living touch with himself. Then when he keeps right in verses three and four the keepers they will not slumber. Behold he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.

So he keeps us day and night. There is an eye that never shuts beneath the wing of night. There is an ear that never shuts when things beyond beams of light. Why even a fentanyl has been known to ghostly unduty.

But the Lord Jesus never will. His eye is upon us continually. Why then should I ever care for thee since God since fucking God is mine. He watches all the night and day and tells me mine is thine. And he keeps how he keeps their time.

The Lord is thy keeper. The Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand. He keeps in perfect peace and security. And I love this expression. He is thy shade upon thy right hand. And the Bahamas and the Somalia though in occasion for the 90s we're very glad of a little bit of shade.

And how is shade caused? Why by something coming between ourselves and the sun. That's simple isn't it. And don't just have the thought here. The Lord comes with three nights and all opposing circumstances.

And then he becomes in that sense our shade. All that he wants us to do is not only to commit to all our circumstances into his hand. But to enjoy the shade so that we can say I sat underneath his shadow with great delight.

And his truth was sweet unto my taste. I love that expression with regard to the keeping power of our God. Concerning his people Israel he said that he keepeth them as the apple of his eye. A very lovely expression.

The apple of the eye as we know is the pupil. And I suppose the pupil is one of the most sensitive parts of the body. What does it mean? It means that our God is extremely sensitive as to our deeds and our afflictions and our sorrows and our troubles.

He's intensely interested in them friends. What a comfort this is. You know what happens when somebody gets into the eye upon an object. All hell begins to incline, begins to smart and then the tears begin to flow.

Protection of course. Protection from the foreign object lest it should do any damage to the eye. The tears begin begin to flow because of the sensitiveness of the eye. I couldn't help but think of the Lord Jesus with his heart of compassion.

And when he went to those two dear sisters in their bereavement, Mary and Martha. And an ocean of sympathy in those tears. Liquid sorrow. But doesn't it show us how that the Lord was entering right into their circumstances.

Extremely sensitive with regard to their needs. We have not a high priest who cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities but one who is tempted in all points like as we are. Yet without. I think that is a great comfort.

The soul passing through the veil of sorrows and through affliction and adversity to know that there is one who is personally interested in all things. Very sensitive to the needs of those who are passing through.

At this the psalm ends the Lord shall keep. It's the same word right through the psalm. Thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth and even forever more. Seems to me we've got the whole work day here brought before us.

Thy going out, thy coming in. We go out of the door in the morning. If it's a day's responsibility we come in through the door at night. But between our going out and our coming in. Oh how many dangers seen and unseen have we passed through.

We are in the midst shall I say of a circumference of power. Thank God as the mountains around the voucher roof and so the Lord is around about his people. And henceforth even forever more. And you remember that when Paul's javelins were being thrown around David of all.

It is recorded in that chapter that he acted wisely. Very wisely. And there's one verse that always appeals to me in that chapter. Therefore did all Israel and Judah love David. Because he went out and came in among them.

Now probably if that had been myself I would have gone out and sprayed out. With all those javelins being aimed at my heart. But David recognized that the Lord was his shade upon his right hand. And he recognized too that the same power that guided that stone on early lead to the forehead of the giant could just as easily turn aside the javelins aimed at his heart.

So he not only went out. But he came in. After preserving and packing up and think of some. When a little bit of testing comes in the assemblies. This is my experience elsewhere. A little bit of testing comes.

It may be a very trivial thing. They go out and they stay out. God grant that we might know what it is when trouble arises in any sense. Not only to go out but to come in and continue well with the Lord.

Because we'll be protected until troubling days are done. So God our Father we thank you for our meditation tonight. This brief and yet very lovely song. Pray that we may go forth encouraged. That our outlook might be exceedingly bright.

Although the outlook is getting very very dark and black. May we be very conscious of the nearness and presence of our Lord Jesus. And grant that when we feel the heat and burden of the day. We may so enjoy his companionship.

As to also enjoy the shade of his preserving care. Sitting underneath his shadow with great delight. Feasting upon himself and enjoying. As we give thee thanks again for the ministry of thy word tonight.

In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.