06242023 Sustained

Dear Missionary Lady,

Greetings in the name of the Great Sustainer. It is God who holds all things together, including us. It is God who keeps everything in working order.

Recently I took note of the repeated use of the word “sustain” in the Psalms. (It is translated that way more often in the NASB, which I use personally, than the KJV, which I use for these letters.) I thought it would be interesting to study that out a little. Of course, in any translation, there is variation in how Hebrew or Greek words are translated.

As I compiled my list of verses, I found two similar Hebrew words that are frequently used in this sense. The first is “samak” – to prop; reflexively, to lean on or take hold of. The meaning and translation will change somewhat depending on the perspective. From the human perspective, it is someone leaning on God, leaning hard or leaning fully or leaning dependently. From the divine perspective, it is God being the prop underneath us, taking hold of us, and keeping us upright.

God has done this for us from our very beginning. “By thee have I been holden up from the womb: thou art he that took me out of my mother’s bowels: my praise shall be continually of thee” (71:6).

God does this for us regularly, and it is what allows us to wake up every morning. “I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me” (3:5).

God does this categorically for those who follow Him, which makes our lives and outcomes very different from those of the ungodly. “For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the LORD upholdeth the righteous” (37:17).

God does this successfully, strengthening our hearts while we wait for the outcome He provides. “His heart is established, he shall not be afraid, until he see his desire upon his enemies” (112:8).

God does this even in our sin. Instead of being cast away in our failure, God still upholds us. “Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit” (51:12).

It should almost be understood that God does this for us in our weakness. It is because we are weak that we need Him to sustain us. “The LORD upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down” (145:14). Because God sustains us, there is a limit to how far we can fall, and it is never a complete collapse. “Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand” (37:24).

God upholds us because He has committed Himself to do so. This verse could be interpreted to mean that His Word upholds us, which is true, but I think it means that He will uphold us because He has declared that He will do. We can then rest confidently in this assurance. “Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live: and let me not be ashamed of my hope” (119:116).

The second Hebrew word is “sawad” – to support. As the verses demonstrate, God supplies what we need to keep us upright and to keep us going, and on multiple levels. This appears to be used only from the divine perspective, meaning that it is always God’s action toward us, rather than our deciding to lean on Him.

This is used as a prayer request, and it would be a great thing for us to pray for ourselves and others. “[The LORD] Send thee help from the sanctuary, and strengthen thee out of Zion” (20:2).

God supports us this way physically, related to illness. “The LORD with strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness” (41:3).

God supports us this way physically, related to protection. “Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe: and I will have respect unto thy statutes continually” (119:117).

God supports us this way in regard to our status in life. “Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy gentleness hath made me great” (18:35).

God supports us this way mentally and emotionally. (Men need this too, even if they won’t admit it, but as women, it is a wonderful thought that God sustains us in this way.) “When I said, My foot slippeth; thy mercy, O LORD, held me up” (94:18). The surrounding verses solidify that this is internal support.

Whether the word is translated as sustain, support, uphold, hold up, establish, or strengthen, this is a wonderful truth. When we lean hard on God, we find that He props us up. And even when we forget to lean, God is still there to support us, because it something that He has determined to do for His people. Let us fall confidently on Him, being fully assured that He will keep us from falling.

Love in Christ,

Peggy Holt

member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA