Praying for Help

Praying for help is a common prayer.  But when we do this, what are we asking for?  What is help?

When we pray for help, one thing we are doing is crying out for freedom.  We are asking God to intervene in the things that rule over us, that are seeking to control us.  We are also asking for power to do our part in that freedom.  "Our part" is "what God calls us to do".  We are not asking for a free ride, easy pathway or a blessing that we do not give effort into.  

Today, if you are crying out for "help" you are asking God for deliverance from your bondage so that you are free to do His will.  This is not all that the prayer for help means, but it is foundational.  Where the spirit of the Lord is there is freedom.  Not freedom from the rule of God but freedom from all false rules, rulers and controlling forces.  "Help me Lord" is a plea to God for both assistance and empowerment.

Here is how I got to that view.

I checked out the definition at http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/help

 

1: to give assistance or support to <help a child with homework>

2a : to make more pleasant or bearable : improve, relieve <bright curtains will help the room> <took an aspirin to help her headache>

b archaic : rescue, save

3a : to be of use to : benefit

b : to further the advancement of : promote

4a : to change for the better

b : to refrain from : avoid <we couldn't help laughing>

c : to keep from occurring : prevent <they couldn't help the accident>

d : to restrain (oneself) from doing something <knew they shouldn't go but couldn't help themselves>

5: to serve with food or drink especially at a meal <told the guests to help themselves>

6: to appropriate something for (oneself) <helped himself to the car keys>

intransitive verb

1: give assistance or support —often used with out <helps out with the housework>

2: to be of use or benefit

After I thought I understood what the English word meant, I would look into the Biblical words ans see what they meant and how they were translated into English.  In the NASV there are about 120 passages that have "help" and one that has "helps".  This "helps" is the spiritural gift of helps, so I started there.  I thought that if I could understand what God called "helps" I would be on good ground. 

In looking for a Biblical understanding I ran across a section that dealt with the gift of helps.  The first from Faussets Bible dictionary.

Helps
One class of ministrations in the early church, antileepsiees (1Co_12:28). A lower department, as "governments" are a higher; for instance, deacons who helped in relieving the poor, baptizing and preaching, subordinate to higher ministers (Act_6:1-10; Act_8:5-17); others helped with their time and means in the Lord's cause (1Co_13:3; Num_11:17). Americans similarly use "helps" for "helpers." In Rom_12:8 "he that giveth" answers to "helps," "he that ruleth" to "governments," as bishops or presbyters (1Ti_5:17; Heb_13:17; Heb_13:24).  

Now from the International Bible Standard Encyclopedia

Helps
(αντιλήμψεις, antilḗmpseis, 1Co_12:28): In classical Greek the word antilēmpsis means “remuneration,” the hold one has on something, then perception, apprehension. But in Biblical Greek it has an altruistic meaning. Thus, it is used in the Septuagint, both in the Old Testament Scriptures and in the Apocrypha (Psa_22:19; Psa_89:19; 1 Esdras 8:27; 2 Macc 15:7). Thus, we obtain a clue to its meaning in our text, where it has been usually understood as referring to the deacons, the following word kubernḗseis, translated “governments,” being explained as referring to the presbyters.

 My first response was that there is not way "help" is related to "government".  What do these to have in common?  Then I thought maybe my whole idea of government and rule was polluted by my worldview.  Maybe it was time for an upgrade in understanding. 

I turend to search the Scriptues for more insight and ran accross this verse.

Exo 2:23  Now it came about in the course of those many days that the king of Egypt died. And the sons of Israel sighed because of the bondage, and they cried out; and their cry for help because of their bondage rose up to God.

The word for "help" here comes from a word meaning to cry out.  The idea also includes a desire for freedom, liberty.  Trying to put things together in my redneck way, I was pondering what freedom and goverment had in relationships.  I know in our day we see goverment very much as either limiting freedom or granting it.  In our day many see goverment as giving freedom in certain groups while taking it away from othes.  Is that the way freedom is?  In order for one to have it the another must be restricted?  Can "total freedom" exist?

Following is the list of places "help" occurs in he NASV.  I realize this one English world may be translated from a verity of Hebrew and Greek words, but I need to finish my coffee and start editing my Re-education book.

Gen_4:1; Exo_2:23; Exo_18:4; Deu_22:4; Deu_32:38; Deu_33:7; Deu_33:26; Deu_33:29; Jos_1:14; Jos_10:4; Jos_10:6; Jos_10:33; Jdg_5:23; 2Sa_8:5; 2Sa_10:11; 2Sa_10:19; 2Sa_14:4; 2Sa_18:3; 2Sa_22:7; 2Sa_22:36; 2Ki_6:26; 2Ki_6:27; 1Ch_12:17; 1Ch_12:19; 1Ch_12:22; 1Ch_18:5; 1Ch_19:12; 1Ch_19:19; 1Ch_22:17; 2Ch_14:11; 2Ch_19:2; 2Ch_20:4; 2Ch_25:8; 2Ch_26:13; 2Ch_28:16; 2Ch_28:21; 2Ch_28:23; 2Ch_32:8; Neh_6:16; Job_6:13; Job_19:7; Job_26:2; Job_29:12; Job_30:20; Job_30:24; Job_30:28; Job_35:9; Job_36:13; Psa_5:2; Psa_12:1; Psa_18:6; Psa_18:41; Psa_20:2; Psa_22:11; Psa_22:19; Psa_22:24; Psa_27:9; Psa_28:2; Psa_30:2; Psa_33:20; Psa_35:2; Psa_38:22; Psa_40:13; Psa_40:17; Psa_42:5; Psa_42:11; Psa_43:5; Psa_44:26; Psa_46:1; Psa_46:5; Psa_59:4; Psa_60:11; Psa_63:7; Psa_70:1; Psa_70:5; Psa_71:12; Psa_72:12; Psa_79:9; Psa_83:8; Psa_88:13; Psa_89:19; Psa_94:17; Psa_102:1; Psa_107:12; Psa_108:12; Psa_109:26; Psa_115:9; Psa_115:10; Psa_115:11; Psa_118:7; Psa_119:86; Psa_119:147; Psa_119:173; Psa_119:175; Psa_121:1; Psa_121:2; Psa_124:8; Psa_146:5; Isa_10:3; Isa_20:6; Isa_30:5; Isa_30:7; Isa_31:1; Isa_31:2; Isa_41:10; Isa_41:13; Isa_41:14; Isa_44:2; Isa_63:5; Lam_3:8; Lam_3:56; Lam_4:17; Eze_16:49; Eze_17:17; Dan_10:13; Dan_11:34; Dan_11:39; Dan_11:45; Hos_13:9; Jon_2:2; Hab_1:2; Mat_15:5; Mat_15:25; Mar_7:11; Mar_9:22; Mar_9:24; Luk_1:54; Luk_4:38; Luk_5:7; Luk_10:40; Act_7:35; Act_16:9; Act_20:35; Act_26:22; Rom_16:2; Php_4:3; 1Th_5:14; Tit_3:13; Heb_2:16; Heb_4:16;