Psalms 89:19, commentary and pictures

God spoke in vision promising to place rescue on a strong champion lifted up from among the people, a pledge first given to David's house that reaches into eternity and is fully realized in Christ. The Father entrusted Christ with saving fallen humanity from ruin, and he willingly took the place of sinners as their substitute and guarantee. Taking human nature he carried their sins and debts, paid the ransom with his own life at infinite cost, broke Satan's power, and opened the way to restore believers to purity and obedience. That help is more than human and is provided for every willing soul, since no one can overcome sin or mend a defective character by human strength alone. He lives to intercede, sympathize as a tempted High Priest, and give power to conquer temptation, sustain the weary and burdened, and transform the character of all who wholly trust and follow him.

Promise of Mighty Helper

God has declared that he has set saving help upon one who is powerful and lifted up one picked out from the people. This declaration belongs to praise of divine power, fidelity, and great deeds done for his people. It therefore grounds confidence that he is able to grant power and aid anew.

The promise belongs to pledges made to David and his house, reaching through unending ages to their full completion in Christ. The powerful, appointed and lifted one taken from among the people is Christ, the Son of God, sent into the world to condemn sin in the flesh. As the mighty Savior so appointed and lifted, he supplies sustaining aid to his faithful people in their conflict with evil.

Christ's Saving Work

The verse shows the Father placing the work of rescuing fallen humanity from destruction upon Christ, the mighty One, with the charge to save man from ruin. Christ joyfully accepted that charge as man's substitute and surety, to save him from his sin and to call him from transgression to obedience.

As substitute and surety He took human nature and stood at the head of the human race, taking responsibility for the race and bearing its imputed sins and debts. He pledged to atone for transgression and to ransom people from the destroyer, to restore believers to purity and vantage ground and to defeat Satan. Nothing less than His life could satisfy every claim against those bound in the slavery of sin, so He suffered for the sins of the world and paid the ransom with His life at infinite cost. By that gift He secured probation for man, restored those who believe, gathered them under His care to receive His righteous character and form a character like His, and kept God's purposes from defeat. Through Him every opportunity is given to know God and the laws of His government, bringing life to all who believe.

Christ alone could meet Satan in battle and withstand the temptations by which Satan had led the human family away from allegiance to God. He came to help the human family and opposed Satan as the stronger foe who sought to draw humanity into rebellion against God. That battle between Christ and Satan was fought on earth, including the wilderness temptation where after forty days and nights without food or drink He overcame Satan, though the conflict left Him faint and apparently dying.

As the great burden-bearer, Redeemer, and Restorer, Christ took human nature so He could understand human weakness and temptation and succor those who are tempted, joining His human sympathy with divine power. He knows every human suffering and grief of body and mind, having suffered on earth Himself as a tender High Priest touched by human weakness. Where human kindness cannot remove every sorrow, He is able to plead for men as their Advocate. He invites the weary and heavily burdened to come to Him for rest, to take His yoke and learn His meekness and lowliness, and He can heal and free people from the effects of Satan's power. His yoke is easy and His burden light when willingly accepted, and lighter than the burden of sin and a guilty conscience.

Jesus is the mighty One who left heaven and suffered and died in a world degraded by sin, and who provides divine help for people facing life's trials and temptations. He overcame the world and remains with His disciples, and though ascended to God's presence He retains His compassion for humanity. His endurance and victory give the faithful a pattern to follow as they overcome, sustaining them in trial and temptation. His pierced hand saves and holds those who entrust themselves to God, and He will not abandon anyone for whom He died unless they choose to leave Him.

Help Available to Believers

The help laid upon the mighty one is more than human and comes from the Lord for every soul willing to accept it. No human being in human power can remedy a defective character, so hope and trust must rest in One who is more than human. That needed help has been placed by God upon One who is mighty and chosen from among the people. Jesus Christ the sinner's Saviour is that mighty one, and He hears even the weakest prayer and pities each soul's weakness. He alone gives power to overcome every temptation, for human beings in their own weakened strength cannot overcome sin. Because Christ overcame temptation He makes it possible for them to overcome through His power, and as they serve God His moral image is restored in their characters.

Jesus is the mighty helper who died to make a way of escape for fallen people and lives to intercede for them. In temptation and conflict with the powers of darkness on the narrow way believers are not left alone, and through Him they may conquer and overcome the opposition they face. The helper is mightier than Satan and mighty to save completely, sustaining those in need and not leaving them to face the powers of darkness alone. In the name of Jesus the great Deliverer believers can overcome Satan, be delivered from affliction, and find present sustaining help in need. Christ's strength gives ample help to the weary, burdened, and distressed to overcome sin and corruption and prepare for His coming. He died for each person to give rich blessings and strength to overcome.

That help is available to those who choose to rely on Him and depend on Him while striving to follow His example and grow into His image. Believers must continually war against their sinful natures, and without this struggle they lose the eternal weight of glory. Christ is mighty to do the transforming work people cannot do in their own strength, overcoming sin and forming a Christian character. People receive His help by putting themselves wholly in God's hands and trusting Him, so that as God works in them they work by doing His will. Help is laid on One mighty to save for all who are seeking to save perishing souls, and though such workers will have the power of darkness to contend with and their faith tried under fire, the Lord will not leave nor forsake them. He is a present help in every time of trouble for the weak and for those who seek God with the whole heart, so no one need give up in despair but may come as a repentant sinner trusting His compassionate welcome, while those who follow Him must surrender their wills to God and obey as Christ obeyed.