Although, we use the NIV regularly in our home and with our children for memorization, David and I still find the language of the KJV to be
superior in beauty. "Hitherto" is one of those words.
"Hitherto hath the Lord helped us" (I Sam 7:12), or translated in the
NIV "Thus far the LORD helped us."
Gaining perspective by looking at the past in my Christian journey is a great source of strength for me. And while I really like the meaning of the word 'hitherto," -- "until this time" -- I like what C.H. Spurgeon has to say: "The word also points forward. For when a man gets up to a certain mark, and writes hitherto, he is not yet at the end; there are still more distances to be traversed."
David and I took a class several years ago on Christian parenting. The instructor recommended that each family make a shadow box for remembrances of events/circumstances in each home where each glance was a reminder of God's help. David and I never did that, but I wish we would have. For in the seven years of marriage prior to that class, we had several significant answers to prayer and in the seven years since, we would also have more to grace our wall.
It would be easy to become apathetic in today's environment. We cannot look to our leading leaders, changing economy, or Godless society for hope. Sad to say, sometimes even those who we admire most, disappoint. But today the words this hymn by Isaac Watts came to my mind.
Our God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Our shelter from the stormy blast,
And our eternal home.
Under the shadow of Thy throne
Thy saints have dwelt secure;
Sufficient is Thine arm alone,
And our defense is sure.
Our God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Be Thou our guard while troubles last,
And our eternal home.
"Hitherto the Lord has helped us." Take heart, Believer! God has. God will. Amen.
superior in beauty. "Hitherto" is one of those words.
"Hitherto hath the Lord helped us" (I Sam 7:12), or translated in the
NIV "Thus far the LORD helped us."
Gaining perspective by looking at the past in my Christian journey is a great source of strength for me. And while I really like the meaning of the word 'hitherto," -- "until this time" -- I like what C.H. Spurgeon has to say: "The word also points forward. For when a man gets up to a certain mark, and writes hitherto, he is not yet at the end; there are still more distances to be traversed."
David and I took a class several years ago on Christian parenting. The instructor recommended that each family make a shadow box for remembrances of events/circumstances in each home where each glance was a reminder of God's help. David and I never did that, but I wish we would have. For in the seven years of marriage prior to that class, we had several significant answers to prayer and in the seven years since, we would also have more to grace our wall.
It would be easy to become apathetic in today's environment. We cannot look to our leading leaders, changing economy, or Godless society for hope. Sad to say, sometimes even those who we admire most, disappoint. But today the words this hymn by Isaac Watts came to my mind.
Our God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Our shelter from the stormy blast,
And our eternal home.
Under the shadow of Thy throne
Thy saints have dwelt secure;
Sufficient is Thine arm alone,
And our defense is sure.
Our God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Be Thou our guard while troubles last,
And our eternal home.
"Hitherto the Lord has helped us." Take heart, Believer! God has. God will. Amen.
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