Truth has been out of fashion since man changed his robe of fadeless light
for a garment of faded leaves. We must say that being alone does not mean we are
holy, or that if we are holy that will cause us to be alone.
I. Many holy men of old and present are not alone.
A. Elisha (II Kings 6:1) had many sons of the prophets around him.
B. David was surrounded by 600 faithful servants, even when running from
Saul.
II. Many examples exist of believers who were alone.
A. Noah built and voyaged alone. His neighbors laughed at his strangeness
and perished in style. I Peter 3:20 - Eight souls were saved by water.
B. Abraham wandered and worshipped alone (Genesis 12:1). Genesis 14,
Sodomites smiled at the simple shepherd, followed the fashion, and fed the
flames.
C. Daniel dined (Daniel 1) and prayed (Daniel 6:10) alone.
D. Elijah sacrificed and witnessed alone. (I Kings 19:18 - why didn't the
7,000 seek Elijah to comfort him? Why were they hiding from King Ahab?
Nobody was seeking Elijah except Ahab.)
E. Jeremiah prophesied and wept alone. (Lamentations 3:1-21, v.48-53).
Jeremiah 38:5, Jeremiah in the dungeon, sunk in the mire. Jeremiah 38:24,
King Zedekiah telling Jeremiah not to tell anybody that he had asked what
God said.
F. Acts 20:7-14 - Paul walked from Troas to Assos after preaching until
midnight (v. 7) and talking the remainder of the night (v. 11).
G. Jesus loved and died alone.
1. Luke 6:12,13 - Jesus prayed all night alone.
2. Mark 6:45-46 - Jesus sent the disciples and the people away, then
went alone to pray.
3. Luke 23:41 - Jesus went apart to pray.
4. John 7:53,8:1 - The people all went home, Jesus went into the Mount
of Olives.
5. All forsook Jesus when He died on the cross. The women were near the
cross, the bulk of the apostles and disciples and other people stood afar
off.
III. People are different, yet they are the same.
A. Israel in the wilderness praised Abraham and persecuted Moses.
B. Israel, during the time of the Kings, praised Moses and persecuted the
prophets.
C. Israel, during the time of Caiaphas, praised the prophets and
persecuted Jesus.
D. And multitudes now, both in the church and the world, applaud the
courage and fortitude of the patriarchs and prophets, the apostles and
martyrs, but condemn as stubbornness or foolishness the same faithfulness to
truth today.
I. Help meet means a help that is suitable.
II. The Hebrew word "help" is the word "ezer" and means
help or aid. The word "ezer" is taken from the Hebrew word "azar"
which means to surround, protect, help, and succour.
III. The Hebrew word "ezer" is found some 22 times in the Old
Testament, which times are recorded below. Note the word which has been
translated from the Hebrew word "ezer" continues to be the English
word "help."
A. Genesis 2:18 – And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man
should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.
B. Genesis 2:29 – And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl
of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found
an help meet for him.
C. Exodus 18:4 – And the name of the other was Eliezer; for the God of
my father, said he, was mine help, and delivered me from the sword of
Pharaoh
D. Deuteronomy 33:7 – And this is the blessing of Judah: and he said,
Hear, LORD, the voice of Judah, and bring him unto his people: let his hands
be sufficient for him; and be thou an help to him from his enemies.
E. Deuteronomy 33:26 – There is none like unto the God of Jeshurun,
who rideth upon the heaven in thy help, and in his excellency on the
sky.
F. Deuteronomy 33:29 – Happy art thou, O Israel: who is like unto
thee, O people saved by the LORD, the shield of thy help, and who is
the sword of thy excellency! and thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee;
and thou shalt tread upon their high places.
G. Psalms 20:2 – Send thee help from the sanctuary, and
strengthen thee out of Zion;
H. Psalms 33:20 – Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help
and our shield.
I. Psalms 70:5 – But I am poor and needy: make haste unto me, O God:
thou art my help and my deliverer; O LORD, make no tarrying.
J. Psalms 89:19 – Then thou spakest in vision to thy holy one, and
saidst, I have laid help upon one that is mighty; I have exalted one
chosen out of the people.
K. Psalms 115:9 – O Israel, trust thou in the LORD: he is their help
and their shield.
L. Psalms 115:10 – O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD: he is their help
and their shield.
M. Psalms 115:11 – 11 Ye that fear the LORD, trust in the LORD: he is
their help and their shield.
N. Psalms 121:1 – A Song of degrees. I will lift up mine eyes
unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. 2 My help cometh
from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.
O. Psalms 124:8 – Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made
heaven and earth.
P. Psalms 146:5 – Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help,
whose hope is in the LORD his God:
Q. Isaiah 30:5 – They were all ashamed of a people that could not
profit them, nor be an help nor profit, but a shame, and also a
reproach.
R. Ezekiel 12:14 – And I will scatter toward every wind all that are
about him to help him, and all his bands; and I will draw out the sword
after them.
S. Daniel 11:34 – Now when they shall fall, they shall be holpen with
a little help: but many shall cleave to them with flatteries.
T. Hosea 13:9 – O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself; but in me is
thine help.