Pastoral Letter 27 May 2018

The hymn “O God, Our Help in Ages Past” is an 18th century hymn composed by Isaac Watts. Isaac Watts was called to be a minister of God’s Word in England. But he was better known as a hymn composer of many excellent hymns, at least 600 of them. He started composing hymns when he was as young as 18 years old. His father observed his critical spirit of the church hymns sung during worship service that they were boring and slow. So his father challenged him to write better hymns for the church. He took up the challenge and by the following Sunday, he produced a new hymn and the congregation was excited to sing the new hymn. That was how he started. Since then, for the following 2 years, he produced a new hymn every Sunday. Some of the famous ones we know of are: “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross,” “I Sing the Mighty Power of God,” and the Christmas carol “Joy to the World.”

The hymn “O God, Our Help in Ages Past” was written at a time when religious freedom was severely curbed in England. Isaac’s father was thrown into prison twice for his religious views. In such uncertain times, Isaac often turned to Psalm 90 for comfort and as a result this hymn was born. It was a paraphrase of Psalm 90. This hymn is a reflection of the time of Isaac and indeed God was his help from beginning to the end. May this Psalm also encourage our heart as we reflect upon God as our help in ages past for the next three weeks in my pastoral exhortation.

Ps 90:1: “Lord, Thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations.” This speaks of God’s presence and not referring to the physical tabernacle that Moses received from the LORD’s hand to build unto the children of Israel. No doubt the tabernacle as well as the temple, were made for the same purpose: to be God’s dwelling place that Israel may come before the LORD to worship Him. But this is only temporal for man to learn and see how they ought to approach God in an acceptable manner: from their hearts through all the various offerings of cleansing for their sins. God is never confined by location and place. He is everywhere present. What is the significance to us of God’s presence?

Moses is telling us we are not alone. God is with us. As our dwelling place, we can hide in Him when there is danger. We can rest in Him when we are tired. What a comfort to know that God is our dwelling place! For God to be our dwelling place, He must be our Lord. This is Moses’ prayer of acknowledgement when he began this psalm with “Lord” (Adonai). This is the name of God that emphasizes His power and sovereignty. He is the Ultimate. There is no one higher than Him. He is above all. And it is to this God whom Moses was addressing. He knew Him and that’s why he called himself the man of God. Moses was chosen and used by God. God performed great signs and wonders through him and used him to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt, the land of bondage. He was but a small man given a very big task. Without God as his Helper, there is no way he could have succeeded.

Ps 90:2: Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.” Moses was given the privilege to pen not only Psalm 90 but also the first five books of the Bible. And in particular the book of Genesis which is also known as the book of the beginning. Moses may not be eyewitness to all the events that happened in Genesis until Exodus, yet by the powerful inspiration of the Holy Spirit, he wrote everything down as if he was there. That’s the power of God. He has the power to create. He has the power to destroy.

Ps 90:3: “Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men.” All men have to die and return to dust one day. We are born to die. A day gone by is a day nearer to our death. That’s the destruction that Moses is talking about here. It is the ultimate as far as this life on earth is concerned. You may have many plans for your life. But once your life is taken away, what use are all these plans to you? Only the living can use their plans. The dead absolutely have no use for any plans. Is this not a fearful destruction? Do you think you still have many years ahead of you? Today a man may be alive, but tomorrow he may no more be around. That can happen to any of us. We must realize our life is truly in God’s hand. And we must acknowledge Him and thank Him for giving us life. In fact, from the day we were born to the day we were born again, it is God who made it happen. It is the Lord’s doing. Whether we see it or not does not stop God from helping us. That’s amazing! Without His preservation, without His protection, where would we be now? We could still be lost in sin and in spiritual blindness. Thank God for His mercy and grace. He has helped us to see the depravity of our spiritual condition, and has enabled us to turn to Him for help through the Lord Jesus Christ.

Let us come to Him with thanksgiving, that indeed God is our help in ages past, by sustaining us to receive His salvation and giving us every opportunity to know Him and serve Him. May God help us. Amen.


Yours in Christ,
Pastor Dennis Kwok



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