“For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help (boetheo) those who are being tempted.”
Hebrews 2:18
Boetheo ~ Helps Word Study
997 boēthéō (from 995/boē, "intense exclamation" and theō, "run") – properly, run to meet an urgent distress-call (cry for help); deliver help by quickly responding to an urgent need (intense distress).
997/boētheō ("supply urgently needed help") means to give immediate aid – in time for a pressing need, i.e. "to run, on a call to help" (TDNT, 1:628).
[997 (boētheō) was originally a military word, responding to a critical, urgent need (MM). 997 (boētheō) is also used in Homeric Greek (800-900 bc) for responding to a war-cry.]
I love this word boetheo. It seems, to me, to sum up the heart of our Father in His care for His children. I don’t know about you but it brings me great comfort, knowing, that in my despair, fear, failure, sickness, lack, insecurity, etc. etc. etc., I can call and He will answer.
Did you notice, this word doesn’t simply say He hears. It tells us how He responds to the cry. He does hear and He responds, by running. As parents, you know your own natural responses to your child’s desperate, fearful or hurt cries. You don’t ignore it, you move as quickly as you can to help! We are nothing like God and yet this word Boetheo tells us that He responds quickly to our urgent need.
The danger with this word is in our assumption about the kind of help we need. We can be found guilty, many times, of mentally creating our own way of deliverance. We have a way we believe God should help. This belief removes our need for absolute dependency upon God and strengthens a trust in our own understandings.
Jesus said, Ask (and keep on asking), seek (and keep on seeking), knock (and keep on knocking), and we are promised He responds! He gives what is good to those who ask Him. (Matthew 7:7-11) His ear isn’t deaf to our cries.
The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry. Psalm 34:15
He knows our frustrations and our weakness. HE IS TOUCHED with the FEELING of our infirmities (weakness). Because He suffered when he was tempted, He is able to help us. Jesus has engaged in every conceivable, painful, emotional, experience we have ever had and will ever face. Jesus faced his own doubts, pride, desires, insecurity, rejection, betrayal, family dynamics, religious persecution, sickness and disease, sorrow and grief, jealousy, anger, bitterness. You name it, whatever we are tempted in, the Bible assures us that Jesus too, has been tempted in all points. He simply knows and understands every dynamic of our human soul and spirit. He understands our flesh and He says He is able to Help!
Two points I want to consider, first ~
John 14:16 Jesus says, “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever,”.
This word, helper, is 3875 paráklētos (from 3844 /pará, "from close-beside" and 2564 /kaléō, "make a call") – properly, a legal advocate who makes the right judgment-call because close enough to the situation.
Jesus has left us with “another” helper, another as in the same kind as Jesus. Just as Jesus was the disciple’s Helper, so too, the Holy Spirit is now, forever, our Helper.
The second is from Hebrews 4:15~16
“.. we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help (botheian) in time of need.”
We draw near. We come to Him because He is the rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. We cry out to our Father. Our first response should always be a turning to Him, at all times, for every need. While it is much easier to ‘cry’ on someone else’s shoulder, to find a sympathetic ear, that action does not heal our infirmity and can not always save us. While we are told to comfort those with the same comfort we have received, our human ability to be touched with their infirmity hinges on our union with the suffering another is experiencing. Our human efforts are, at best, human. BUT GOD ~ at this throne of grace, does exceedingly abundantly above all we ask of think. He is supernatural in all His working. Our cries bring His mercy and grace to help us in our time of need. He doesn’t leave us as He finds us but strengthens our heart and restores our soul, while He works all things together for our good, because we love Him.
May we all grow in an ever increasing awareness that He is a faithful and very present Help in time of need. And when our help comes, let us be mindful to acknowledge Him as the source of that help and give Him thanks.
….he has said, I will never leave you nor forsake you, So we can confidently say, The Lord is my Helper (boetheia)” Hebrews 13:5-6