Psalms Walk-Thru #008

“Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the name of Jehovah our God.”  Psalms 20:7

 

From time to time and place to place, troubling times appear on the horizon, sometimes those trouble actually surface to real problems.  For some it could be war, for others it could be an economic collapse, other times it could simply be a small town that just lost the factory that was the lifeline.  When these sorts of things happen, a lot of people relocate, some out of necessity, others forced to do so.  For the Believer, one who has truly repented and believed in Jesus Christ as their Savior, we remember God, we know that He cares about us.

 

“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your anxiety upon Him, because He cares about you.”  1st Peter 5:6-7

 

“Save, O Jehovah! Let the King answer us when we call.”  Psalms 20:9

 

We must always remember that as Christians, certainly our lives are in Christ (Col. 3:3) and we have hope in Him (Rom. 15:3).  While God ultimately has His purposes regarding our lives, we certainly have access to the Father, through Jesus Christ.

 

“Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.  For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.  Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”  Hebrews 4:14-16

 

“The king shall rejoice in Your strength, O Jehovah; and in Your salvation how greatly shall he rejoice!  You have given him his heart’s desire, and have not withheld the request of his lips. Selah.”  Psalms 21:1-2

 

Our faith is not in vain (1 Cor. 15:58).  Though there are times where it might seem that the world is overwhelming us, that we despise even life, understand that we can be assured these same sort of things happen to the Brethren worldwide.

 

 

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassions and God of all comfort, who encourages us in all our affliction, that we may be able to encourage those who are in any affliction, through the comfort by which we ourselves are encouraged by God.  For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our comfort also abounds through Christ.  Now if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation, being effective in the endurance of the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are encouraged, it is for your comfort and salvation.  And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the comfort.  For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our affliction which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened exceedingly, beyond strength, so that we despaired even of life.  Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead, who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us, in whom we hope that He will still deliver us, you also helping together in prayer for us, that thanks may be given through many persons on our behalf for the gracious gift granted to us by many.”  2nd Corinthians 1:3-11

 

Sometimes these afflictions can seem to be very troubling and plenty.  I recall sending an email to a dear friend regarding some ongoing ordeals that had piled up in a manner, quite quickly.  His reply was little things, little things.  Yes, indeed in the scope of many Believers who have became martyrs for Christ, these were little things, of no comparison.  As we often say, trust and obey, for there is no other way!

 

“Now faith is the certainty of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.  For by it the elders bore witness.  By faith we understand that the universe was prepared by the Word of God, so that the things which are seen did not come into existence from things which are visible.  By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks.  By faith Enoch was translated so that he did not see death, and was not found, because God had translated him; for before he was translated he had this testimony, that he pleased God.  But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.  By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.  By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not understanding where he was going.  By faith he sojourned in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.  By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised.  Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude; innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.  These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were foreigners and pilgrims on the earth.  For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland.  And truly if they had called to mind that place from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return.  But now they reach forth to a better, that is, a heavenly place. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.  By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said, In Isaac your Seed shall be called, reckoning that God had the power to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.  By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.  By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and did homage on the top of his staff.  By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave orders concerning his bones.  By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a proper male child; and they were not afraid of the king’s decree.  By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the temporary pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the recompense.  By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible.  By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that he who destroyed the firstborn should not touch them.  By faith they crossed over the Red Sea as through dry land, whereas the Egyptians, attempting to do so, were swallowed up.  By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days.  By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace.  And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became mighty in battle, turned to flight the armies of foreigners.  Women received their dead raised to life again. And others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection.  Still others had trial of mockings and floggings, yes, and of bonds and imprisonment.  They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tried, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, oppressed; of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.  And all these, having borne witness through faith, did not obtain the promise, God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made complete apart from us. Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so persistently harasses us, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  For consider Him who endured such opposition from sinners against Himself, that you not become weary and faint in your souls.”  Hebrews 11 – 12:3

 

Amen!