“Truth for
Truckers” *March 12, 2014* Psalm 42 “Hope
thou in God”
“Hope thou in God, for I shall yet
praise Him” appears twice dividing this Psalm into two sections. This
phrase is the answer to the multitude of
difficulties facing David in this Psalm which was written when his son
Absalom overthrew him and took over the city of David with Jerusalem during Absalom’s
rebellion which ended in the downfall and death of Absalom.
But, David gives us the right example to follow when we are going
through difficult times no matter how deep they might be or become, we must put
our hope in God for eventually we, too, will praise Him. Because, if we love God
all things will eventually work out for good regardless of the present
circumstances.
This promise is found in Romans 8:28 in writing, but it also has come
true in person for literally millions of Believers including those found in
Scripture and particularly this Psalm, for David eventually praised his LORD as
witnessed in future Psalms, the books of II Samuel, I Kings, and I Chronicles.
Job, Joseph and Moses all had their times of deep suffering and dismay
but, the LORD eventually delivered them out of all their afflictions and
brought them through to a time of rejoicing. Paul, Silas, Luke and others in
the New Testament also went through fierce persecutions but came out on the
other side testifying to the great grace of God as witnessed in the book of Acts.
And, who was the most persecuted of all? The Lord Jesus! But, understand
His attitude: “Who, for the joy that was set before Him
endured the Cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of
the Throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2b) He suffered and died for us, but it was
not done grudgingly!
Peter records the right response to fiery trials in I Peter 4:12-14: “Beloved, think it not strange concerning
the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto
you: But rejoice, inasmuch as
ye are partakers of Christ’s suffering; that when His glory shall be revealed,
ye may be glad also with exceeding
joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon
you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part He is glorified.”
The most unreported story of the 20th Century was Christian persecution
as more Christians died for their faith in the 20th Century than in
all nineteen previous centuries of Church history combined! This has been
escalating rapidly during these passing years of the 21st Century
and will come to its zenith during the Antichrist’s reign, continuing until God
cuts it short and Jesus comes again to rescue His own!
(Matthew 24:15-31)
So, Drivers, let us “Arm ourselves
likewise with the same mind [As Christ]” (I Peter 4:1) and “Be ready always to give an answer to every
man that asks you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear”(I
Peter 3:15) as we, too, continue to hope in God and rejoice in Christ Jesus!
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